In contrast, 55.7 million overseas tourists visited China and stayed for at least one night last year, up 9.5 percent year-on-year. In total, 134 million overseas visitors came to China, up 6 percent year-on-year, spending $45 billion in the country.
Meanwhile domestic tourists made 2.1 billion trips last year, up 11 percent from the previous year, bringing revenue of 1.25 trillion yuan ($189 billion), he said.
"China's tourism has entered a new round of golden development, thanks to fast economic development, the growth of people's incomes and further opening-up," he said.
Industry analysts said it is the first time that the number of mainland tourists going overseas has exceeded that of inbound overnight tourists.
It is "a significant change", as the growth of China's outbound tourism - 17.5 percent year-on-year in 2010 - is much faster than for inbound tourism, said Jiang Yiyi, director of the International Tourism Development Institute at the China Tourism Academy.
"It is very possible that in a few years' time the number of Chinese traveling overseas will be bigger than the total number of overseas tourists coming in," she said.
Starting this year, the State Council Information Office and the tourism administration will join hands to promote China's tourist resources and boost the national image abroad under a cooperative framework.
Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, told a news conference on Wednesday that the cooperation aims to "let overseas people know about China's hospitality and continuous efforts to improve tourism service so that they can visit China and enjoy it here at ease."
The two sides signed the framework agreement in Beijing on Wednesday, and planned to launch publicity promotions abroad together starting this year.
One of the two national publicity films shot last year will soon be broadcast in the United States, including on major media outlets and on big screens at New York's Times Square, said Wang Zhongwei, vice-minister of the information office.
The commercial, with two editions - 30 seconds and 1 minute - represents prominent Chinese elites from different walks of life and celebrities including basketball star Yao Ming and China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, he said.
Different from China's previous "Made in China" advertising campaign that stressed the importance of cooperation between Chinese companies and overseas partners in producing quality products, this commercial aims to send a friendly message to the world - "Hello world, here we come", he said.
The commercial will also be shown in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East in the future, he added.
- Hot on the Web
The ABCs of birds and bees
Recent exposure in the media has lightened a Chinese professor's hope for the future of sexology in the country. More than 4 million entries about him and his postgraduate can now be found on Google.
Mother's stabbing arouses parenting concern
A young man who nearly stabbed his mother to death over an alleged row for money has aroused widespread concern over adequate moral education from China's loving yet high-demanding parents.
Annual wealth report by region published
China is closing in on having 1 million millionaires. According to an annual wealth report released on Tuesday, the mainland has 960,000 millionaires with personal wealth of $1.5 million or more.
Living richRare-earth prices likely to climb
Rare-earth prices will continue to climb, experts say, because of the stricter environmental standards that producers will have to meet by Aug 1, and document in applications they submit for environmental review.
Radiation detected in more vegetables
President Hu meets Indian PM on bilateral ties
Love for Yushu quake survivors continues
China, Russia pledge closer partnership
The ABCs of birds and bees
Alleged sale of stale buns probed
China, US to deepen personal exchange
More scholarships for Americans announced
More scholarships for Americans announced
Visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong announced here on Tuesday an additional 10,000 scholarships for Americans to study in China.
Alleged sale of stale buns probed
Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng on Tuesday ordered a thorough investigation into allegations that tainted and expired steamed buns had been sold in the city.
China, Russia pledge closer partnership
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pledged to continue strategic partnership between the two countries during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit
on Wednesday afternoon.
China vows new Brazil trade ties
Special: BRICS Summit 2011
China, US to further enhance cultural ties
China and the United States on Tuesday agreed to further enhance their cultural ties as they wrapped up a two-day high-level annual Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) in Washington.
New rules likely to raise price of rare earths
Rare-earth prices will continue to climb, experts say, because of the stricter environmental standards that producers will have to meet by Aug 1, and document in applications they submit for environmental review.
Official: China may face heavy inflation pressure
China is expected to face great inflationary pressure in the future due to higher costs and an abundant global money supply, a senior Chinese official said in an article published Tuesday.
Forest fire breaks out in North China
Forest fire broke out Tuesday noon in north China's Hebei Province, with over 2,000 mu (133.33 hectares)of forest catching fire, local authorities said Wednesday.
Baby food giant insists products 'absolutely safe'
Nestle China released an announcement on Tuesday, saying its products are "absolutely safe for consumption", in response to earlier reports that cast doubt on the company's infant foods and alleged they contained toxic metals.
Mainland, Taiwan to hold trade, culture forum
A Chinese mainland official said Wednesday that the mainland and Taiwan will hold a forum on economy, trade and culture, the seventh of its kind, on May 6-8 in the southwest city of Chengdu.
Taiwan leader urges medical cooperation
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou on Sunday called for further cooperation in medical and other health care issues between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan amid Japan's devastating earthquake and improved cross-Straits relations.
Miniature pig grows into high-rise hog
A man in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, never expected that the miniature pig he bought two years ago would have grown into a 1.4-meter-long potbellied adult.
Fish-headed train steams into art gallery
Visitors walk past an art display named "leviathanation" by artist Huang Yongbing at the 798 Art Zone in Beijing.
Debate: Should France ban burkas?
A new law banning full-body veils such as the burka from being worn in public takes effect on Monday, sparking controversy and debate. Under the new law, women caught violating the ban will face a fine of 150 euros ($216) or lessons in French citizenship.
Powering up for the future
The problems at the Japanese nuclear plant have not only cast a shadow over nuclear development, they have also brought uncertainties to the global climate change negotiations.
(
No comments:
Post a Comment