The Xinhua News reported that with a comprehensive development of China's economy, society and culture, China was expected to become the world's largest inbound tourist destination in 2019.

The prediction was made by Shao Qiwei, Director of China's National Tourism Administration, at a national tourist working meeting.

Shao said that in terms of relative criteria, the number of inbound tourists and tourists staying overnight would grow at an annual rate of 8% between 2006 and 2010. The annual growth rates for foreign tourists and domestic tourists would be 9% and 12% respectively, while the annual growth rates for tourist forex revenue and domestic revenue would be 12% and 10% respectively. According to these growth rates, China would receive 137 million overnight inbound tourists in 2019, which makes China become the world's largest inbound tourist country by then, one year ahead of the World Tourism Organization's prediction.

Shao said that in the eleventh five-year period, China provides a good condition for the tourism industry to stride forward. As Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games and Shanghai organizes the World Expo' in 2010, they will offer an unprecedented, historical opportunity for the development of the country's tourism industry.

(Source: ChinaNews.cn)