China: Travel and tourism - Overseas Chinese
4 October 2004
Economist Intelligence Unit - Business Asia

China’s policy of gradually opening new travel markets to its citizens took a big step forward on September 1st when much of Europe was awarded “approved destination status” by the Chinese government

“Approved destination status” (ADS) is one of those many remnants of socialism the Chinese government still uses to control what its people can do. A foreign country must have ADS before Chinese tour groups are allowed to visit: groups of more than five people book trips to ADS countries via approved Chinese travel agents. Chinese wishing to visit countries without ADS must go through a complicated process. This usually means applying for a special visa, ostensibly for business, education or visiting relatives, for which a letter of invitation from the host country is often required.

Consequently, the award of ADS to 27 European countries at the beginning of September is a big step forward. Not only was it the largest single expansion of the scheme, potentially bringing countries such as France, Spain and Italy onto Chinese tourists’ itineraries, but it is also a sign of Beijing’s continuing liberalisation of outbound travel -- at least for those destinations awarded ADS; countries without it were subject to further restrictions after regulations were passed in July.

Outward bound
Chinese tourist departures and expenditure,2003-08
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
International tourism, departures (m) 19.9 23.8 28.4 34.2 41.5 50.2
International tourism, expenditure (US$ bn) 15.8 18.5 21.0 23.7 27.0 30.6
Source: Economist Intelligence Unit

Open-door policy

China’s move is welcome news for the European travel industry. The Economist Intelligence Unit expects Chinese outbound travel to more than double in the coming years, from around 20m in 2003 to around 50m by 2008 (see table, Outward bound). The World Tourism Organisation expects around 100m outbound Chinese travellers by 2020, which would make it the world’s fourth-largest supplier of tourists. As well as the greater choice and easier access to international destinations, Chinese tourist numbers are being driven by a wealthier population, with the kind of disposable income that makes foreign travel a realistic aspiration.

But it is not simply the sheer number of potential new tourists that makes the Chinese so appealing. The Economist Intelligence Unit expects expenditure by Chinese tourists to top US$30bn by 2008. While the Chinese spend less per trip than Americans or Japanese, their spending is on a par with Germans and outstrips the British. Exposure to Western culture, particularly in the urban centres of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, has fed a desire for Western goods. Experience from Hong Kong, China’s biggest outbound market, suggests that Chinese travellers have a particularly voracious appetite for upmarket, designer goods. This no doubt will please the Chanel and Armani boutiques of Paris and Milan.

For Europeans, then, the Chinese market is worth fighting for, and certainly worth the considerable bureaucratic hassles of applying for ADS. There are already reports that France, Italy and Switzerland -- expected to be the three most popular destinations -- are gearing up for the likely deluge of mainland visitors, with hotels installing Chinese channels on their televisions and tour firms employing Mandarin-speaking reps.

Further evidence of the gold-rush mentality is the eagerness of European countries not covered by the new agreement to join the crowd. All would like to reap the rewards enjoyed by Australia, which was the first country to receive ADS in 1999. China is now Australia’s fifth biggest inbound market, after Japan, the UK, the US and Singapore.

Some Western countries, however, are not so keen. Both the US and Canada have yet to apply for ADS. The US is potentially the largest Western market for Chinese tourists, but the lack of approved status has been a problem, as have visa-issuing procedures in China -- much to the chagrin of the US tourist industry. Even with such problems, the Chinese market was worth close to US$1bn in 2002 to the US. In Canada, the tourism industry is also dismayed at the lack of urgency in applying for ADS. The new Chinese appetite for long-haul travel, Canadians fear, will be sated in Europe.

Outstaying their welcome

What particularly worries the North Americans, it seems, is the prospect of thousands of Chinese turning up in tour parties and then declaring themselves refugees or simply disappearing. The worries have some substance. In August, two Chinese tour groups visiting Taiwan absconded from their hotel. Suspicion lay with people-trafficking rings.

There is little doubt that, if they could, organised criminals would use the freedom afforded by ADS to traffic Chinese into the West. However it seems that China and Europe, which are equally keen to avoid refugee problems, have agreed an acceptable way of heading off problems. A clause in the European agreement allows for the repatriation of any visitors outstaying the terms of their visa. Furthermore, tourists must leave a deposit of Rmb50,000 (US$6,000) before they start their trip, with proof of a further Rmb50,000 in savings in the bank. The onus is on the tour operator to make the relevant checks on potential tourists.

The other major hurdle standing between Europeans and the Chinese tourist dollar is the lack of airline capacity. The Chinese aviation market is still heavily regulated; this will have to change if capacity is to match demand. Three mainland Chinese carriers -- Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines -- have a virtual monopoly on international routes, while European carriers often have limited access. Currently there are no direct Alitalia flights, for example. British Airways and Virgin do fly directly, though not often. Lufthansa has the best market position in China. It is the first European carrier to code-share with a Chinese carrier, Shanghai Airlines.

Fortunately for the world’s tourist industry, capacity on air routes is likely to grow as the Chinese outbound tourist market opens up. Perhaps the biggest reason for this is that the benefits could flow both ways. For every ADS that is approved, China is hoping for a reciprocal agreement encouraging foreigners to travel there, benefiting China’s economy.

China makes Peru official tourist destination

LIMA, Peru, Dec 13 (Reuters) - China has included Peru in its select list of official tourist destinations, setting the Andean nation up for a promotional boost in the world's most populous country, President Alejandro Toledo said on Monday.

"Following our meeting (in November) with the Chinese president ... my government has ensured that Peru is now an official tourist destination for the Chinese," Toledo said.

Home to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, snow-capped glaciers, rain forests and the world's highest navigable lake, Titicaca, Peru hopes its inclusion as one of only about 20 countries worldwide will help its growing tourist industry, a key foreign exchange earner.

Peru joins Argentina, Brazil and Chile as the Latin American nations on the list, according to Chinese embassy officials in Lima.

With a population of 1.3 billion people, China boasts some 20 million people with million-dollar fortunes and 100 million wealthy citizens with money to travel, according to Argentina's trade group Feghra. The number of Chinese tourists could rise to 100 million in 2020, the World Tourism Organization says.

Today, 4,800 Chinese tourists visit Peru every year. That number should rise to 25,000 next year with the country's inclusion on the official list, the head of Peru's National Tourism Chamber, Carlos Canales said.

"By 2006, we could reach some 100,000 Chinese tourists a year," he told CPN radio from Beijing during a trip by business leaders and government officials to the Communist nation.

Canales said he would meet executives of Brazilian airline Varig in China to discuss starting flights between Shanghai and Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.

Chinese officials will visit Peru in January to make the decision official, Canales said.

Peru expects a record 1 million tourists to visit in 2004, generating more than $800 million in revenues, according to government data. But tourism officials say Peru must invest more in hotels, roads and airports and to maintain its historic sites if it is to live up to its potential.

Cool... what are the other countries that are on China's "Official Tourist Destination" list?

i think UK US Canada are not on the list, most other tourist destinations are on the list.

China's tourist destinations now cover more than 60 countries. Last month, Brazil, Argentina and Chile were added to the list and since September 1 Chinese tourists have been able to go to 27 European countries.

and the US in 2005

China uses tourism to punish Canada
GEOFFREY YORK
18 January 2005
The Globe and Mail

Beijing CHINA

More than five years after negotiations began, Canada has failed to obtain a potentially lucrative tourism deal with China, even though 63 other countries have concluded the same agreement in much less time.

Sources say the Communist government is quietly punishing Canada for failing to hand over China's most wanted fugitive, Lai Changxing, the alleged crime kingpin who fled to Canada in 1999, after accusations that he bribed officials and evaded customs duties in a multibillion-dollar smuggling ring in the bustling port city of Xiamen.

The tourism deal, which would make Canada an approved destination for Chinese tour groups, could be worth billions to the Canadian tourism industry. By some estimates, it could eventually bring one million extra tourists to Canada every year, spending an average of several thousand dollars each.

The deal's failure has become a symbol of Canada's fading influence in the world's fastest-growing market, and will be a focus for the delegations led by Prime Minister Paul Martin and International Trade Minister Jim Peterson in Beijing this week.

The issue also highlights China's willingness to use its economic clout for political and diplomatic goals.

Mr. Lai, who has claimed refugee status in Canada, has fought a lengthy legal battle to resist Canada's efforts to deport him to China.

He is China's most wanted fugitive and his stay in Canada has annoyed the Communist country's top leaders. The case is considered one of China's biggest corruption scandals since the Communist takeover in 1949. More than a dozen people have already been executed for their role in the alleged scheme.

Mr. Lai says he is the victim of political persecution and merely followed existing business practices in China. He lost his claim for refugee status in Canada but is appealing the decision to the Federal Court of Appeal.When Ottawa began seeking the tourism pact in 1999, it would have been one of the first Western governments to obtain the deal. Now, if the deal is rescued, Canada will be one of the last.

“One-quarter of the UN membership has leapfrogged our place in the queue,” said Yuen Pau Woo, chief economist of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

“Regardless of how you feel about sending Mr. Lai back to China, the fact that a tussle over a single corrupt businessman can trump an agreement on tourism perhaps says something about Canada's standing with the Chinese.”

Howard Balloch, a former ambassador to China who now heads the Canada China Business Council, said the federal government should not tolerate Beijing's continued efforts to delay the tourism deal because of the Lai case.

“They're drawing this linkage and it's not a logical linkage and we should try to unlink it,” he said.

Tourism from China has surged dramatically with that country's economic boom. With 24 million tourists travelling abroad last year, China overtook Japan as the biggest Asian tourism source. The World Tourism Organization has predicted that China will send 100 million people abroad by 2020, making it the world's fourth-largest source of tourists.

Canada is already home to one million Chinese immigrants, and should be a natural destination for these tourists. One study estimated that 1.9 million Chinese tourists would be keen to visit Canada if permitted, but the absence of a tourism deal has left Canada with only 0.4 per cent of the Chinese market, only about 75,000 visitors a year, usually travelling on business visas.

Chinese tourism flows to Canada actually declined from 2002 to 2004, while rising to most other countries. Without an agreement on Approved Destination Status (ADS) from the Chinese government, Canada cannot advertise in China and cannot receive most types of Chinese tour groups. It adds to the lingering perception that Canada is not receptive to these tourists, Mr. Woo said.

Joseph Caron, the Canadian ambassador to China, has been worried about the lack of a deal.

“Clearly, China presents significant untapped potential as a source of tourists to Canada,” he wrote in an e-mail last year to Michele McKenzie, president of the Canadian Tourism Commission.

“Canada has been seeking ADS . . . for several years but China remains unprepared to enter into serious discussions on this issue,” Mr. Caron wrote in the leaked e-mail.

Richard Liu, who headed the Beijing office of the Canadian Tourism Commission from its founding in 2000 until last spring, said the Chinese government was ready to sign an ADS agreement with Canada in the summer of 2001. But the deal was scrapped at the last minute because of the Lai case, he said.

He recalled an angry telephone call in August, 2001, from a senior Chinese official who asked, “Why is Canada protecting the criminal Lai?”

The tourism issue became “very touchy” after that, he said. “I was struggling to persuade the Chinese government to change its mind. It was very tough.”

While the Lai case was the main reason for Beijing's refusal to sign an ADS agreement with Canada, there were other problems, he said.

Canadian immigration authorities were suspicious of the deal, fearing it could open the doors to illegal migrants. And the Canadian tourism commission failed to give a proper budget or proper support to its Beijing office, according to Mr. Liu and other sources.

“I never had any trust from the Canadian head office,” Mr. Liu said in an interview. “They treated me like crap. We are gradually losing the Chinese market. We had such a wonderful opportunity and we destroyed it.”

With a report from Rod Mickleburgh in Vancouver

Touring Canada
A comparison look at tourists to Canada from the Asia-Pacific region for 2002 and 2004. The SARS outbreak of 2003 makes that year a poor comparison. 2002 figures are listed first, followed by 2004. Percentage increases are in parentheses
New Zealand: 4,178, 4,470 (7%)
China: 9,956, 9,688 (-2.7%)
S.Korea: 16,446, 18,983 (15.4%)
Australia: 17,778, 22,160 (24.6%)
Japan: 38,817, 44,515 (14.7%)

Chinese tourists to Canada from 2001 to 2004
8,712, 2001; 9,956, 2002; 5,248, 2003; 9,688, 2004

SOURCE: CANADIAN TOURISM COMMISSION

China hands Canada potential tourism windfall
Last Updated Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:51:19 EST
CBC News


BEIJING - China has recognized Canada as an approved tourism destination – a move that is expected to result in a dramatic increase in the number of Chinese visitors to this country.

INDEPTH: China
China has already granted that designation to dozens of other countries. Canada had been negotiating with the Chinese for more than five years for similar recognition. The agreement was announced during this week's visit to China by Prime Minister Paul Martin and other Canadian political and business figures.

Approved destination status allows Chinese residents to travel to Canada using a tourist exit visa. Without that status, only Chinese visitors travelling on business could obtain exit visas to Canada.


"China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and the recognition of Canada as an officially approved travel destination has significant economic potential for the Canadian tourism industry," Industry Minister David Emerson said in a statement from Beijing.


Official recognition means that Canada can now actively market Canada as a tourist destination in China. To that end, the Canadian Tourism Commission opened a new office in Beijing on Friday.


Last year, only 77,000 overnight visitors came to Canada from China. Published reports estimate that as many as a million Chinese tourists could now visit Canada, making approved status worth billions of dollars a year to Canada.


The Canadian Tourism Commission has been negotiating with China since 1999, trying to win approved destination status for Canada.


The World Tourism Organization forecasts that China will have 100 million outbound travellers a year by 2020, making it the fourth-largest source of outbound travel in the world.


Bilateral trade between China and Canada is worth more than $25 billion annually and both countries want to increase that. On Thursday, the two countries signed a spate of energy deals.


Tourism Commission vice-president Tom Penny speculated that the lengthy delay in getting the approved status designation may have had something to do with Canada's refusal to deport Lai Changxing.


The Chinese citizen fled to Canada in 1999 and is one of China's most-wanted fugitives – accused of running a multi-billion dollar smuggling ring.




^ Well, it looks like the problem is solved - just in time for my vacation!
I will be in China on Feburary 1st. I might bring a bunch of promotional material about Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with me.

WooHoo!!! I can't wait! :)

Chinese visitors to Canada set to climb by 42pc
January 26, 2005

Canada expects 30,000 to 40,000 more visitors a year from China - up 42 percent - after the Chinese government put the country on a list of approved tourist destinations, Trade Minister James Peterson said.

Canada and China also resumed talks on expanding air links, Peterson said during an interview at a seminar in Hong Kong, the last stop on his tour through China with a Canadian business delegation.

China, which regulates outbound tourism, has approved about 90 countries for group travel, reaching agreement with about 60 of these countries on visa and other arrangements. About 95,000 people from China visited Canada last year under existing rules.

"We are very pleased to get this," Peterson said. The addition of Canada to the list of approved destinations and the expansion of air services are subject to further negotiation on details before they are implemented, he said.

About 25 million mainland Chinese traveled abroad last year, with Hong Kong the largest destination, according to the World Tourism Organization, which forecasts that 100 million Chinese will be going overseas annually in 2020.

Peterson did not disclose the value of contracts signed by the delegation, which was led by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

"There were 100 commercial signings, but the main purpose was not the contracts so much, but to establish relationships," Peterson said. "We want to open up these relationships to Chinese businesses."

Canada's exports to China expanded 37 percent between 1995 and 2003 at the same time that China's exports to Canada quadrupled, according to Canada's official statistics Web site. Canada's trade deficit with China rose to C$13.8 billion (HK$88.18 billion) in 2003 from C$1.2 billion in 1995.

BLOOMBERG

Millions make tracks as golden week holiday kicks off
Chan Siu-sin
2 May 2005
South China Morning Post

Millions of mainland travellers set off yesterday on the week-long Labour Day holiday, putting a strain on the national transport system.

The rail system dealt with 4.1 million passengers yesterday, CCTV reported.

Beijing and Beijing West stations - the capital's two main railway stations - recorded more than 400,000 passengers on the move yesterday, while Shanghai had scheduled 19 additional trains to cope with the surge in demand, it reported.

Airlines were also bracing for brisk business, with 2.28 million air passengers expected during the so-called "golden week" holiday, up 10 per cent from the same period last year, Chinese authorities said.

Yesterday, an estimated 400,000 tourists travelled by air and an extra 200 flights were scheduled across the mainland, CCTV said.

The availability of flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming and Jiuzhaigou was particularly tight, while the Beijing-Shanghai route had more than 90 per cent occupancy, CCTV reported.

Xinhua said Beijing Capital International Airport would handle 300 additional flights this week.

Meanwhile, tourists flocked to the flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square and visited popular tourist destinations yesterday, with sites such as the Tiananmen rostrum extending opening hours.

In Shanghai - which is expected to receive 3.8 million tourists this week - 2,000 tickets to the Shanghai Oriental Broadcasting Tower were sold in about two hours, according to the Shanghai Evening Post.

Despite the thriving tourism industry, 63.6 per cent of Chinese interviewed chose not to travel, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

One third of those polled said there were too many travellers, while 25 per cent preferred to stay at home during the holiday.

Others cited overtime work and higher prices during "golden week" as other reasons for not travelling.

The paper said it was the first time in seven years discounted air tickets had been offered, while hotel occupancy rates in some tourist spots were less than 50 per cent.

Mao town wants to serve 'red tourists'
Emma Graham-Harrison
June 16, 2005

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/China/images/yanan0616.jpg
Tourists pose at the early Communist Party headquarters in Yanan, Shaanxi province, which features a three-star cave hotel. AFP

Coarse grain and a night in a cave don't feature in most holiday brochures, but the remote town of Yanan hopes to earn a fortune from "red tourists" eager to relive the tough experiences of the country's communist pioneers.

Yanan was a dusty but secure home to Mao Zedong from 1935 to 1947 and where he coined the motto "serve the people" and welded his party into a fighting force capable of winning the civil war. But since the troops left, its main industry has been reliving the past.

And with 2005 declared the Year of Red Tourism - travels to sites where communist heroes were born, lived or fought - the town government hopes to increase its earnings.

"Only if we understand history can we improve our future," said Mayor Zhang Shenian as he detailed a 21 billion yuan (HK$19.74 billion) plan to improve Yanan's museums, air links and roads in order to lure revolution fans.

"We are one of China's revolutionary bases... But we also live here and therefore we have to use it as an opportunity to develop the economy," Zhang added.

Among the attractions the town offers are a three-star cave hotel, endless Mao memorabilia ranging from key-rings to lifesize busts and communist snacks such as "coarse grain" to feed any pangs of nostalgia for tougher days.

Financially, the 3.9 million tourists they helped lure last year to the town, in the northern province of Shaanxi, could be a powerful tool for raising incomes that averaged only 6,334 yuan a year in the region's towns.

A Yanan tour also sets an example to the party faithful by depicting its founders leading an austere, self-sacrificing existence - although a recent biography of Mao claims they also sanctioned opium production while based there to raise funds.

Despite a couple of skyscrapers and a gleaming department store in the town center, parts of Yanan are crying out for investment.

At the Revolution Memorial Hall a white-washed wall separates the crowds of young soldiers, cadres and veterans filing past the stuffed remains of Mao's getaway horse from the type of slum the communists were fighting to eradicate.

Dirty-faced children play in mud alleys between wood and dirt shacks; a network of wires snake above the houses while raw sewage bakes in a ditch behind a public toilet.

Near the museum gate, a woman selling toilet paper and soft drinks has never heard of red tourism but is more nostalgic than many of the middle-class visitors to the complex.

"These days the poor just stay poor and the rich are getting richer. Things were more equal in Mao's time," she said, giving only her last name, Zhou.

She brought up two children in the small slum and earns less than 10,000 yuan a year, and although she says visitor numbers are up, there seems to be little "trickle-down" wealth reaching her, as most tourists are whisked by her stall on buses.

Taxi drivers say they also make little from tourists, who all arrive on buses, are driven around and stick in their groups.

Indeed, in Yanan's communist heritage sites there are barely any individual visitors, just groups in uniform or with matching baseball caps trooping around together. "We mostly get students and cadres," said party member Zuo Tie, who for nine years has been showing visitors around caves that were home to Mao, Zhou Enlai and other party luminaries.

Cadres or not, there is little sign among many of the 3,000 visitors per day of the iron discipline the old leaders might have advocated.

"We have visited the terracotta warriors and the mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor," said a Nanjing shipping agent, referring to one of the legendary founding fathers of Chinese civilization. "Mao is one of the great figures of our history ... so we wanted to come here as well." REUTERS

Tokyo eases rules on group tour visas
June 23, 2005
AFP

Japan, which is seeking to expand its tourist arrivals, will loosen its rules to make all Chinese on group tours eligible for a visa despite political strains between the nations, an official said Wednesday.

At present Japan issues group tourist visas only to Chinese people who live in the urban hubs of Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, as well as the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and Liaoning. Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa is expected to announce the expansion of visa eligibility July 2 when he visits Beijing, a ministry official said.

Japan had limited visas to Chinese in the past due to concern over illegal immigration but decided the policy was "unusual in nature," the official said.

The change will give all of China's 1.3 billion people the right to seek a Japanese visa, compared with about 370 million who are eligible now, the official said.

"It will be a permanent measure. We hope many guests from China will visit Japan, including the World Expo."

The expo showcases technology in central Aichi prefecture until September. Japan has temporarily waived visas for South Korean and Taiwanese visitors during the show.

The government has launched a "Visit Japan" campaign aimed at drawing 10 million foreign tourists in 2010 compared with 5.73 million in 2003.

Japan has advertised abroad, waived visa requirements and expanded tourist amenities in a bid to draw people who may be put off by the country's high prices and language barrier.

Warning over tourism industry's Olympic readiness
Shi Jiangtao
22 June 2005
South China Morning Post

Beijing's tourism industry may not be able to make the most of the 2008 Olympic Games unless authorities can upgrade outdated facilities and improve travel services, the capital's tourism chief has warned.

In 2008, 4.6 million overseas and 96 million domestic travellers are expected to visit the capital, generating more than 170 billion yuan in revenue. But cheap hotels and price wars between travel agencies had hindered development of the capital's tourism sector, Yu Changjiang , director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism, told a conference on Olympic tourism yesterday.

He said travellers had been complaining for years that up-to-date and reliable information regarding accommodation, travel and places to eat was lacking. Speaking to representatives of 500 foreign and domestic travel agencies, investors and management companies, Mr Yu said some of the city's 4,000 cheap hotels and hostels did not meet basic safety and hygiene standards.

He also said foreign-language proficiency among Beijing's 17,000 tourist guides was low. "I have raised these issues with other government officials many times," he said. "The problems I have mentioned will not be solved by my bureau alone, as we need co-operation from other departments."

Mr Yu did not go into detail about what had to be done to solve the problems, but said he was confident improvements would be seen by the end of 2007.

Authorities have given the go-ahead for operators of 31 low-cost hotels and hostels and 58 sightseeing spots and holiday resorts to seek overseas investment and management expertise.

A four-week Olympic Cultural Festival will start tomorrow in Beijing and Qingdao , one of the Games venues.

A highlight of the festival will be the long-awaited announcement on Saturday of the official slogan for the Games.

I haven't been to Beijing for almost three years, and I'm sure Beijing developed a lot since then. However, my guess is that its public lavatories is still at an appalling level. The last time I went to Beijing, I was sort of acting as a tour guide for a good colleague of mine, and my colleague had the most unpleasant experience of having to use a public lavatory near one of the tourist sites, which he recalls as one of the worst experiences in his entire life. As for myself, when I live or travel around China, I always keep in mind which hotel to run into when I need to relieve myself. Yet, when I travelled to Xi'an and Urumqi just a few weeks ago, I've also had the unpleasant experience of having to use one of those hole-on-the-ground toilets, which I find very discomforting. But at least they were clean, unlike the one my colleague used.

I did hear that Beijing is improving its public lavatories, but I don't know the extent nor the realization of its improvements. I sincerely hope that people who go to Beijing to watch the Olympic Games won't have the unpleasant experience that my colleague had to go through.

Are you being served? China
14 January 2006
The Economist

http://www.economist.com/images/20060114/0206WB1.jpg

China's services sector is escaping from the shadow of manufacturing, but not as fast as it could

THE world's factory, it turns out, has a sizeable canteen attached, not to mention an office block and shopping mall. Last month's official revision of China's gross domestic product revealed an economy worth 16 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion) in 2004, 17% more than previously thought. Some $265 billion of the increase—93% of it—was ascribed to the services sector. As a result, services' share of the economy has jumped by nine percentage points, to 41%, compared with 46% for manufacturing and 13% for primary industries (mainly agriculture and mining).

Where has all this extra activity come from? The bulk of it is obvious to any traveller in China. As people grow wealthier, they want more restaurants and bars, clothes stores, car dealerships, bookshops, private hospitals, English language classes and beauty salons. In many of these businesses, however, turnover and profits have not previously been captured by a statistical system geared to measuring factory production. The small, often private, companies that dominate these areas have also often been at pains to escape notice—and therefore taxes.

Li Deshui, commissioner of China's National Bureau of Statistics, confirms that most of the newly unearthed GDP comes from three categories. The first is wholesale, retail and catering; the second, transport, storage, post and telecommunications. While postal and telecoms services are still state-controlled and thus readily measured, more than 1m small trucking and removal companies are not. The third activity is real estate, booming particularly in the coastal cities and increasingly inland too, leading to an influx of private money—not least from overseas speculators. Property development has, in turn, boosted demand for architects, decorators, do-it-yourself stores and other building services.

But there is more to China's services boom than dishing up stir-fries, shipping boxes and fitting out apartments. Recent years have seen a surge in media and technology services, including the internet; in financial services such as leasing; and in education and leisure. In a small way, for example, China is starting to rival India as an outsourcing hub: less for call-centres that require excellent English than for such tasks as preparing reports and patent filings. In October Microsoft took a stake in a Chinese software firm in Dalian, a city in north-east China with a thriving outsourcing industry preparing tax returns and software for companies from Japan and South Korea.

China's rapid economic growth is fuelling demand for accountants, lawyers, bankers and all manner of consultants, as Chinese companies expand and restructure. Specialists in marketing, advertising and public relations advise on the relatively new area of marketing products and developing brands. The new wealth has other consequences, too. China now has nearly 1m security guards. And it can offer its new rich everything from cosmetic surgeons to pet salons (http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5389409).

Meanwhile, a huge new market is opening up for private education—fuelled by the combination of a poor public system, the preoccupation of middle-class parents with giving their (often) only child the best chances, and demand from business. Chinese families spend more on education than on anything except housing—the market for courses, books and materials more than doubled from 2002 levels, to $90 billion in 2005. Richer households have also caused a tourism boom, which is still chiefly domestic, though more mainlanders are venturing overseas as visa restrictions are lifted. The World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that China's annual tourism market will more than triple to $300 billion within a decade.

China's services sector, on this basis, is well-developed and roughly as large as those of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan were at a similar stage of development, notes the HSBC bank. In reality, it is bigger still, since the GDP revision cannot capture activities such as kerbside lending and tax-dodging cash transactions in property or entertainment—all of which Dong Tao, chief Asia economist at CSFB, another bank, reckons add another $220 billion to the economy. Even so, the 41% of GDP claimed by services in China remains below the 60-75% typical in developed countries. It is smaller even than India's 52%.

One reason for this is a Communist bias towards manufacturing—“China's ‘real-men-make-stuff' attitude,” as Gordon Orr of McKinsey's Shanghai office puts it. This has led to a plethora of ill-thought-through regulations for services, made worse by China's continuing suspicion of private business, which is mostly concentrated in the services sector. The lack of a national trucking licence, for example, means hauliers must get approval from each province to move goods across the country and unload them on to different trucks at each border—delaying delivery and increasing spoilage and pilfering. In retailing, local governments often maintain inefficient supply chains, in part to protect local jobs. David Wei, head of B&Q in China, says his 48 do-it-yourself stores on the mainland are served by 1,800 suppliers, compared with 600 suppliers in Britain for more than 300 stores.

Worse, though China took an early decision to invite foreign direct investment into manufacturing, it has been reluctant to open up services. Diana Farrell, director of the McKinsey Global Institute, the consultancy's think-tank, argues that allowing more foreign investment in services could bring “not just capital and technology but a competitive dynamic...The presence of Carrefour and Wal-Mart leads to domestic copycats, creating innovation and productivity growth.”

Yet in many services—from telecoms, to the postal service and the media—China thwarts foreign firms with onerous regulations and inconsistent policies. In banking and other financial services, foreigners face limits on ownership and the types of business they can conduct. In legal services, China's severe shortage of lawyers—one for every 13,000 people compared with one for every 300 in America—reflects an impossibly difficult bar exam. Lawyers' poor quality (the practice of bribing judges and rote learning of law means few can argue a case) could be helped by training from foreign firms. Yet foreign lawyers are barred at every turn. They cannot practise or comment on Chinese law, cannot appear in a Chinese court and must wait nine months to open their first office and three years for each subsequent one.

A shortage of well trained people—a complaint of almost every foreign multinational—is also holding back services growth. Many Chinese employees, even qualified graduates, think rigidly rather than creatively and do not challenge authority or ask questions. That may be appropriate in a factory, but not when the client wants to find a clever way to win this contract or that licence.

As long as planned-economy thinking sees services as only an adjunct to manufacturing, China will create fewer jobs in services than it could. Despite its rapid growth, China has shed 15m manufacturing jobs since 1995 and will lose more as basic production moves to even cheaper countries, such as Vietnam. Services could create enough opportunities for the 10m-15m Chinese who are joining the workforce each year. But to fulfil their potential, service industries need more respect and attention from policymakers.

good article, thank, it is true that China should pay more attention to and open up the market of the service sector, but it needs time!!!

The French high-tech theme park Futuroscope will be operated in Shenzhen in 2009... The park is devoted to cinematic and audio-visual techniques and special effects. It is the only place containing all versions of the IMAX theatres (normal, dome, 3D, dome 3D and flying-carpet-style). It is now one of France's three leading theme parks, along with Disneyland Paris and Asterix.

未来乐园首次冲出法国首站选在深圳
更新时间： 2006年5月20日

法国未来乐园总裁多米尼克·胡莫尔：总投资16亿元人民币，可与美国迪士尼媲美——

未来乐园首次冲出法国首站选在深圳

“很高兴能在文博会上与深圳市宝能投资集团有限公司签订了总投资额为16亿元人民币的深圳未来乐园项目。这是我们法国原创的、与迪士尼乐园和华纳影城齐名的主题公园。”

胡莫尔（DominiqueHummel，PresidentofFuturoscope）告诉记者，这是未来乐园首次冲出法国走向世界，而公司管理层毫不犹豫地选择了深圳作为他们进军的第一站。

“未来乐园所在的法国维埃纳省和深圳结为友好城市已有12年的时间，我们对深圳已经非常了解，尤其是其过去12年的高速发展以及良好的生态环境给我们留下了深刻印象，所以当时拍板我就说，深圳，就是这里了。”

胡莫尔称这个乐园在建成后可以媲美香港迪士尼乐园。“我们预计首期项目完成后每年可以接待观众300万人次，全部建成后接待观众数将跃升为600万人次，园内可以创造3000多个就业岗位，建成后15年估计可以创利税60亿元人民币。”

他告诉记者乐园选址西丽，整个工程估计在三年内可以完工。

据胡莫尔透露，2009年，深圳人将可以拥有一座占地60公顷，属于自己的影视、动漫类文化创意乐园，在自己的城市里参观高科技的动画影视拍摄流程，并将看到原汁原味的“深圳产”动漫影视作品。

乐园将引进一丝不苟的法国文化

当记者问到什么选择在文博会上签署这样一份重要的协议的时候，胡莫尔笑了，张开双臂比划着：“当然了，这是一个很高规格的文化交流盛会，有许多政府部门和新闻媒体关注，我相信我们的项目选择在这个文博会上签订必然可以让更多人知道，受到更多的关注。”

虽然签约只费几分钟，台下的谈判却进行了三年多。带着玳瑁色眼镜、穿着一身咖啡色西装的胡莫尔从外表到内里都秉承了法国一贯的一丝不苟的文化。“每一个细节我们都在谈判桌上仔细斟酌，整个合同从构思到最终首肯持续了三年多。”

胡莫尔用工整的字体给记者写下未来乐园的网址，“你上我们网站看看就知道了，我们将会给这个在深圳建设的乐园提供与法国未来乐园一模一样的设备、技术、服务，当然还有我们引以为豪的法国文化。”他一边说一边把笔轻轻地插入西装口袋。

欢迎深圳同行竞争

胡莫尔说他丝毫不担心来自老牌乐园如世界之窗、民俗村和欢乐谷等等的竞争。“我们是良性促进，共同把蛋糕做大。法国也有迪士尼乐园，可是未来乐园开业十年来至今每年仍吸引300多万人次入场游玩，这说明它是受人们欢迎的休闲形式。”

胡莫尔告诉记者，整个乐园将包括动漫中心、特技影视、高科技表演和娱乐，以及文化创意产品中心四大块。“我们希望能把乐园建成一个休闲的好去处。这些动漫、影视和表演的好处就是我们能不断地更换节目内容，观众每一次进场都能得到耳目一新的感受。就如同一台电视机，每天的节目内容都是新的，我们希望藉此吸引更多的回头客，不仅仅是来深圳观光旅游的客人们。”（谭小弥）

背景介绍

法国未来乐园位于法国中西部的维埃纳省，1992年营业，每年接待游客300多万人次，主要项目包括宇宙探秘、三维动画、动感地带、魔幻之旅等。目前，它已成为除美国迪士尼乐园、环球影城之外世界上最具影响力的旅游项目之一。该项目的特点是科技含量高，建筑物新颖别致，游客参与性较强，是一个新型科技文化景点。

Opinion From HK Newspaper...

Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau will become iron triangle of tourism, to strengthen the Attraction of the Region,, after the New Theme Park opens in Shenzhen...

深圳建未來樂園與港競爭

20/05/2006

【 本 報 綜 合 報 道 】 法 國 三 大 主 題 公 園 之 一 的 「 未 來 樂 園 」 （ Futuroscope ） 複 製 版將 於 三 至 四 年 後 在 深 圳 誕 生 ， 法 國 未 來 樂 園 營 辦 商 前 日 與 深 圳 市 政 府 及 深 圳 寶 能 投資 集 團 簽 約 ， 計 劃 在 深 圳 南 山 區 西 麗 興 建 面 積 達 六 十 公 頃 ， 以 影 視 刺 激 為 主 打 的 大型 主 題 公 園 ， 投 資 額 達 十 六 億 元 人 民 幣 ， 預 計 每 年 可 接 待 六 百 萬 人 次 的 旅 客 。 本 港兩 大 主 題 公 園 表 明 無 懼 新 樂 園 的 競 爭 ， 本 港 旅 遊 業 相 信 ， 深 圳 增 建 主 題 公 園 後 ， 可與 澳 門 及 香 港 組 成 珠 江 口 旅 遊 鐵 三 角 ， 加 強 珠 三 角 旅 遊 的 吸 引 力 。

新 主題 公 園 中 方 負 責 人 熊 輝 稱 深 圳 未 來 樂 園 面 積 雖 不 及 法 國 ， 但 會 採 納 大 部 分 的 樂 園 項目 重 新 建 造 ， 首 階 段 於 ○ 八 年 底 至 ○ 九 年 落 成 ， 樂 園 全 部 建 成 後 每 年 訪 客 達 六 百 萬人 次 。

imax 影 院 設 巨 型 屏 幕
即 將 建 造 的 深 圳 「 未 來 樂 園 」 分 為 四 個 主 題 區域 ： 動 漫 中 心 、 高 科 技 娛 樂 區 、 特 技 影 院 和 文 化 創 意 產 品 展 覽 。 整 個 主 題 公 園 以 強調 文 化 創 意 和 高 科 技 為 主 題 ， 突 出 原 創 作 品 。

位 於 法 國 西 部 的 未 來 樂 園 始 建 於 一 九 八 四 年 ， 與 迪 士 尼 樂 園 及 環 球 影 城 齊 名 ， 面 積約 二 百 公 頃 ， 該 園 提 供 遊 戲 以 刺 激 觀 眾 視 覺 感 受 為 主 ， 運 用 大 量 imax 及 3D 技 術 ， imax 影 院 在 觀 眾 眼 前 設 一 塊 面 積 達 六 百 七 十 二 平 方 米 的 屏 幕 ， 腳 下 亦 有 七 百 四 十八 平 方 米 的 玻 璃 屏 幕 ， 讓 觀 眾 進 入 立 體 視 覺 空 間 。 另 有 一 個 「 世 界 之 鼓 」 影 院 ， 更使 用 九 百 平 方 米 的 球 形 屏 幕 ， 使 觀 眾 聽 音 樂 也 變 得 「 立 體 」 。 樂 園 又 特 設 盲 人 體 驗館 ， 遊 客 的 視 覺 在 二 十 分 鐘 內 進 入 全 黑 狀 態 ， 只 能 憑 味 覺 、 聽 覺 和 觸 覺 活 動 。

香 港 海 洋 公 園 及 迪 士 尼 樂 園 均 無 懼 鄰 近 地 區 有 新 競 爭 者 加 入 ， 海 洋 公 園 指 其 主 題 是 人 與 大 自 然 融 為 一 體 的 概 念 ， 保 育 及 育 並 重 ， 相 信 與 未 來 樂 園 各 有 客 源 。 迪 士 尼 樂 園 指 迪 士 尼 有 其 獨 特 文 化 吸 引 顧 客 ，不 同 公 園 具 不 同 的 賣 點 ， 再 加 上 暑 假 推 出 三 項 新 設 施 ， 未 來 幾 個 月 又 公 布 新 景 點 發展 計 劃 ， 相 信 可 以 保 持 一 定 吸 引 力 。

香 港 旅 遊 業 議 會 總 幹 事 董 耀 中 表 示， 深 圳 現 已 有 不 同 的 主 題 公 園 及 遊 樂 場 ， 旅 客 仍 會 到 香 港 ， 反 映 深 圳 遊 樂 設 施 未 威脅 本 港 ， 香 港 也 有 昂 坪 吊 車 等 設 施 即 將 啟 用 。 他 認 為 深 圳 、 香 港 及 澳 門 賭 場 各 有 旅遊 吸 引 力 ， 可 互 惠 互 利 成 為 珠 三 角 的 旅 遊 連 線 。

Shenzhen is a largest "Cartoon And Flash Base" in Asia, and No.4 in the world, it is One of the important factors for Futuroscope Choose SZ to operate the first Theme park outside France... and Futuroscope will performe SZ's originally-created cartoons as well... it is different with other theme parks in Shenzhen, though "Happy valley" has already opened its own 3D/4D theatre in 2000...

I think these theme parks have different targeting... and the tourists will increase in the region...

I think the concept of Shenzhen Futuroscope cultural production park mostly are mixture with China [esp. Shenzhen] culture and France culture... in my opinion, it is targeting for children around Shenzhen, and the Cartoon fans in Asia... It estimates the attendance will be totally 6 million p.a [the 1st phase will be 3 million]...

actually, there are different senses when you see the 3D cartoon at home, comparing with seeing it in the 3D/4D theater and the cartoon theme park...

there is the first original-created 3D Cartoon of China by Shenzhen- "Thru the Moebius Strip" 《魔比斯环》...

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/01D41006_9fVstTy0Ky63.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/01D374AA_Cjz0CKoj3fO8.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/01D374B1_gCWWn6L1AifP.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/01D374BB_cmAct37u46ge.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/01D3754A_8ra84E2BnHsB.jpg

I think "Happy Valley" [attendence was more than 3 million in 2005, it has been No.1 in China in past 3 years] has similar style with Disneyland, but not Futuroscope... it should be complementary for Shenzhen or PRD tourism...

It is about the deal below:

According to the agreement inked Thursday, the Shenzhen firm will introduce the main design concept and images from the French Futuroscope park into the Shenzhen park.

Apart from images, the Shenzhen Futuroscope park will also feature a stunt performance and high-tech video center. Short films entitled “Beautiful China,” “Outer Space Station,” “Splendid Pearl River,” and “Road to Shenzhen Special Economic Zone” will be screened at the center.

An amusement area will be set up for children, to help develop their interest in high technology, and a separate area will have a special department dealing with animation and related products.

"Thru the Moebius Strip" is a animation movie, it will be set to the theaters in China Aug 4 this year, and releases in other countries, including the State, are still under negotiation. Based on French comic artist Jean "Moebius" Giraud's original story and artistic concept, Thru the Moebius Strip tells the story a young boy traveling to an alien world to find his father and learn of his destiny.

The movie, “Thru the Moebius Strip” has been shown in the digital cinema theatre at "Cannes Film Festival" in 2005.

Trailers here: 1. http://www.moebiusstrip.net/trailer/trailer2.mov 2. http://www.moebiusstrip.net/trailer/trailer3.mov

Homepage: http://www.moebiusstrip.net/start.htm

首部高清3D动画电影出世 <魔比斯环>领跑中国动漫？
2006-01-16 16:24:35　来源: 工人日报　

我国首部数字三维动画电影《魔比斯环》日前全部制作完成，并在国际上大受好评。但这部投资1.3亿元、百分之百“中国制造”的动画大片，却在制作阶段因缺乏相关政策的支持而耗时5年，遭遇“单打独斗”的尴尬局面……　　　

日前，我国内地惟一一部高清3D动画电影《魔比斯环》已经全部制作完成，影片制作方———环球数码科技研究有限公司表示，年内该片将在全球“同步放映”。而据笔者了解，此前这部整体耗时长达5年，总投资为1.3亿元，累计多达400多名创作人员参与的《魔比斯环》，在第58届戛纳电影节放映期间，深受国际业界好评，同时也受到了120多家国际电影发行商的青睐，中国动漫第一次摆脱了“替人做嫁衣”的尴尬局面，“百分之百中国制造”的动画片开始行销全球的同时，为那些还在摸索中的中国动漫产业，树立起了一个良好的营销榜样与模式。同时，《魔比斯环》五年的“难产”经历，也呼唤着中国动漫体制的改革与动漫市场的完善。

拖延工期与资金短缺暴露诸多薄弱环节

在《魔比斯环》的制作过程中，技术并非最大瓶颈。深圳作为中国动漫产业的重要基地之一，曾一度成为美日著名动画片的制作基地，培养了一批优秀的动漫技术人才。

　　但《魔比斯环》一再拖延制作工期与资金频频短缺的经济压力，充分暴露出中国动漫产业在市场运作环节与运营体制的薄弱。这部“百分之百中国制造”的动漫大片，不仅是一次技术上的挑战与证明，更是一次动漫市场的拓展、摸索与实验。中国有着优秀的动漫人才，但却没有相应的动漫产业的支持，中国成了外国人的动漫加工地，人才变成外商廉价的人力资源。

　　国外的许多动漫大片都是由中国加工制作的。美国迪士尼公司开发的动画电影《花木兰》，题材是中国的传统题材，创作人才是中国的人才，在中国制作，还卖给中国儿童观看，却让美国动漫商赚了个钵满盆盈。《花木兰》风靡世界，日本的《三国志》系列动漫游戏产品热销北美市场，可见中国并不缺乏发展原创动漫的文化资本和人才资源。但是，薄弱的市场基础和运营体制，成为了中国动漫发展迟缓的症结所在。

首尝市场调研赢得国际市场仍征途漫漫

　　 《魔比斯环》已经与国外百余家片商签订合同，2006年将踏上国际市场的漫漫征途，预计今年暑假将在国内上映，届时将会接受国内市场和观众、媒体与业界的多重考验。

　　 在很多国家，动漫创造的巨大利润和市场份额十分惊人。日本和韩国的动漫业，甚至超过了汽车业，成为了国民支柱产业之一。相比之下，早在20多年前就创造出水墨动画的中国动漫产业却落伍了。

　　长期以来，中国动漫市场被美日等大型动漫公司占据大半江山，其动漫及其周边产品在中国市场上攫取了丰厚利润。在动漫市场开拓与观众心理把握上，《魔比斯环》为中国动漫界做出了首次详细的市场调研与观众回馈。经过了数次观众试看与反馈，多次反复修改和细化工作。其工作人员表示，“为此我们付出了更多的资金与时间成本。但另一方面，我们也因此抓住了观众、抓住了市场。”

　　但是，《魔比斯环》如此巨额的花费，是否能够收回成本？看惯了欧美大片的中国观众是否买这部国产大片的账？《魔比斯环》是否能为中国动漫进行一次成功的领跑？一切还是个未知数。对此，环球公司营销部门也有清楚的认识，“《魔比斯环》的出现只能证明中国有技术能力做世界级电影，但是产业的形成则需要多个环节的衔接、相关产业的支持，以及能落在实处的政府政策。”

　　 中国动漫不仅仅需要一部《魔比斯环》来身先士卒开拓疆土，更需要一个包括市场定位、前景分析、资金来源、制作实力、播出渠道和衍生产品的开发等多个方面的完整健全的营销体系与良好外部环境的全方位支持。

动漫产业仍显幼稚亟待政府措施出台

　　 动漫被誉为21世纪最具潜力的“朝阳产业”，巨大的市场价值和经济利润已经为美日韩等动漫大国带来了丰厚的回报。而尚处于幼稚期的中国动漫，更需要政府的政策支援与大力扶植。

　　近年来，动漫产业在媒体的热炒下逐渐升温，但实际上，动漫产业的发展却仍然面临诸多实际困难。动漫产业链的建立，动漫周边行业的聚拢，动漫生产规模化的平台，都需要政府的大力扶植与帮助。但就目前而言，政府和媒体都还是停留在表层的关注，没有深入到实际需要。在动漫产业里，存在着严重的虚热问题。《魔比斯环》在制作阶段遭遇的单打独斗，进展缓慢，与缺乏相关的政策支持也有着很大的关系。

　　中国动漫的原创基础虽然薄弱，但动漫公司并不缺乏原创思维和想法。一直缺乏的，是一种让产品萌芽、发展、壮大，变成成果的外部环境。中国动漫业界呼吁政府对动漫产业实施更优惠的税收政策、建立动漫交易和推广平台，以及出台政策保障动漫在电视媒体上的播出比例、保护动漫知识产权等各方面，给予中国动漫以实质性的支持和疏导。

　相关链接　　　

　■目前，全球动漫产业的产值已趋近5000亿美元，日本的动漫产业已成为日本的第二大支柱产业。我国的动漫业与美国几乎同时起步，迪斯尼一年的产值150亿美元，我国的动漫总收入只有100亿元人民币。

　■由于《魔比斯环》的进展比预期的要长，因此所需的费用也就跟着“水涨船高”。作为深圳公司的全额投资方环球数码香港公司，一直处于亏损状态，直到2004年内地在港上市公司“首长四方”持股82％成为其最大股东，才最终缓解了资金压力，使公司的经济状况好转。

深圳拟建中华姓氏寻根园
2006年05月21日 03:13 香港商报

深圳拟建中华姓氏寻根园

港企参与总投资45亿09年建成

【商报讯】记者路洪超报道：到2009年，一座占地面积1100亩、总投资45亿元建设的‘中华姓氏寻根园’将在深圳诞生，这将成为深圳继世界之窗、欢乐谷、民俗村之后的又一大主题公园。昨日，该项目策划者慕容榕向记者透露了这一消息。而在之前的5月19日，在第二届文博会签约仪式上，美国美中文化交流控股有限公司和依高投资[香港]有限公司已与深圳方面签署协议，首期投资2亿美元和1.8亿港元共同建设这一项目。

首期计划2009年建成

据慕容榕介绍，该项目将以主题公园的形式，旨在通过10余个园区亮点，运用现代高科技手法，融寻根祭祖与休镕娱乐于一身，打造一座具有独特市场竞争力的、真正属于中国人自己的主题公园。

根据评估，该项目总投资约45亿元人民币，占地面积1100亩，首期主体计划在2009年建成，届时预计可实现年接待游客400万人次，全部建成后可年接待游客700万人次。届时，预计每年可为国家增加税收1.5亿元人民币，可安置就业人员1000多人。该主题公园建成后，辐射人群将遍布海内外华人世界。作为本届文博会的投融资重点项目，‘中华姓氏寻根园’一推出，便引起海内外客商的的重视。5月19日，美国美中文化交流控股有限公司和依高投资[香港]有限公司已与深圳方面签署协议，首期投资2亿美元和1.8亿港元[共人民币18亿元]共同建设这一项目。美中文化交流控股有限公司总裁李文森对记者表示，参加文博会最看好的项目就是这个主题公园。这个项目对凝聚海外华人心归故土有特殊意义，同时也是最好的寻根祭祖方式。

另一投资方, 依高投资[香港]有限公司隶属于东北一间实力雄厚的地产公司，有着丰富的资本运作经验。依高投资表示，这一项目将借鉴深圳其它主题公园运作经验，通过直接和海外一些华人团体联系，在‘寻根园’每年举行系列华人寻根活动，通过这种独特的经营理念吸引游客，相信潜在商业价值十分巨大。

或选址龙岗七娘山

此外，慕容榕还透露，深圳市政府对此项目高度关注，希望尽快启动。目前三方已合作成立了‘中华姓氏寻根园’项目开发小组，并已展开工作。至于项目的选址，项目组已初定于龙岗区南澳七娘山下的新大村，如果顺利的话，相信不久即会动工建设。

记者:路洪超

Shenzhen develops Asia's largest animation industry
UPDATED: 15:44, May 21, 2006. People's Daily Online

http://english.people.com.cn/200605/21/images/ani1.jpg

Employees of animation companies dressed up as cartoon figures celebrate the opening of the Shenzhen Yijing National Cartoon and Animation Industry Base in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 19, 2006. The Yijing National Cartoon and Animation Industry Base was opened here on May 19 as part of the Second China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Fair (ICIF) running from May 18 to 21. The animation industry of Shenzhen is developing rapidly during the recent years. At present, the output of the animation of Shenzhen ranks number one in Asia and fourth in the world.

http://english.people.com.cn/200605/21/images/ani4.jpg

Zhong Xiabing, former Taekwondo national athlete, perform actions for the recording by a motion capture technology for 3-D cartoon at the Shenzhen Yijing National Cartoon and Animation Industry Base in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 18, 2006.

http://english.people.com.cn/200605/21/images/ani3.jpg

Animation director F. A. Skycat (Rear) instructs a 3-D animationer on the production of the cartoon "Fruits Tribe" at the Shenzhen Yijing National Cartoon and Animation Industry Base in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 19, 2006.

http://english.people.com.cn/200605/21/images/ani2.jpg

Wu Yanli, an animationer, works at the Shenzhen Rising Dragon Animation and Cultural Communication Company at the Shenzhen Yijing National Cartoon and Animation Industry Base in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, May 19, 2006.

Boorish, loud and the most sought after
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Los Angeles Times

Beijing is using increasingly affluent Chinese tourists to score diplomatic points, writes Mark Magnier

The curious incident of the pig's-head meal vouchers and the anthem-singing sit-in offers a cautionary tale about what can happen when the world's most populous nation suddenly becomes the globe's biggest tour group.

At a casino hotel in Malaysia's Genting Highlands last summer, 300-plus members of a Chinese tour group were issued meal coupons with the crude illustrations indicating that they ate pork - unlike most people in that predominantly Muslim country.

The tourists, however, reportedly interpreted the drawings as a message that Chinese were pigs, leading to a lobby sit-in and an impassioned rendition of China's national anthem. The standoff was only broken up with the arrival of dog-wielding police.

Cultural misunderstandings are just some of the possible pitfalls as millions of increasingly affluent Chinese tourists head overseas, shopping lists in hand, to see the world. Often loud, nouveaux riches and increasingly on your doorstep, the newly minted tourists show anew how the rising aspirations of China's 1.3 billion people are fundamentally reshaping the world.

For a Beijing keen to recast its global image, high-spending tourists are also an increasingly useful way to offset trade imbalances and blunt outdated perceptions of China as a nation of grim-faced cadres.

For decades after the 1949 Communist takeover, the idea of traveling overseas for pleasu
re was anathema, a sign you were ideologically suspect, even a possible spy. "I couldn't imagine a trip like this a couple of decades ago," said Han Yushu, 63, a retired teacher heading for Europe, his first trip outside China. "Life is really improving."

About 32 million Chinese ventured overseas last year, a six-fold increase over 1997 and a 50-fold increase since 1985, with 100 million projected annually by 2020.

"The potential is just enormous," said Jia Yiyuan, outbound deputy general manager with China Comfort Travel, a Beijing-based travel agency. "Some people say Venice is sinking because of all the Chinese tourists."

Although most remain close to home, a growing number are venturing to Europe, Latin America and Africa. Their priorities are also different. Even as they scrimp on rooms and food, they're shopping aggressively for luxury bags, watches and designer clothes to the tune of US$987 (HK$7,698.6) per overseas visitor, more than the Japanese, making them the world leaders, according to a survey by ACNielsen and Tax Free World Association.

In keeping with China's near- obsession with control, outbound tourist flows are guided through a series of "approved destination status" agreements with foreign countries. These require Chinese to use a select number of pre-approved travel agents.

Initially difficult to get, destination approval has now been won by more than 115 countries. Beijing continues to use this "privilege" strategically, however. When Premier Wen Jiabao traveled to Fiji in April, destination approval was among the cookies offered the tiny South Pacific nation in return for not recognizing Taiwan diplomatically. Tourism incentives were also used recently to wrench Grenada and Dominica from Taiwan's diplomatic orbit.

More broadly, Beijing is using tourism to win diplomatic points with resource-rich African and Latin American nations keen to diversify their economies, in line with its gradual expansion of global power.

"Chinese tourists can be a real contributor to the global economy and world peace," said Zhang Guangrui, director of tourist research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "China needs the world, and the world needs China."

Prominently missing from the approved list is the United States, less a function of Beijing foot-dragging than restrictive US visa policies after September 11, 2001. Washington has also balked at channeling business through preferred travel agents, which it terms market interference. Chinese still tour the United States on official, student and family-visit visas, but these are more difficult to get.

"This is the third time since 2001 I applied for a US visa," said Wang Xibing, 70, emerging from the US Embassy in Beijing. "I finally got it, but it's a bit late. I wanted to travel with my wife, who died last year. America is good in other ways, but not this one."

By the 1980s, Beijing was more concerned with safeguarding political control and hoarding hard currency. Now, however, China has a new problem: huge, politically sensitive trade surpluses and a reputation for stealing jobs. That has made tourists prone to emptying their wallets the world over increasingly useful. The lure of profits is also inspiring more foreigners to learn Mandarin and strengthen cultural links, moves that promise payoffs decades into the future.

Beijing's growing willingness to let 'em fly away reflects a growing confidence that most Chinese will return even without an iron curtain. The prospect of more Chinese visiting Europe and America has also given the status- conscious nation great "face" by reversing the long-standing pattern of rich Caucasians visiting "backward" China.

"Chinese tourism can also do a lot for global good, helping poverty if a significant share goes to Africa," Geoffrey Lipman, a special adviser to the UN World Tourism Organization, said at a recent conference in Beijing. "China very much sees itself as a player on the global stage."

China recently surpassed Japan as the Asian nation with the most overseas tourists, prompting more hotels worldwide to install Chinese programming, decorate rooms in "auspicious" red shades, relocate beds away from windows in the interest of feng shui and serve up rice porridge for breakfast. Mexico is hoping to attract 100,000 Chinese visitors by 2010, a nine-fold increase over current levels, South Africa hopes for a 12-fold increase to 2.5 million by 2010, while Thailand is already welcoming one million a year and looking for more. Singapore has dropped its casino ban to compete.

As with many issues involving China and the world, however, tourism represents a two-edged sword. Even as more money flows in, foreign countries remain wary of Chinese leaving their tours to live and work illegally. Malaysia is reportedly unable to trace 50,000 Chinese who entered the country last year, some said to have departed on forged passports, others working as laborers, others as "noon brides," or prostitutes.

Eager to earn the money without the political problems, host countries have devised numerous strategies. "We like school groups," said Toshinobu Ikubo, Beijing director of the Japan National Tourist Organization. "They tend to spend more, and they never escape."

Countries often require prospective tourists to post large deposits, endure probing interviews and show evidence of credible employment. They also hold tour agencies responsible, blacklisting companies with too many defections.

"This is a big headache, and it's just not fair," said Jia of China Comfort Travel. "They turn us into policemen."

Tourists are sometimes dubbed a nation's cultural ambassadors. In China's case, however, cackling loudly, tossing chicken bones in restaurants and walking around hotel lobbies in pajamas can leave some rather undiplomatic impressions. "Vientiane braces for Chinese hordes ... of noisy, spitting tourists," blared a recent headline in a Hong Kong newspaper.

Wary of the bad press, the central government, tour agencies and concerned individuals have tried to school outgoing tourists. "Spitting, slurping food and jumping queues disgusts people at home," state-run New China News Service warned last month. "But it is intolerable in other countries."

China is tipped to become the world's top tourist destination, and foreign hotel chains are rushing to cash in
BY SIMON ELEGANT | BEIJING



JW MARRIOTT
HEIGHTS OF LUXURY: The restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai
http://img.timeinc.net/time/asia/magazine/2006/0703/china_hotel.jpg


Monday, Jun. 26, 2006
The view from the top of Beijing's newest and tallest skyscraper is to die for. Still a year from completion, the upper floors are a mess of flapping safety nets and tangled steel wires, but there are glimpses of what will be a spectacular, 360-degree panorama. The outlook to the west is particularly stunning梐 sweep down the wide swath of Chang'an Avenue, past the Forbidden City over roofs and parks all the way out to the hazy crests of the Western Hills. It's the best view in China's booming capital, and you'd expect one of the country's corporate titans to be taking up residence on the top floors. But it's a testament to the rising prominence of one of China's hottest industries that the top five floors of the building will, in fact, be occupied by the lobby of a Park Hyatt that promises to be Beijing's snazziest hotel.

Even by China's skewed standards, the surge of foreign interest in launching and managing new mainland hotels is astounding. "It's stratospheric," says Patrick Ford, president of Lodging Econometrics, a U.S.-based industry-research group. "China is the most attractive place in the world right now for hotels. That's why investment capital is racing there and why the major international brands are racing there too." Indeed, 188 new hotels are under construction in China, says Ford, and 145 of them are four- or five-star offerings with more than 200 rooms. Even if some of these projects aren't completed, this building spree could bring as many as 30,000 new rooms to China at a cost of more than $8 billion.

China has, of course, seen its share of gold rushes before, many of which ended with little return (or large losses) for investors who stampeded in. But this time many foreign companies seem set to make a tidy profit, not least because this is one industry in which the Chinese are ill-equipped to undercut overseas rivals while also providing the requisite quality of service. "You can knock off Prada or Montblanc," says Ralph Grippo, China manager for Ritz-Carlton hotels. "But there's no way you can knock off luxury service. It's about human beings and experience. That's not something you can duplicate." Ford agrees: "There's no Chinese company right now that can go toe to toe with Marriott," or with other big chains such as Hyatt, Hilton and Westin. "They just don't have the brand name or international drawing power." As a result, local firms are eagerly teaming up with the foreign giants, which contribute their names and expertise, and also ensure that the hotels are designed to exacting standards. The local partners tend to put up the cash for construction, while the foreign firms earn steady management fees for running the hotels.


Heady projections about the future of China's travel industry also help to explain this frenzy of hotel building. Already the world's fourth most popular tourist destination, the country is expected to move into second position within a decade, according to the World Tourism Association. By 2020, China is forecast to overtake the U.S. as the world's most-visited country, pulling in some 130 million visitors a year. China's burgeoning domestic-tourism market is also critical in the bullish calculations of hotel companies. By 2010, the number of domestic tourists is forecast to soar from 1.2 billion to about 1.8 billion.
Further fueling this domestic-tourism boom is the dramatic rise in car sales and the rapid construction of a national highway network, making travel more practical and alluring. China has about 34,000 km of highways, a number that's expected to more than double by 2020. "The highways linking cities in Inner Mongolia are better than the road between Sydney and Melbourne," marvels Bruce McKenzie, who oversees China operations for the U.K.-based InterContinental group, which is among the most aggressive of the international players in China. It currently runs 54 hotels there, mostly under the Holiday Inn marque, and it plans to triple that figure by the end of 2008. Appropriately, Holiday Inn rose to prominence amid another boom, profiting from extensive highway construction across the U.S. after World War II. The chain started with four hotels in Memphis in 1952, expanding to about 1,000 by 1968. "We see the opportunity to replicate what happened in the U.S.," says McKenzie.

It may be a decade before business really starts to boom in some of the secondary cities now being targeted梞etropolises like Hefei, Harbin and Chengdu. But early movers such as InterContinental hope to reap the benefits of choice locations and greater brand awareness by getting there first. Eric Wong, a property-sector analyst for UBS Hong Kong, observes: "If I'm a big hotel company, the question is, should I wait ten years to plant my flag in China now? The big chains have all decided, and are in the midst of a flag-planting race."

Yet with so many hoteliers vying over the same territory, an industry shakeout may be inevitable. "A lot of the newcomers are going in because the head office says, 'You have to be in China,'" says Wong. But there's a risk that this will lead to overbuilding and that many rooms will go empty in secondary cities. Even in primary markets like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, demand may not keep pace with supply. "It's already difficult to get a good location in the gateway cities," says Wong. "Some of the new grand palaces will be pulled off the market later on."

Less exclusive segments of the market are already getting crowded. The Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt chains all have plans for big pushes within the "economy" segment of the industry, defined as three stars and below, importing brands such as Marriott Courtyard and Hilton Garden Inns from the U.S. Several Chinese hotel companies, notably the Jinjiang Group, are chasing after the same market, intensifying the sense of urgency. "It's amazing how fast things move in China," says Brian Deeson, head of China operations for the French lodging group Accor, which has four Ibis Hotels on the mainland and plans to have 50 of them in operation by the end of 2008. "You have to keep moving very fast to keep your advantage."


From the Jul. 03, 2006 issue of TIME Asia Magazine

:)
Down the hill to Longji terrace (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-guangxi-longsheng.asp), we went by car to Longsheng hot spring which wins the reputation of The first hot spring of southern China.
It locates in the national forest park of Longsheng hot spring which is 32 miles far from the county and it is the centre and soul of the park. Recorded by the history of Longsheng County: sulfur in this spring which can cure skin disease, water is very pure and not smelly. Although it sits deeply in the mountain, there still lots of visitors come there; I can image the springs history.
The car ran along the Sangjiang River; the mountains on each of the bank were up-and-down, on which the trees were heavily wooded; firs and bushes which are like loyal guarders, watch the mountains on the banks. There is a pellucid stream on the left road in which pebble stone can be seen, in which duck swims. Look from distance by the window, streams of Sangjiang River run from the land which have existed for thousands of years, following along with the bobbin; singing sounded by the washing women, my thoughts went far away.

http://www.achinatravel.com/photos/ls-wq/ls-wq_05.jpg
We came to the terminal of this journey----Centre Hotel of Longsheng Spring, companies with the singing scenery which run in sight is the dense forest, which give us a stimulus. Immediately, the Spring Centre Hotel built by the mountains caught our eye sights. We surprised the Longsheng (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-guangxi-longsheng.asp) peoples attention to tourism, as there was a magnificent five star hotel in the deep mountain.

http://www.achinatravel.com/photos/ls-wq/ls-wq_01.jpg

http://www.achinatravel.com/photos/ls-wq/ls-wq_04.jpg
The hall of the hotel was studded by an engraving of Longji terrace, which told every visitor that terrace and spring are the pride of Longsheng, which linked closely. The hotel was consisted with the main building of the four stars; and SPA building of five stars, with every guest room is flat with mountain scenery, when opening the window, it seems you can touch the blue sky, forest, fountain, and falls. It may be contented thing to sit in couch enjoying the scenery outside.
There are little bridges and green bamboo in the scenic spot, which make the scenery very superb, as if we fell into the fairyland, or the heaven. Wandering between the green-black Mountain and pure river which combine originality with modern times perfectly, we felt that how time flied! Unconsciously, we reached the spring.

http://www.achinatravel.com/photos/ls-wq/ls-wq_02.jpg
The fountains shot from 1,200m deeper of the layer of rock, which formed two springs of cold and hot ones after circling, the fountain slope down the stone wall of cliff, inpouring into the bathtubs which are made of pebbles with all shapes and sizes. The fountain affluxes slowly, flowing out from the outlet of its bottom, it made the fountains pellucid and clear all the time. Although there were lots of hot spring around our country, Longsheng Spring was famous for its natural fountain which can be drunk easily, without the smell of sulphuric acid.
Secondly, its temperature that formed naturally. The cold and hot fountains keep abreast pouring down the cliff; one of them was as a basin of scalding soup, the other was like a handful of snow. The temperature of the two springs can be regulated automatically. With the natural spring and the thick wood, one can absorb the fresh air, and also enjoy the spring. How happy the Yao minority people are to live there.

http://www.achinatravel.com/photos/ls-wq/ls-wq_03.jpg
The spring located in the hidden valley, with peaks around it. It is warm in winter and cool in summer. Wandering in the fairyland where we can enjoy the bamboo dancing in the wind at daytime, listening to the river singing at night, we really have fun there.
Laying in the quiet bathtub, let the body be moistened by the warm spring, you could understand this temperature was proper, when you were caught up it entirely, you would feel that it was so near and familiar. Holding your head suddenly, three poetic Chinese words burst in your sight, dipping your head and listening, it was calling lowly;in another way, it was listening your soft saying.
At that time, I smelt the leaves.
I changed into another room with another temperature. The water was warmer there, it caressed me. The fell of warm, quiet, sweet fulfilled my heart. The water then was like a flood of strength which chucked my body, released my heart, and make my idea went far and far. I had seen colorful light glassed themselves in a sheet of skyey water which rippling into my heart. I doubt that I had heart snow falling on the roof.
The temperature of Jingyi basin is the highest. The water flew out from the stone cranny, which surrounded by mist. Lying in it, I did want to think nothing, say nothing, only want to enjoy the quietness and peace which far from the city.
The light were twinkling in the night, with the stars blinking their eyes in the sky, the night was so charming which make me have a sound sleep, sweet and comfortable.

beijing (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-beijing.asp) shanghai (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-shanghai.asp) xi'an (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-shaanxi-xian.asp) tibet (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-tibet.asp) lijiang (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-yunnan-lijiang.asp) yunnan (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-yunnan.asp) guilin (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-guangxi-guilin.asp) yangshuo (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-guangxi-yangshuo.asp) anshun (http://www.achinatravel.com/china-travel/china-guizhou-anshun.asp) yangtze river cruises (http://www.achinatravel.com/packagetour/package-yangtzeriver-cruise.asp)

Msn: achinatravel8@hotmail.com
Email: int@achinatravel.com
Yahoo Messenger: little_monkeycn@yahoo.com.cn are all available

Where are US travelers most likely to travel in 2007? According to an annual list of travel hotspots published by Lonely Planet, an Australian company which produces an immensely successful series of travel guides, China is set to be the most popular overseas holiday destination in the world next year.

In a survey of members of the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA), China was also recognized as the best place to get value for money. China, India and Croatia tied for second place on the USTOA's list of the world's hottest emerging destinations for packaged travel, behind South-East Asia.

Asia is overtaking Europe as the most popular destination for Americans traveling abroad. According to statistics from the US Commerce Department, in the first nine months of this year, the number of US citizens flying to Asia was up 7 percent from last year, and the number flying to Europe up 4 percent. However, Britain, France, Italy and Germany were still among the top ten most popular destinations for American tourists in 2005. Japan was ranked seventh, the Chinese mainland tenth, and Hong Kong twelfth. The growth rate of American tourists traveling to Asia is increasing by approximately 20 percent every year.

According to Chinese statistics, there were 1.56 million travelers to China from the US in 2005, up 1.9 percent from the previous year. The US is the fourth biggest source of tourists to China, but as a fraction of the 60 million Americans that travel abroad every year, the number is small.

The enthusiasm of Americans traveling to China has not been dampened by the rising value of the yuan against the US dollar, which has made travel to China more expensive than before.

By People's Daily Online

traveling in India and China are completely different experiences.....

China is an amazing contry and perhaps the most important Asian one...:)

hm.. I'm totally confused...
The title says China is to be number 1. then article says it will be fighting for second place with countries like Croatia and by the end of it it says that China is in 10th place... so where is the truth?
Is this a treatment facts are getting from People's daily??
Not too well done... WHom is it targeted to?? People with half brain?

um... read carefully, first of all it says that its next year (2007), not this years, second it is stated by loney planet, which according to wiki has many of its member favoring China as a destination.

YAKUM:
Nope!
Title doesn't say anything about Lonely Planet.
Also, apart form title itself, there is NO any indication in the body of the message where does that number come from. It is typical juggling with figures. Basic point is to give reader too many different figures and in this way to confuse and in this confusion slip in some number. Idea is that confused reader will simply swallow the title number as most people wouldn't really bother to follow reasoning. This pure case of propaganda!
Read carefully... Title says about US travelers, then first line mentions Lonely Planet hot spot list - that in itself is NOT linked to any survey and particularly of American travelers, but something of a fad, or trend, or suggestion barring as much valid statistical importance as some fashion designer's claim that black is out and blue is in - in other words an opinion.
Only after that we are presented with some data resembling some sort of statistics, lets just assume credible one. And that doesn't say that China (as well as other countries listed in that part) are most popular, or going to be most popular, all it says just that listed countries offer good value and that China's popularity for package trips, along with other listed there, is on the rise. Again, NO mention of it going to be #1 for any kind.
After that we are presented with Statistics from US Commerce department which for year 2005 put china on 10th place in the rank of most popular designations.
This is followed by Chinese statistics for same year stating indirectly that not too large percentage of Americans are actually traveling to China.
At the end we are give pathetic spin up attempt with the Yuan appreciation - yeah right! (it is so minuscule that couldn't be really taken serious into consideration for the cost of travel at this scale)
The end.
So, now tell me, where does the claim put into the title come from?? From what data??

k, even if its a propaganda what good will come out of it? to make our self feel good? well.. from the voice of Chinese citizens I've heard these years, these static means nothing (besides not much Chinese even bother if westeners come to China or not), besides, it not like other western media don't do these kind of things, I still remember numerous cases of bbc news where the title says one thing and the content almost contradict its title or means other things.
btw: my name end with n, not m

simfox, if you have problem with the chinese government then please stay out this part of the fourm, in case another out break of verbal attck

Sorry for misspelling you name, Yakun.
I don\t have problem with Chinese government per se. And definitely not with Chinese people.
But articles like this NO MATTER where the come from aren't something to be taken lightly. This is a stuff that breeds all that nationalistic mess taht actually leads to all those fights we see here all over the place.
I believe this should be show for what it is.
BTW I wouldn't mind if someone will come up and shown me (with facts) that I'm wrong. As I've said I don't really have any numbers to say prove this article wrong. All I did is just examine that the title said and what facts were provided int he article itself.
As far as BBC goes, I have to sie with you on this one.
More then once I've caught it providing VERY tinted translations ad at least ones translation that was absolutely wrong, but wrong in a way to suit the point correspondent tried to push in the report. I don't know was it just that particular reporter, proverbial bad apple, or were the people making the program aware of this PURPOSEFUL misstanslation. At any rate it left very nasty aftertaste.
And this is EXACTLY the reason I've decided to voice my opinion about this article here. We as people should stand for this crap, NO MATTER who is pushing it on us.

hehe, thanks for explaning :)

SimFox, Bush should hire you to write his speech.

Sorry for misspelling you name, Yakun.
I don\t have problem with Chinese government per se. And definitely not with Chinese people.
But articles like this NO MATTER where the come from aren't something to be taken lightly. This is a stuff that breeds all that nationalistic mess taht actually leads to all those fights we see here all over the place.
I believe this should be show for what it is.
BTW I wouldn't mind if someone will come up and shown me (with facts) that I'm wrong. As I've said I don't really have any numbers to say prove this article wrong. All I did is just examine that the title said and what facts were provided int he article itself.
As far as BBC goes, I have to sie with you on this one.
More then once I've caught it providing VERY tinted translations ad at least ones translation that was absolutely wrong, but wrong in a way to suit the point correspondent tried to push in the report. I don't know was it just that particular reporter, proverbial bad apple, or were the people making the program aware of this PURPOSEFUL misstanslation. At any rate it left very nasty aftertaste.
And this is EXACTLY the reason I've decided to voice my opinion about this article here. We as people should stand for this crap, NO MATTER who is pushing it on us.

sorry for the confusion. I read it through once again. per the first sentence, the article comes to the conlusion "China to become the first choice for US travelers in 2007" from Lonely Planet's annual list.

and Lonely Planet's annual hotspot list was chosen by U.S.-based staffers. (pls. see next post). Of course it's not based on a million-people survey but you can't simply say the article title is wrong.

By Don George
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.31.2006
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/162452

To inspire travelers' adventures in the new year, Lonely Planet has just published the "Bluelist," a 260-page compendium of top places to go and things to do around the world, compiled from our globe-girdling staff, authors and on-the-road travelers. In addition to profiles of 30 hotter-than-ever countries, the book contains 40 "bluelists" of recommendations in such categories as Best Adventure Travel Ideas, Dining on the Wild Side, Best Music & Place Combinations, Most Deserted Islands and Tourist Traps Worth the Stay.
With these in mind, we asked our U.S.-based staffers to choose their three top hot spots for 2007. We compiled their responses and came up with our collective bluelist. Wondering where to go in the new year? Here are our recommendations, along with selected staffers' comments.

Number 10: two-way tie of Mexico and India.
Mexico: "Mexico offers a vibrant culture and delicious regional cuisine far beyond the American taco-burrito-tostada staples; it's tropical, easy to get to and cheap. Music-lovers should be sure to check out Mexico City's thriving underground music scene."
India: "From the Taj Mahal to Kerala, Darjeeling to Rajasthan, India is one of the world's treasure houses — if you want to change your perspective on life, go there!"

Number nine: Greece. "After the obligatory course in Ruins 101 — the Acropolis, Delphi, etc. — savvy travelers are heading off the beaten track to islands like Amorgos, rich in windmills and monasteries, or the Peloponnesian region of Arcadia, which offers an alluring and relatively unexplored combination of medieval mountain villages, Mycenean palaces, Frankish fortresses, precipitous ravines and picturesque plateaus. Urban lovers should be sure to visit Thessaloniki, too, the country's No. 2 city with a cuisine and character all its own."

Number eight: Spain. "Be sure to visit San Sebastian on the northern Basque coast. From art nouveau architecture to world-class restaurants — would you believe 13 Michelin stars? — this place is definitely hot!"

Number seven: Nicaragua. "Nicaragua is one of the safest countries in which to travel in Central America; it has the wonderful cities of Leon and Granada, the Isla de Ometepe, rain forests, beaches, the famed Miskito Coast and the Corn Islands, and a distinctive national identity. Go!"

Number six: Turkey. "I love Turkey for the numerous ancient sites, gorgeous coast and unique architecture — and the spice markets, mosques and Turkish coffee in tiny cafes."

Number five: Brazil. "Tropical, sexy Brazil has always had its lures — pristine beaches, music-filled cities with pulsing nightlife, the lush Amazon rain forest, wildlife-watching in the Pantanal. But the tourism scene in Brazil is really taking off now. Top-end boutique hotels — including the new Philippe Starck creation, the Fasano in Rio de Janeiro — are springing up to meet the demand."

Number four: Argentina. "The country's got fabulous food and wine, culture and countryside; it's warmly welcoming to travelers, safe and still very affordable due to exchange rates."

Number three: Morocco. "Scenic landscapes and exotic cities such as Marrakech and Fez, rich history and culture, great adventure and beach activities, and easy access from Spain will combine to make this the travel hit of 2007."

Number two: U.S.A. From Hawaii ("tropical, safe, great culture and natural beauty") to New Orleans ("people want to see what has become of their beloved place and still want to enjoy its fruits, or help it return to its full glory") to Brooklyn ("hot art and restaurant scenes, still with neighborhood intimacy"), the U.S.A. is poised for a great year.

Number one: And the winner for the 2007 hot spot is — China! "For its diverse landscapes, amazing culture, world heritage sites and general affordability, China is the place to visit this year. Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong all warrant some travel time, but travelers who really want to understand China should get out into the rural areas where 70 percent of the population still lives. There, the old foundations of the new China are poignantly revealed."

http://www.azstarnet.com/ss/2006/12/31/l162452-1.jpg
The beauty of rural China helped propel that country to No. 1 on Lonely Planet's U.S.-based staffers' list of top places to visit in 2007.
Martin Moos / Lonely Planet Images

Travels with Lonely Planet
● Don George is Lonely Planet's global travel editor. You can e-mail him at don.george@lonelyplanet.com. For more travel information, visit LonelyPlanet.com.

Another similiar article from Seattle Times, Who's hot in travel for 2007
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/2003501071_webtrends31.html

But this isn't only a ranking of number of US americans who went to those places? Is there a similar ranking but about Europeans instead of americans?

http://cimg2.163.com/cnews/2007/1/28/200701281126374586a.jpg
http://cimg2.163.com/cnews/2007/1/28/20070128112653a31ce.jpg
英商界狂人欲斗“中国赌王”

计划在澳门投资30亿美元兴建酒店及赌场加入当地博彩业竞争
南方都市报1月28日报道 澳门消息英国巨富、维珍航空老板布兰森计划豪掷30亿美元“买路钱”，硬闯刚击退拉斯维加斯成为“世界第一赌城”的澳门，挑战有“中国赌王”之称、坐澳门博彩业第一把交椅的何鸿燊。有学者认为，随着愈来愈多国际级企业沾手澳门赌业，当地新一拨的博彩业混战格局即将展开。

“狂人”出手就是30亿美元

《澳门日报》引述《金融时报》消息说，英国“商界狂人”理查德·布兰森(RichardBranson)旗下的维珍集团，计划在澳门投资30亿美元兴建博彩度假酒店，拟买入20公顷土地兴建3间酒店及一间赌场。

维珍集团发言人说，布兰森在上周到访澳门，商讨在澳开设娱乐消闲度假村。这位56岁的富翁，今后很可能与金沙的艾德森及永利的史提芬一起逐鹿濠江。

有学者认为，维珍或会为澳门博彩业带来新的经营理念，但其加入势必令澳门博彩业竞争更为激烈。考虑到地域距离的关系，虽然维珍在航空业有优势，但未必能为澳门吸引太多新的外国客源。

新赌场预计2010年落成

如果要在澳门成为赌牌经营者，布兰森需要从现有赌牌经营者手上买下副牌，或与赌牌经营者合作。澳门政府已明言，在2009年以前，不会再发放更多赌牌。

据《金融时报》报道，布兰森在澳门期间，曾与行政长官何厚铧会面，并谈到拨地问题，希望争取一两个月内达成协议，随后即可动工兴建，预期2010年落成。

去年澳门博彩收入达558亿澳门元，超越拉斯维加斯金光大道。

China's top universities overrun by tourists

BEIJING, Aug 6 (Reuters) - China's two premier universities are being invaded by thousands of tourists this summer, prompting complaints from teachers and students.

The lawns of Peking university -- once part of the Yuan Ming Yuan Imperial Gardens -- and Tsinghua university host an estimated 4,000 to 10,000 tourists a day, Xinhua news agency said on Monday.

Students and professors are complaining that their academic ambience is being disturbed by the constant rounds of organized tour groups on campus and demanding something be done.

"Just a couple of days ago several tourists with their luggage sat in a classroom, talking out loud," Chen, a graduate student at Peking University, was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

The problem was so bad one day last summer when an estimated 20,000 tourists flooded Peking University's campus that the school was forced to shut its gates to outsiders.

The surge in tourists has brought litter, destruction of the lawns and graffiti.

"A university is not a park. We would like some peace to in our daily lives and to focus on our studies," said Professor Ma Rong of Peking University.

Both universities are curtailing visiting hours for tour groups, while Tsinghua University is increasing patrols to supervise visitors' behaviour.

Travel agencies are capitalizing on the thirst for knowledge common to families across the nation, Xinhua said.

"I just want my son to feel the environment of Tsinghua and pursue higher learning. When we go home he'll probably be more inclined to take supplementary courses and improve his studies," said a parent who came from the central China city of Wuhan.

Universities should arrange tour schedules more carefully and travel agencies should promote civil behaviour by the tourists, said Fu Jia'nan, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

With the Beijing Olympics just a year away, the government is worried that "uncultured" behaviour will embarrass the country and has been encouraging people to be more "civil".

This is indeed an annoying problem - for the students as well as for the lecturers. They should allow tourist activities on campus only during the holidays.

Well, I used to be in MIT and the campus gets like two to three thousands visitors a day 15 years ago. Usually, if you plan to visit the campus, you have to call in advance (WWW was just in infancy that time so you have to call by phone). The faculty requires the visitors not to create a big noise, no food and drink except water bottle (no smoking of course). The group tour is composed of 20 - 30 people. The faculty do not let the visitors go pass the classrooms (unless if its empty), the labs (especially the stricter ones of course), and they do not let the visitors go inside the library by massive groups (10 - 15 people whispering is creating a big noise). The campus was flooded more with massive visitors after the Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams movie "Good Will Hunting". I am not sure if that is still the same after the 9/11 event.

China to open up pristine southern islands

BEIJING, Aug 10 (AFP) Aug 10, 2007
China will allow tourists to start visiting a group of pristine tropical islands off its southern coast that are currently occupied by the military, state press reported Friday.
The Xisha archipelago, about 330 kilometres (200 miles) south of China's Hainan island tourist mecca and west of central Vietnam, have long been eyed by tourist operators as a potentially lucrative destination.

Hainan province authorities have finally given the green light to tourism there, and plan to invite big tour groups to organise visits along designated routes, the China Daily newspaper reported, citing local tourism board sources.

"Tourists will be travelling to the islands on cruise ships," an official involved in setting up the tourism plan told the China Daily.

The 45 islands, covering an area around 250 kilometres long and 150 kilometres wide, are currently strictly off-limits, partly because they hold strategic importance for China's military.

However, the China Daily cited one lucky reporter who went there last year as giving rave reviews.

"The islands' scenery is even more beautiful than that of Hainan island. The seawater is so clear that you can see more than 10 metres under the surface. Tropical plants are everywhere," journalist Ouyang Jie said.

nice. These islands will be in my travel plans.

China to close scenic peak on tourist attraction Huangshan to visitors for maintenance
13 August 2007

BEIJING (AP) - Chinese tourism authorities have closed one of the peaks on popular tourist attraction Huangshan mountain for three years to allow vegetation to recover from the hordes of tourists who visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The barring of visitors to Danxia Feng, or "Purple Cloud Peak," is part of a revolving series of closures of sites on the mountain, located in Anhui province, about 745 miles south of the Chinese capital, Beijing.

Another of the mountain's scenic spots, Shixin Peak, reopened to tourists on July 1 after authorities restored trees and shrubs. The official China Daily newspaper called the closure the "latest move to protect one of China's World Heritage Sites."

Famed for stunning scenery that has inspired countless landscape paintings, Huangshan, or "Yellow Mountain," attracts millions of visitors each year who clamber up thousands of steps. The area boasts 72 named peaks within a 59-square-mile area, with the three highest rising above 5,905 feet.

China has among UNESCO's largest number of listed sites, although their management has sometimes come under criticism. UNESCO this year expressed concern over development at Tibet's Potala palace and five other Chinese sites.

I went there a few years ago, and there were so many tourists and tour groups with tons of bullhorns and noise all the time. It's a beautiful place, but it would be better if there was peace and quiet there. I didn't notice a lack of vegetation though, but China has a lot of people, so of course there will be a lot of people at tourist zones. (food costs so much at a hotel at the top, because porters have to drag it up the mountain, no roads).

Updated: 2007-10-15 09:20


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ezine/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20071015/0013729e44e1087d052902.jpg

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has planned to build the world's largest national park by integrating the scattered neighboring tourist resorts into a whole.


The Kanas Geological Park, now around 1,000 square kilometers, will be expanded to about ten times larger in a few years after incorporating the nearby tourist regions and grassland, said Tan Weiping, head of the park administration committee.


Tan said under a new tourism development plan, the Tiere Keti town of Kaba County and the Hom Kanas town of Burqin County will be included in the new national park, which s expected to replace America's Yellowstone National Park, covering an area of about 9,000 square kilometers, to become the world's largest.


"The new national park is helpful to protect the unique natural scenery, wildlife and cultural relics here," said Tan.


The local government has invested more than 8 million yuan (1.06 million US dollars) to map out the incorporation plan.


Kanas geological park, almost 1,000 kilometers north of Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, boasts a range of landscapes, including the Kanas Lake, China's deepest alpine lake, snow-capped mountains and grassland.


The park has attracted more and more tourists since it opened in the 1980s. It received 917,000 tourists in the first 10 months this year, a 32 percent growth over the same period of last year, and the figure is expected to exceed one million by the end of this year.


However, the booming tourism has also brought increasing environmental pressure to Kanas, which has also been called "the god's backyard" for its beautiful scenery.


"Local residents have set up many wooden restaurants and family inns nearby the lakes and in the forests over the past years, which have caused pollution to the environment," said Tan.


Under the new tourism development plan, the restaurants and inns have been demolished and will be removed to a new accommodation zone, which is about three kilometers away from the Kanas geological park and tourists can go to the park by shuttle bus.

Congratulations to China, I would like to see pics of this park, do you have any pic?

Half Chinese travelers want to scrap 'golden weeks'

BEIJING -- Half of Chinese travelers want to abolish all "Golden week" holidays, except Spring Festival, according to a survey released by Ctrip on Thursday.

The survey of 2,200 travelers with annual salaries above 60,000 yuan (8,000 U.S. dollars) found most wanted to retain the seven-day Spring Festival holiday when Chinese celebrate the lunar new year and a very important occasion of family reunion, the Beijing News reports.

Ctrip is the largest consolidator of hotel accommodation and airline tickets for China's individual travelers.

About 14 percent of the respondents supported scrapping all three "golden week" holidays and 49.4 percent wanted to scrap or change the May Day and National Day "golden weeks" and retain the Spring Festival holiday.

If the government scrapped one or more week-long holidays, 60.1 percent favored compulsory paid vacation in their place to allow every worker to arrange their own holidays, the survey found.

The government began the week-long holidays on the National Day, May Day and Spring Festival, which usually falls in January or February, in 1999.

Millions of Chinese flocked to national parks, scenic spots and world heritage sites on "golden weeks", overloading service facilities such as transportation, hotels and restaurants.

The government initially hoped the week-long vacation would stimulate consumption.

However, 53.3 percent of respondents believed the biggest advantage of the "golden weeks" was "the right to rest and take a paid vacation".

Tang Yibo, director of Ctrip's tourism business, said compulsory paid vacation would better distribute tourism demand, making travel packages cheaper and services more comfortable.

Paid vacation has been implemented in some joint ventures in big cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, by which workers arrange their holidays in accordance with the employer's situation.

However, many experts, including national political advisor Cai Jiming, said compulsory paid vacation would be difficult to implement for several years as Chinese employers had no conventions for the practice.

Shao Qiwei, director of the National Tourism Administration, revealed that concerned departments are considering perfecting the holidays to allow services to meet demand after this year's National Day holidays when 146 million travel fares were sold.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/19/content_6192210.htm

Always hoped that they would scrap the May 1st labour day holiday.

It's a great strain on the infrastructure having the country head home / go on vacation on set weeks. Tourism booms over these specified periods of time mean huge crowds and should be spread out a bit more evenly across the year.

Many tourist attractions are overburden during the Golden Weeks, where not many people to visit in other period and even closed for maintainmance. It would be much better to have a paid vacation and let the employees to choose when to take the vacation. That would also good for those tourist attractions for having better in regular maintainmance.

In the past few years, as more mainland tourists visit Hong Kong and Macau, we've been hearing a lot about 0 fee tours and the consequences of tourists being forced to shop to make up for the 'free' cost of travel. Are mainlanders aware of the downsides of these tours and are they still available? The central government is considering banning such practices, which harm both tourists and the tourism industries in Hong Kong and Macau, such as instigating a minimum price for tours.

There was a major tourist riot in Macau just a few days ago, so I am afraid these ‘zero-$ tours’ have not been outlawed so far.


Macau riot police were called in to calm down 120 angry Chinese tourists on a wind-swept beach who had protested angrily to tour guides over an itinerary too packed with shopping.

The tourists, pushing and struggling with policemen who detained two men and a three women, protested that the tour guides had taken them to too many shops and pressured them into buying things.

The argument erupted after the tour guides took the group to the beach, and the tourists, complaining of cold, could not reboard their four locked coaches.

http://africa.reuters.com/odd/news/usnPEK371608.html

Following that incident in Macau, there has been talk to put in price floors for tours and forbidding mandatory shopping stops.

If they proceed with the zero fee tour they should know the consequences.

If they proceed with the zero fee tour they should know the consequences.

which consequences !

There is no free lunch!

Hong Kong-listed Shui On Land announced that it will invest 5 billion yuan (US$695.8 million) in a tourism-focused development project based in the travel hotspot of Shangri-la, located in northwest Yunnan's Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

According to Chinese financial media reports, Shui On has signed an agreement with the Diqing government to develop a plot of land with a total area of 17.73 million square meters – 9.96 million square meters of which it is designating 'protected areas' – into a 'holiday and leisure area'.

The development project, which currently has a planned building area of 760,000 square meters, will be surrounded by a ring of 3.49 million square meters of undeveloped land as a buffer between it and the outside world.

Shui On, known best for its high-end office, residential and commercial projects in Shanghai, Hangzhou and other mainland cities, has been making steady inroads into the Yunnan market.

In September of 2007, the company co-signed an agreement with the Yunnan government in which the two parties vowed to work together to develop Yunnan's bountiful tourism resources. The developer has already signed agreements for major developments on Dianchi's north shore in Kunming as well as in Dali's Haidong New District. In addition to Shangri-la, Shui On has also expressed interest in development projects in Lijiang.

http://gokunming.com/en/blog/date.php?date=2008-01-31

There is no free lunch!

.............

I don't think mainland tourists realize the consequences of getting into these 0 price tours. They may look at the price and expect a typical tour, not being taken from shopping destination after another expecting to buy something so the guides can get kickbacks. The key is to educate them and to regulate these tours, which destroy the destination's image and also ruins the travellers' vacations.

Tourism is seeing a properous future in Yunnan.

从北京出发，应该飞重庆还是长沙？

飞湖南常德，我的家乡。
然后再走常张高速公路到张家界。

九寨沟有专用机场，张家界还没有吗?

真是有钱的人啊

直接飞张家界吧

我这里离凤凰好像蛮近的

Seven-star luxury hotel triggers controversy
(CRI)
Updated: 2008-04-13 19:03


A seven-star hotel to be built in downtown Hangzhou has triggered heated debate among local citizens who question whether the luxury accommodations would bring substantial benefits to the local economy, a report on the website Sina.com.cn said.


The globally renowned sailboat-shaped Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai. [File photo]

A Guangzhou-based real estate group that invested in the hotel four months ago has scheduled construction to begin by the end of this year and to be completed in 2011. The extravagant hotel, to be located in a thriving business area, is expected to be the equivalent of the globally renowned sailboat-shaped Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.

The real estate group also plans to build office buildings and shopping malls nearby, which would bring the total investment to an estimated 600 million US dollars, the report said.

Hangzhou residents have mixed opinions about the project. Some worry about whether the hotel will be worth the huge investment, arguing that a seven-star hotel goes against the most recognized values of "a thrifty society." Others say such an eye-catching landmark would enhance Hangzhou's name-awareness and promote the local tourism industry, the report said.

"Although ordinary citizens like me couldn't afford such a luxury, the hotel will still make me proud as a resident in Hangzhou," a local was quoted as saying in the report.

Some tourists from other places expressed curiosity about the hotel and said they would likely visit Hangzhou again to have a look at it, according to the report.

As the provincial capital of Zhejiang province, Hangzhou is well-known for its natural beauty, and its economy largely relies on tourism.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-04/13/content_6613217.htm


What do you think ?

A 5-star hotel is good enough for me ... like the Pen in Hongkong. :)

US tour group nearly set to go

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080612/article_362894.htm

By Lu Feiran | 2008-6-12

THE first tour group to the United States, which will set out next Tuesday, will have their visa interviews today, tour agencies said.

Agencies said they believed most travelers would pass the interview.

The Shanghai China International Travel Service Co Ltd said the time it took to apply for visas for group tourists would be cut in the future.

"This time we had to wait for six to seven weeks for interviews after applying for the visa," said Yu Weihua, general manager of the company. "But I believe the time will be shortened to give favor to group tourists."

Agencies said the US Consulate in Shanghai may introduce Group Leisure Travel visas for tourists rather than the common Approved Destination Status visa after June 17, but it won't make it easier for tourists to cross.

Travelers must provide the same materials and answer interviewer's questions honestly. If their material is proved to be false, they may face a permanent refusal.

The first group of 80 members will stay in the US for 10 days, along with tourists from Guangzhou and Beijing who will meet them in Washington. They will visit several cities along the east and west coasts including New York City, Washington DC and the Los Angeles, said the agency.

"This time they will not go to Las Vegas and Hawaii because of the itinerary plan," said Yu. "But the following groups will."

The agency said it planned to send a tour group to the US once a week, at a cost per person of about 20,000 yuan (US$2,857).

US-bound tourism hits peak-season from August to October, and the price will rise by 5,000 yuan to 8,000 yuan, as the air tickets and hotels will both cost about 30 percent more, said the agencies.

"The market may be affected by the high price as our tourists won't rush to the US without considering their economic condition," Yu said.

Chinese tourists to France drop 70%
法国媒体称中国赴法旅游人数下降70%

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-06-18/091615767773.shtml

环球时报驻法国特约记者 史晓帆 司徒北辰 特约记者 陶短房 法国外交部发言人安德列亚尼16日再次就所谓“中国有关方面指示抵制赴法旅游”问题发表谈话，希望中国“实实在在地”履行承诺，在旅游方面和法国保持良好合作。这已是他第3次发出类似呼吁。法国《世界报》16日报道称，法方采取这样有些不耐烦的态度，是因为意识到问题的严重。

　　中国赴法旅游人数下降70%

　　据法新社16日报道，安德列亚尼提到上周中国外长杨洁篪曾赴巴黎参加阿富汗问题国际会议，并会晤法国总统萨科齐，后者同样就所谓“旅游抵制”问题提出交涉。

　　法新社的一份资料显示，今年6月的中国赴法旅游人数较去年同比下降了70%之多。《世界报》报道称，即使如某些传闻所说，北京市旅游局下达过“不要组织赴法旅行团”的口头指示，但没有任何证据表明，北京以外的中国城市存在类似的限制。显然，在曾对法兰西向往不已的中国游客心目中，此时的法国和巴黎已经“不受欢迎”。文章认为，由于巴黎圣火传递风波、法中在“西藏问题”上的分歧，以及萨科齐就是否出席北京奥运的表态，已激怒了许多中国人，使他们失去了此前所拥有的、对法国的好感和憧憬，这才是赴法旅游中国人数量下降最根本的原因。

　　同日出版的《巴黎人报》则表现出一定的乐观情绪，在该报的一篇报道中，作者一方面承认，中法关系“出现冷淡”，双方民众间的好感迅速丧失和此前发生的一系列风波以及这些风波在互联网上的迅速传播有密切关系；但另一方面作者也认为不必“小题大做”，因为“北京终究还是需要巴黎的合作”，暂时的数据下跌算不了什么，从长远看，中法间旅游交流的前景依旧可以看好。

　　巴黎冷清了很多

　　《环球时报》记者上周六陪朋友去了埃菲尔铁塔，上周日去了巴黎圣母院和香榭丽舍大街。在埃菲尔铁塔，记者没有见到一个中国游客。而在过去，排队登塔的几乎一半是中国人，能够听到中国各地的方言。在巴黎圣母院和香榭丽舍大街只见到了几个中国人，还是从欧洲其他国家转道而来。这种状况，记者还是第一次见到，中国游客仿佛一下子从巴黎消失了，巴黎也显得冷清了很多。

　　目前正值欧洲旅游旺季，但在法国接待中国旅游团的导游都感触说工作量减少许多。一名专门接待中国公务旅游团的导游告诉《环球时报》记者，公务旅游占中国来法旅游的比例一直很高，但忽然之间，公务旅游团大幅下降。一位从德国来巴黎的导游说，德—法旅游本来是一条十分热门的旅游线路，但最近中国的一些旅行社告诉游客，德国线路保留，但法国路线取消了，到了德法边境也不进入法国了。据说这种举措和奥运圣火在巴黎受阻不无关系。

　　巴黎寰宇旅行社是接待中国公务旅游团的龙头旅行社之一。该旅行社总经理王军女士在接受《环球时报》记者采访时说，该旅行社每月大约接待三四十个旅游团，而今年5月份以来，80%的旅游团取消了订单。王军说，取消订单的主要原因是因为四川地震，国难当头，抗震救灾工作紧迫，许多地方政府取消了出国访问的计划。预测今后数月的情况，王军认为地震的影响还将继续，而由于北京奥运会的举办，国际机票涨价，加上有赛事的地方政府集中精力迎接奥运，也会影响到来法旅游的人数。

　　中法关系处在微妙时刻

　　法国是世界第一大旅游目的地国，每年接待国外游客约8000万人次。近年来到法国旅游的中国游客一直处于上升状态，每年达70多万人次。中国游客不断提升的购买力更越来越受到法国旅游业“垂涎”。出于自身经济利益的考虑，法国政府以及相关行业对中国赴法游客锐减表现得相当紧张。

　　在巴黎的中国旅游界人士认为,目前中国来法旅游正处在一个微妙和困难的时刻。对于四川地震和奥运会的举办所造成的影响，他们表示理解，认为这种影响是不可避免的，也是暂时的。对于传闻中的“抵制法国旅游”的做法，一位曾获得“金话筒”奖的资深导游说，这实际上是一种过激的做法。目前中国是一个开放的、经济和人员交流频繁的社会。每一个举措都有反作用力。而一名在法华人则表示，法国目前缺乏有长远战略眼光的政治家，政客们只看到选举的短期利益，从而酿成了这次中国游客“抵制风波”。

　　在萨科齐倡导下，法国将在18日、19日两天召开全国旅游会议。接到与会邀请的《环球时报》记者了解到，会议将推出最新的法国旅游业发展战略，“动员一切力量，使旅游也成为一项全国性的事业”。届时，中国游客的这次“抵制”风波将是会议绕不开的一个话题。正如一位中国驻法外交官所言，法方应“采取更有益的措施”，恐怕只有这样，再加上一定的耐心和时间，才有助于让骤冷的中国游客赴法游，重新一点点地回暖。

Rooms with a view to the future

2008-08-05

BEIJING, Aug. 5 --China's hotel industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by the strength of the economy, an increase of disposable incomes and a global focus on large events, a leading hotel-investment and advisory-services provider reports.

In the latest report by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels analyzing the country's hotel industry, seven out of the 11 markets the company tracked were able to secure substantial revenue per available room, or RevPAR, as well as fiscal improvements in 2007 which all indicate solid fundamentals and good future prospects.

"Vast infrastructure improvements are reducing travel time and increasing mobility within the country," said Andreas Flaig, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' managing director in China. "Upcoming major events such as the Olympic Games are giving China a makeover which will have a lasting impact on the economy and urban landscape."

According to forecasts from the World Tourism Organization, China will be the world's largest inbound tourism market, the fourth largest for outbound tourism and the largest for domestic tourism in the world by 2015. This will probably translate into more than 100 million overseas tourists and more than 2.8 billion domestic tourists in China by 2015.

Above them all, Beijing and Shanghai, the country's two largest cities, are attracting extra attention.

In the capital city of Beijing, where the opening of the Oymplic Games is just three days away, preparations for the games have no doubt significantly improved the city's infrastructure, service capabilities and quality of life for residents.

Last year, Beijing received 4.4 million overseas tourists and 140 million domestic tourists, a growth of 11.6 percent and 6.1 percent year on year.

For the sixth consecutive year since 2001, the city's five-star hotels saw average daily rates, or ADR, increase by 3.5 percent, while occupancy levels decreased slightly from 73.3 percent in 2006 to 70.6 percent.

Meanwhile in the four-star sector, even stronger growth was recorded with ADR and RevPAR up 10 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

However, the new supply of more than 12,000 internationally managed hotel rooms in Beijing in 2008, with the coming of the Games, has aroused growing concerns from industry experts, who believe the enormous increase in the number of new rooms in such a short period might drag occupancy rates down.

"This could pose a risk to the demand-and-supply balance in 2009 and possibly 2010. But the picture remains positive for the long-term prospects of the tourism and hotel industry in the capital city," said Flaig.

If the outlook for Beijing remains unclear at the moment, Shanghai, the financial center of China, seems to be enjoying a rosy picture in the long term.

Statistics reveal that the numbers of overseas tourists arriving in the city had a compound annual growth rate of 13.8 percent between 2002 and 2007. In 2007, domestic visitor arrivals rose 5.4 percent from a year earlier to 102.1 million, and domestic tourism receipts jumped 13.5 percent to 161.1 billion yuan (US$23.5 billion).

The MICE business (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition), together with further diversification of the city's leisure offerings, will further boost Shanghai's tourism and hotel demand in the future, the report said.

With the expansion of the Shanghai New International Expo Center and the coming of the World Expo 2010, the city will further secure its status in the MICE market both regionally and globally.

Moreover, projects such as the Green Tourism development on the Chongming Island and the pedestrian zone near the Bund will increase the variety of tourist attractions in the city.


(Source: Shanghai Daily)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/content_8957872.htm

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/xin_1820805050922203203735.jpg

^^ to reach the largest tourist destination in 7 years, BJ and SH still have a lot of room to improve for tourism facilities and services.

Tourism aims to reap gains safely from Olympic Games

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-08/05/content_6905930.htm

China tourism authorities have been working hard with a view to reaping benefits from the Beijing Olympics while ensuring the safety of every tourist, officials said in Beijing on Tuesday.

Past experience indicated tourism received the most direct, marked and sustained benefits from hosting an Olympics; China had been taking many measures in the pre-Games years to promote its tourism image and lure more visitors, said Du Jiang, China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) deputy director.

Six measures, such as enhancing supervision on service quality, improving management of tourism market, standardizing services at scenic spots and expanding service facilities, among others, had been taken by tourism authorities across the country, he said at a press conference.

The number of star-rated hotels in Beijing had soared from 506 in 2001 to 806 through 2007, with about 130,000 rooms and more than 250,000 beds.

During the Games, Du said CNTA would launch 32 well-designed deluxe Olympic tourism routes. These focused on scenic places in Beijing and were also designed to bring tourists to places such as the Three Gorges, Xi'an and Guilin.

Beijing was expecting the Games to bring 400,000 to 500,000 overseas tourists to the city. In total, the country expected to receive an estimated 6 million to 7 million international VIPs, athletes, media people and tourists nationwide during the Olympic period, Du said.

Since the capital had committed to hosting a safe Olympics, China's tourism administrations at all levels had adopted active measures to guarantee the safety of tourists during the Games, he said.

The tourism administrations in Beijing and five Chinese mainland co-host cities would put their staff on 24-hour rotation and deal with emergencies in tourism services.

"A quick complaints handling system was established to solve problems. ... Beijing and the co-host cities will publish emergency complaint phone numbers and open tourist service hotlines," Du said.

Hotels, travel agencies and authorities of every scenic spots were asked to keep on high alert to guard against any accident that threatened tourist safety, he added.

Liu Xiaojun, another CNTA official, said the administration had taken some necessary security measures in accordance with the requirements from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) in face of threats posed by some domestic and overseas terrorists.

"These measures fall in line with the international security standards. We will, in accordance with BOCOG's requirements and international tourism service standards, provide the best services to domestic and overseas tourists."

Tibet sees increasing tourists

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/16/content_9404550.htm

BEIJING, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- The number of tourists traveling to Tibet by rail is increasing, after the total decreased sharply in the immediate wake of the March 14 Lhasa riot.

Tourist figures were not higher than this time last year but had increased significantly compared with the period just after the unrest, Wang Yongping, spokesman of the Ministry of Railways, said here on Saturday.

"The unrest had a negative impact on the operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway," said Wang in the Beijing International Media Center.

He noted that tourist figures to Tibet from March to July this year had decreased by 40 percent, or 327,000 in number, year on year.

However, Wang said no accidents or suspension of operation had been caused by the riot, and presently the security of tourists visiting Tibet by train could be guaranteed.

Bai Xiaochun, vice general manager of Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company, expected a tourist rush to Tibet after the Beijing Olympic Games. Bai said the company had plans in hand and could manage to deal with an increasing number of tourists.

Further, a deluxe train set was planned to put into operation in September along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, said Bai.

With a total length of 1,956 km, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway connects Xining, Qinghai Province to the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region Lhasa. It is the first railway in Tibet and the highest railway in the world.

Some world stats
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64/z0rgggg/others/tourism.png

More: http://www.tourismroi.com/Content_Attachments/27670/File_633513750035785076.pdf

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/05/xin_1820805050922203203735.jpg

Only 0.3% is to visit friends and relatives?
I always thought that figure would be a lot higher...

Some world stats
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg64/z0rgggg/others/tourism.png

More: http://www.tourismroi.com/Content_Attachments/27670/File_633513750035785076.pdf

I predict China's tourism sharp upward trend will continue in the coming years.

It's cool US and China both recorded significant visitor growth in 2007. (nearly 10%)

It's surprising and impressive that countries like Turkey and Malayisia have 20+ million visitors considering its size/population. Great job.

Great finding, z0rg.

Survey: China becomes global tourist attraction with Olympics impact

SHANGHAI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- China has become a global tourist attraction after the Beijing Olympics which concluded on Aug. 24, according to a survey released by the Nielson Company here on Thursday.

The survey said the Olympics not only built up China's image but also served as an advertisement for China's tourism.

The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries and regions before the Games' opening ceremony and after the closing.

About 80 percent of the respondents had not been to China before the events and 50 percent of them expressed hopes of visiting China after the Games.

According to the survey, 70 percent of the respondents felt Beijing was more modern and scientific than what they had thought.

The most interested respondents were from Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Mexico, Taiwan, South Africa and the Republic of Korea.

Pan Wen, in charge of Chinese tourism research of the Nielson Company, said the World Tourism organization predicted that China would become the largest tourist attraction in the world with 137 million foreign tourists every year.

"This figure would be realized earlier with the aid of the Beijing Olympics," Pan said.


(http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/12/content_9935138.htm)

I predict China's tourism sharp upward trend will continue in the coming years.

It's cool US and China both recorded significant visitor growth in 2007. (nearly 10%)

It's surprising and impressive that countries like Turkey and Malayisia have 20+ million visitors considering its size/population. Great job.

Great finding, z0rg.

Maybe after the crisis is solved... I think that in 2008 there will be a sharp conctration in most European countries, which will go deeper in 2009 affecting China too.

Tourism revenues hit 1.1 trillion yuan in 2007

2008-09-17


The Chinese tourism sector collected 1.1 trillion yuan ($160.62 billion) in 2007; up 22.6 percent year-on-year, said the National Tourism Administration on Tuesday.


According to the administration's statistics, inbound tourists and international tourism revenue totaled 131.87 million and $41.92 billion last year, up 5.5 percent and 23.5 percent over the previous year, respectively.


China still received most inbound tourists from Asian countries, accounting for 61.5 percent of the total and up 18.2 percent from the previous year. The majority of tourists to China still come from South Korea.


Domestic tourists surpassed 1.61 billion in 2007, up 15.5 percent year-on-year, with domestic tourism revenue reaching 777.06 billion yuan, up 24.7 percent from the previous year.


Chinese outbound tourists reached 40.95 million during the last year.


By the end of 2007, China had 13,583 star-rated hotels and 18,943 registered travel agencies, 832 and 986 more than that at the end of 2006, respectively.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-09/17/content_7035637.htm

Beijing, HK top tourist destinations for golden week


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080919/0013729e454e0a3d85ce01.jpg
The upcoming National Day holiday golden week will be a brisk week for travel, and Beijing and Hong Kong are the most popular tourist destinations, said ctrip.com, China's major online travel service company.


The company has conducted a survey on people's travelling trends for the weeklong National Day holiday. About half of the respondents traveled during the last National Day holiday, one-third plan to travel this time and one-third intend to travel, according to the survey.


Tourists plan to head for Beijing and Hong Kong have risen over 100 percent and 40 percent respectively, according to the company's reservation statistics. And about 40 percent more tourists have reserved the Hong Kong Disneyland travel package.


Air ticket prices during golden week will remain, as usual, higher at the beginning and end, and lower in the middle.


Prices of flights from Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou to hot destinations, such as Sanya, Guilin and Xiamen have increased by over 30 percent since September 28. No discounts are available for flights from Shanghai and Guangzhou to Sanya and from Beijing and Chengdu to Guilin.


Yet air ticket prices between October 1 and 3 have plummetted, down as much as 50 percent for some flights.


However, flights from Sanya, Guilin and Xiamen on October 4 and 5 have risen rapidly in price and are hard to get.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-09/19/content_7042366.htm

China big attraction for US - poll

The Great Wall is the most recognized symbol of China among Americans, a survey released on Monday by US-based Perspective Resources Inc (PRI) has claimed.

Entitled "A Study of American Perceptions of China" the survey attracted 2 million US citizens, all aged 18 or above, with different social and education backgrounds. They were asked 10 questions about China.

When asked what they most associated with China, 49 percent said the Great Wall, followed by the Beijing Olympics (36 percent), rice and food (34 percent) and dragons (32 percent).

When asked to say which words they most associated with the country, the most popular answers were "highly populated", "government or Communism", "culture or history" and "red".

The most famous Chinese people are Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Mao Zedong, Confucius, Jet Li, Yao Ming, Buddha, Lucy Liu, Genghis Khan and Chow Yun-fat, the survey found.

When asked what are the most popular Chinese dishes, nearly 60 percent said it was rice or fried rice. Others mentioned egg rolls, noodles, wonton soup, fortune cookies, egg drop soup and stir-fried food.

When it comes to places to visit, Americans think of Beijing, the Great Wall, Hong Kong, Shanghai, the Bird's Nest, Forbidden City, Tibet and Tian'anmen Square, the revealing survey said.

Twenty-two percent of those surveyed also mentioned Singapore, which they thought was a Chinese city.

Chinese brand names are least familiar with Americans who named Samsung, Toyota, Nissan and Nike, which are not Chinese at all.

Forty-two percent of people surveyed said they could not name any Chinese brands, although 87 percent said they had used products made in China such as clothing, electronics and toys.

Asked about the most important issues in China, 39 percent said civil rights and freedom.

Others mentioned a wide range of topics such as population control, pollution, Communism and Capitalism, the economy, labor issues, sweatshops, low quality products, US debt to China and Tibet.

The survey also found that 49 percent of respondents were interested in Chinese history and culture, while 53 percent said they hoped to someday visit China.

The survey's margin of error was within 5 percent, according to PRI.

Set up in 1973, PRI has clients such as Cable News Network, General Electric, AT&T, VISA and American Airlines.

The survey was commissioned by the Blue Ocean Network International Communications Committee, a media organization that aims to promote better understanding of China among Westerners.
(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09/24/content_7052938.htm)

Olympic venues flooded with holiday-goers

BEIJING -- Tourists both from abroad and across China flooded into the Olympic Green in Beijing to visit the competition venues on Monday, the first day of the week-long National Day holiday.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080929/0022190dec450a4b24bf41.jpg
Tourists pose for photographs in front of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, on September 29, 2008. Beijing Olympic venues become hot scenic spots for China's week-long National Day holiday from September 29 to October 5, 2008. [CFP]

The Olympic Green, at the north end of the central axis of Beijing, houses a forest park and the Olympic Common Domain (OCD). The OCD, where the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube and the National Indoor Stadium are, is open to the public from Monday to Sunday.
"Bird's Nest! I'm coming," said Li Junyang, a middle school student from the northeastern Heilongjiang Province. He stood before the stadium and asked his father to take a photo of him.

"I'll show the picture to my classmates. They must be jealous of me!"

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080929/0022190dec450a4b276a4c.jpg
A tourist takes pictures in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, on Sept. 29, 2008. Beijing Olympic venues become hot scenic spots for China's week-long National Day holiday from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, 2008. [Xinhua]

Almost every spot in the OCD has become a tourist attraction. Like Li, most of the visitors took pictures to their hearts' content.
"I want to go visit all the places related to the Beijing Olympics." This is the most frequently-spoken sentence of the tourists.

"The Olympic Games will boost the host country's tourism industry," said Liu Xiaojun, head of the comprehensive department of the National Tourism Administration.

"The Olympic host cities will see a drastic rise in the number of tourists during the holiday."

In this year's "golden week" national holiday, the number of tourists is expected to hit 7 million, a year-on-year rise of 40 percent.
According to government statistics, railway tickets to Beijing from Nanjing, Wuhan, Chongqing, Shenyang and other big cities had been sold out even before the holiday and 90 percent of the airplane tickets were booked up.

"August is the best season for traveling but many people postponed their tours in order to watch the Games on TV at home," said Zhang Lingjie, the manager of domestic tour department of China International Travel Service.

"So people need to release their enthusiasm after the Games."

During the seven-day holiday, 100 million people are predicted to take buses. Beijing Bus Group plans to add more buses on the routes to the Olympic Green and Olympic venues.

In addition, a total of 5,000 volunteers are at the Olympic Green, Tian'anmen Square, Wangfujing shopping street in downtown Beijing and other hot spots to offer tourists help.
(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09/29/content_7070157.htm)

Mainland city Oct.1 golden week tourism revenue ranking: (unit: billion yuan, 1 usd = 6.9 yuan)

1. Beijing 北京：5.25
2. Guangzhou 广州: 3.989
3. Shanghai 上海：3.802
4. Zhengzhou 郑州: 3.5
5. Hangzhou 杭州：3.364
6. Chongqing 重庆：2.98
7. Shenzhen 深圳：2.966
8. Suzhou 苏州: 2.95
9. Nanjing 南京: 2.74

(http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/dispbbs.asp?boardID=9&ID=25744&page=1)

More than 178m Chinese travel during 'Golden Week' holiday

2008-10-06


BEIJING - More than 178 million Chinese traveled within the country during the National Day holiday week, up 22.1 percent on the same period last year, according to the China National Tourism Administration and the National Bureau of Statistics.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20081006/00096bb163c30a54575b18.jpg

The holiday, known as a "golden week", ran from September 29 to October 5 to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Tourism revenue during the week amounted to 79.6 billion yuan (US$11.65 billion), up 24.2 percent. Per-capita spending averaged 448 yuan.

The revenue of the aviation industry reached 3.93 billion yuan, up 33.8 percent, and that of the railways 1.99 billion yuan, up 35 percent.

Figures from the National Tourism Administration (NTA) showed the country's 119 major tourist destinations received more than 18.29 million visitors, an increase of 13.2 percent from a year earlier.

The NTA said Beijing and Olympic co-host cities like Qingdao and Shanghai witnessed a surge of tourists.

Beijing municipal bureau of tourism said on Sunday that the city had 35 percent more tourists, many of whom visited Olympic venues.

At least 8.02 million people visited Beijing from September 29 to October 5, including 2.35 million overseas visitors, bringing 5.25 billion yuan in tourist revenue, up 27 percent from the previous National Day holiday.

The Olympic Park, home to the Bird's Nest National Stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Center, attracted more than 2.82 million visitors.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said the country's airlines carried 4.33 million passengers during the Golden Week, up 14.8 percent, on 33,416 flights, an increase of 8 percent.

Not everyone enjoyed the week off. The NTA said tourism authorities across the country received 279 complaints from tourists.

Four tourist-related accidents were reported. Two tourists died and four were injured.

Another two tourists are missing after they swam without permission in a no-swimming area off the southern Guangdong Province on October 4.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-10/06/content_7081151_2.htm

im planning to go to visit China in 2010

#1 Beijing & great wall

then Shanghai and Shenzhen :)

^^ You are welcome to China. Fall is the best season for Beijing and most other areas.

Slowdown forecast for tourismBy Xin Dingding

Updated: 2009-01-08 07:37



http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090108/00221917dec40acfb3514c.jpg
A Chinese tourist poses with Disney cartoon character Minnie Mouse onboard a cruise in the United States on June 19. Chinese outbound travel is set to slow down this year. Hou Jun


Inbound travel to the mainland is expected to grow by just 1.5 percent this year to reach the 2007 level of 132 million tourist arrivals, hit by a worldwide slump in the sector amid the global economic slowdown, the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) forecast yesterday.

"All major inbound source markets, except for Hong Kong and Russia, slumped last year amid the economic downturn," CNTA chief Shao Qiwei told an annual working conference.

The fall in inbound arrivals last year to 130 million is also the first drop in the sector since 2003, official statistics showed.

"The inbound tourism sector is facing a considerable challenge this year," Shao said.

Similarly, the number of visitor arrivals worldwide is unlikely to achieve a growth rate of more than 2 percent this year, if it manages to grow at all, the World Tourism Organization has forecast.

In terms of outbound travel, Shao said about 46 million mainland tourists traveled overseas last year, up 12 percent from 2007 figures.

Outbound travel is also forecast to grow by 9 percent to 50 million tourists this year, a rate lower than that of previous years, Shao said.

Many in the tourism industry are now banking on the domestic travel sector to get through the difficult year ahead.

The number of trips made by domestic tourists this year is expected to grow year-on-year by 9 percent to 1.85 billion, the CNTA forecast.

To meet the tourism targets, the administration is drafting a national tourism guideline to encourage workers to take annual paid leave from April to June and cut travel costs.

Three week-long national holidays were reduced to two last year.

The Golden Week vacation period in May was shortened to three days, while three more brief holidays to mark traditional Chinese festivals were added.

However, after the trial in the first year, those in the tourism industry reportedly found people showing little interest in traveling during the brief holiday periods, while paid leave was not guaranteed for everyone.

"The new brief vacation period covers mainly traditional festivals and highlights family activities, like sweeping tombs and mourning ancestors. They are just not suitable for travel," industry observer Wang Xiaorun said.

Still, people's desire to travel, especially during peak periods such as May, is evident, Wang said.

Many Internet users in surveys have called for restoring the weeklong May Day holiday and keeping the new short holiday periods.

"Further increasing the total number of public holidays is unlikely, because 144 days of public holidays in a year is already quite a lot for a developing country," said Dai Bin, deputy director of China Tourism Academy, which is responsible for drafting the national tourism guideline.

"A possible solution suggested in the guideline is to allow people to take their annual paid leave before or after short holidays that occur between April and June," he said.

Applying for annual paid leave - at least five days - combined with three-day long public holidays can add up to a long vacation period of eight days and more, he said.

The draft is expected to come out in March, and Guangdong, Shandong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Beijing have started to draft their plans, Dai said.

Guangdong is expected to become the first province to implement the new regulation.

The province's plan will soon be submitted to the local government for approval, said Yang Rongsen, head of the provincial tourism administration.

"Some government units and enterprises in a few cities will be among the first groups to allow employees to take paid annual leave before or after the May Day holiday in pilot programs," he said.

"If it goes well, we will promote it across the province."
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090108/00221917e13e0acf832b06.jpg

(China Daily)

132 millions for 2009 is a bit optimistic, isn't it ?

China looks really a nice country, I hope to visit once time!

China's youngest SEZ pledges greater efforts in expanding tourism

2009-01-12

HAIKOU, Jan.12 (Xinhua) -- China's southern island province of Hainan is determined to make headway this year in its efforts to build into an internationally-acclaimed tourist destination by 2028.

While addressing the ongoing provincial people's congress Monday, Governor Luo Baoming vowed to make a good use of Hainan's position as a special economic zone (SEZ) and continue to pilot the country's reform and opening-up drive this year.

Luo heralded the cause of constructing Hainan into an internationally-acclaimed tourist destination as a breakthrough in a new round of reform and open-up.

To this end, the official called for the completion of three tasks.

"International advanced expertise will be borrowed to work out and substantiate the overall plan regarding the cause of constructing Hainan into an internationally-acclaimed tourist destination," said Luo.

Duty-free shops will be opened in Haikou, Sanya, Qionghai and Wanning. International travel agencies, hotel management companies will be encouraged to start up solely invested or joint ventures in Hainan, Luo said.

Efforts should be made to work for an inclusion of Hainan's tourism development goal into the national strategies for opening-up and tourism expansion.

To improve tourism service and administrative standard in the island, a provincial commission for tourism development has been set up to coordinate administrative functions of a number of concerned departments, said Luo.

The 34,000 square kilometer tropical island Hainan used to be apart of Guangdong Province. It was established in April 1988 as an individual province and was approved as a special economic zone (SEZ).

Tourism now contributes 14 percent to the island's gross domestic product (GDP), and has become one of its most promising sectors.

Hainan unveiled last April a blueprint aiming to build into an internationally acclaimed tourist destination by 2028.

In accordance with an action plan for Hainan's long-term tourism development goal, the province will continue to implement its visa-free policies for tourists and open up air routes.

China's State Council, the country's Cabinet, approved Hainan's tourism development blueprint in the same month, requesting the support of relevant government departments.

According to Luo, Hainan handled 20.6 million tourists last year, up 10 percent from a year ago, and raked in 18.5 billion yuan (2.72 billion U.S. dollars) in earnings, up eight percent. The tourism revenue accounted for 13 percent of the province's gross domestic product (GDP).

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/12/content_10646010.htm

Olympic venues popular among tourists during Chinese lunar new year

BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The main Olympic venues of Bird's Nest and Water Cube remained their charm to tourists during the first four days of the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays, the city's tourism authority said Thursday.

Approximately 80,000 people visited the two sites, officially known as the National Stadium and the National Aquatic Center, respectively, between Monday to Thursday, the first four days of the week-long holiday.

The Bird's Nest opened to the public from Oct.1. The stadium attracted 60,000 tourists on its opening day, and an average of 20,000 to 30,000 visitors every day since then.

Other Olympic sites and the National Center for the Performing arts of China, formerly known as the National Grand Theater that opened in December last year, were also popular tourist attractions during the holidays.

China tourism heats up despite global economy cooldown

2009-02-01

The global financial crisis failed to dampen tourism in China during the weeklong the Lunar New Year holiday as lower travel costs persuaded people to spend, according to statistics released by the National Tourism Administration on Saturday.

Statistics showed 19 major tourism cities including Beijing and Shandong Province recorded a more than 15 percent increase in both the number of tourists and revenue during the holiday from January 25 to 31.

Analysts noted local governments and tourism bureaus sought to attract tourists in attempt to stimulate consumption during the golden week. Measures included cutting prices of tickets to tourist attractions and lowering prices of travel packages.

"The economic turmoil compelled airlines to cut fuel surcharges, while restaurants and tourist sites provided discounts. These contributed to the booming domestic tourism market," said Qi Xinyuan, head of marketing section of China International Travel Service.

Beijing received 3.24 million travelers during the holiday, up 20 percent from the same holiday last year. Revenue hit 2.16 billion yuan (US$316 million), up 32.6 percent year on year.

The festival brought 7.13 million people to the eastern Shandong Province, up 16.3 percent. Tourism revenue totaled 4.58 billion yuan, up 19.6 percent.

The quake-hit Sichuan Province also posted impressive results, with the number of tourists climbing 21.9 percent to about 16.57 million and total revenue up 32.8 percent to 4.725 billion yuan.

Statistics also showed the number of outbound tourists visiting Japan, ROK, south Asian countries, and Australia increased. However, no specific figures were available for these regions.

With warmer relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, tours to Taiwan turned out to be popular, with more than 13,000 mainland travelers visiting the island during the seven-day holiday.

The administration said the tourism boom at the beginning of the country's traditional new year set a good start for the whole year.

In the eventful 2008, global tourism market was dragged into a slump by the financial crisis. China was also affected, with the number of foreign tourists falling 6.8 percent to 24.3 million from the previous year.

Tourism revenue totaled 1.16 trillion yuan last year, up 5.8 percent year-on-year. It included 874.9 billion yuan earned from local travelers and 283.9 billion yuan from overseas tourists. The two figures for 2007 were 777.1 billion yuan and 312.9 billion yuan, respectively.

Data showed domestic tourism still held up while inbound tourism declined.

The tourism administration's chief, Shao Qiwei, said in the 2009 national tourism work conference on January 7 that the country would seek to stimulate domestic tourism and create new hot tourist spots. He expected this year would see rising domestic and outbound travels and a rebound in inbound tourism.

According to a survey conducted by China Tourism Academy and Beijing-based Tsinghua University, 92 percent of respondents were willing to travel this year.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-02/01/content_7434994.htm

2009/03/16

Beijing tops list of holiday destinations

KUALA LUMPUR: China is fast becoming one of the most sought-after travel destination among Malaysians.

Beijing topped the list of five favourite vacation destinations during the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair.

London, Shanghai, Kunming and Sydney followed suit in the popularity list by Malaysian Airlines during the three-day fair, which ends today.

MAS sales senior general manager Datuk Bernard Francis said China had always been a top attraction.

"We have kept fares to Malaysians' all-time favourite destinations low to attract more customers.

"Sales has been encouraging and we are optimistic of hitting our sales target of RM25 million," he said yesterday.

The airline is offering all- inclusive one-way airfares to Beijing starting from RM720, to London at RM1,450, Shanghai at RM640, Kunming at RM470 and Sydney at RM960.

Halal four days-three nights packages to Kunming are also available, starting from RM1,410 per person.

What are the best tour routes in China?

China is launching new tour routes to showcase China's culture and its tourist treasures in the best way. The nation's first-batch of 12 officially recommended tour routes were announced on Tuesday by China National Tourism Administration.


China hopes the new designation will attract more domestic and overseas tourists. The draft plan is now awaiting public comment.


Among others, the 12 tour routes cover the world famous Silk Road, the Three Gorges, the Great Wall and the Yellow River. Here are the details of the 12 routes:


1. Silk Road tour route.

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc090f.jpg

This route, focusing on the history of silk across Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Xinjiang, has significant market appeal both at home and abroad.


2. Shangri-la tour route.

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc0e10.jpg

This route is a trip from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang and Diqing in Yunnan Province, spreading into Sichuan and Tibetan areas, and introducing local ethnic culture and unique landscapes. It is another of the hottest trips, also very popular in the overseas market.


3. Three Gorges tour route.

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc1311.jpg

With attractions like beautiful valleys, spreading waters, views of the dam, and the traditional culture of the region, this route is a classic trip keenly promoted by China.


4. Qinghai-Tibet railway route.

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc1812.jpg

Qinghai-Tibet railway route rises from eastern Xining to western Lhasa and extends to other areas of Tibet. It leads across a snow-capped plateau attaching Qinghai to Tibet by rail.


5. Great Wall tour route.

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc1d13.jpg

The Great Wall stretches across many provincial regions from Shanhai Pass in the east to Jiayu Pass in the west – not only a symbol of Chinese culture but also a major Chinese tourist resource.


6. China Grand Canal tour route.

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc2314.jpg

Descending through the eastern part of China, the tour begins in Tongzhou in the north and continues to Hangzhou in the south, spanning Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.


7. "Long March" tour route.

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc2915.jpg

The “Red Army’s Long March” trip is currently the most popular route in revolutionary tourism. The route begins in Ruijin in Jiangxi Province, passing through Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi to Yan’an, connecting east, west, south and north China.


8. Songhu – Yalu rivers tour route

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc2f16.jpg

This route runs through three northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, featuring immense forests, clear skies, blue water and snow, and introducing regional culture and frontier customs.


9. The Yellow River tour route

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc3517.jpg

The trip stretches from Shandong Province in the east to Qinghai in the west, covering the cultural areas of Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, and Shandong in the central plain.


10. "The middle and lower Yangtze River" tour route

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc3a18.jpg

The trip, centering on the cities and world Heritage sites around the middle and lower Yangtze River, features city tours and heritage, and the landscape of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai.


11. "Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai-Guilin-Guangzhou" tour route

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc4119.jpg

The trip focuses on the air routes connecting 5 well-known tourist destinations: Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guilin and Guangzhou. It was the first trip opened to the overseas market and its long-standing reputation justifies its title of the “Classic China” trip.


12. Seaside holiday resort tour route

http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20090328/0019b91ed7d10b37dc481a.jpg

The trip covers China’s eastern seaboard cities by air and sea, working from north to south through Dalian, Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao, Rizhao, Lianyungang, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Haikou, and Sanya, and promoting China’s seaside holidays and leisure.


(China.org.cn by Dong Qingpei, March 26, 2009)

Hong Kong Disneyland has a great offer for the mainland tours in this summer.

Hainan not to compete with Macao in developing gambling tourism: official
HAIKOU, March 19 (PNA/Xinhua) -- China's only tropical island province of Hainan will not compete with Macao in developing gambling tourism in its drive to become a global tourist destination like Hawaii or Indonesia's Bali.

"Hainan will not follow Macao's road (in developing gambling tourism). Hainan's target is to turn into an all-season garden for people across the world," said Tan Li, vice governor of southern China' s Hainan Province Thursday.

Tan made the remarks at a press conference for the Boao International Tourism Forum, which will open on Saturday in Sanya, a tourist resort in Hainan.

The forum has attracted more than 2,000 people from tourist sectors worldwide to exchange their experiences in boosting tourism amid the global financial downturn.

Sponsors of the forum included Hainan Provincial government, the National Tourism Administration and the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Hainan became a province and China's largest special economic zone in 1988, enjoying preferential development policies.

The island boasts year-round tropical weather, beaches, forests and diverse ethnic cultures.

The central government announced Jan. 4 in a guideline that it aimed to build Hainan into a top international tourist destination by 2020. (PNA/Xinhua)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=265240

Tourism industry to mull recovery from global financial crisis in S. China
HAIKOU, March 19 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Players of the world's tourism industry are gathering at the 2010 Boao International Tourism Forum in south China's Hainan Province to discuss measures related to the industry's recovery from global financial crisis, provincial authorities said Thursday.

Boao International Tourism Forum is scheduled to open Saturday in Sanya, a tourist resort in Hainan, according to Tan Li, vice governor of Hainan.

During the main forum, March 20 to 21, discussions would focus on promoting tourism by culture, sports and media. The achievements of the forum were to be documented in Hainan Tourism Declaration, said Tan.

"The declaration will play a significant role in promoting the recovery of world tourism industry," he said.

Two other statements on how to boost tourism by developing golf and yacht industries would be formed at seminars held between March 18 and 20, Tan added.

More than 2,000 guests from across the globe would attend the forum, including 60 ministerial-level officials, executives of world's major tourism associations and representatives from top Chinese and international firms, he said.

"The participation of so many influential guests shows that the world is eager to pull the tourism industry out of the global financial downturn," Tan added.

China has decided to build Hainan into an "international tourism island" with world-class service and facilities by 2020. And the central Chinese government announced Jan. 4 a guideline regarding approval of the construction plan. (PNA/Xinhua)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=265239

Malta vice PM says to boost tourism cooperation with China island resort
HAIKOU, March 26 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Malta will step up cooperation with China's Hainan Province in tourism, visiting Malta Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said Thursday.

Borg arrived in this South China's island on Thursday as part of his five-day visit to China.

He met with Wang Yong, mayor of the province's southernmost resort city of Sanya Thursday afternoon, and pledged to promote cooperation in personnel training and language education so to boost the two sides' tourism industry.

China has decided to build Hainan into an international tourism island. (PNA/Xinhua) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=266510

Chinese mass tourism is horrible. Flocks of American, Japanese or German tourists don't even compare. Luckily it's still mostly domestic. The ones who go abroad are mostly wealthy, well-educated and stylish individuals but Lord save us the day when the rural crowds get enough money to visit Paris or Rome...

Chinese mass tourism is horrible. Flocks of American, Japanese or German tourists don't even compare. Luckily it's still mostly domestic. The ones who go abroad are mostly wealthy, well-educated and stylish individuals but Lord save us the day when the rural crowds get enough money to visit Paris or Rome...

What's the big deal? everyone has the right to see the law.

everyone has the right to see the law.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this sentence.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this sentence.

opps sorry

I was trying to say

What's the big deal? everyone has the right to see the world.

world not law

Chinese mass tourism is horrible. Flocks of American, Japanese or German tourists don't even compare. Luckily it's still mostly domestic. The ones who go abroad are mostly wealthy, well-educated and stylish individuals but Lord save us the day when the rural crowds get enough money to visit Paris or Rome...

that's a typical classist complaint. in china, lots of people see the plebeian masses as something to avoid. a lot of this mindset stems from projection. seeing a certain outgroup as atavistic may make one feel better about him or herself. i don't exactly agree with the mindset, but whatever...

but then you gave this snippet of your erudite, refined lifestyle in another thread.

I'll miss the 3rd world Shanghai where I can smoke everywhere and order a few escorts for me and my friends in the nightclub while downing wuliangye and fancy cocktails and pay like 200€ for the whole evening lol.


you stay classy now.

opps sorry

I was trying to say

What's the big deal? everyone has the right to see the world.

You have to experience a Chinese tourist group in China to see what the big deal is.

you stay classy now.

I wouldn't regard smoking drugs and fornicating as classy behaviour but I'm glad someone does :)

You have to experience a Chinese tourist group in China to see what the big deal is.

You have to experience a tourist group wherever...FULL STOP.

As for the rest I'll pretend I didn't read anything...let's just say that i'm really sorry with people who need to pay to have a woman.

No one said they were women.

No one said they were women.

oh, ok, then let's rephrase it, would u? "i'm really sorry with people who need to pay to have someone".
It doesn't change much, now does it?

Oh. I feel sorry for people who have cancer or something.

And here's some additional info for you, Mr.Palin: We didn't have sex with these women. They're just there to drink and talk with. I'm in a relationship and I don't cheat. There are 3 types of girls in Shanghai bars. Normal girls who do hit on laowais with awesome dance moves pretty frequently, "prostitutes" who just hang out there for free drinks and have some kind of deal with the bar and then there's just plain prostitutes.

However, it's a good idea to bring your own escorts/friends to fend off the forementioned 3 types. Also, these women speak languages and are way classier than the regulars. Also, you should at least talk to a classy prostitute. Your might learn to respect them too.

And wtf is everyone pointing out faults in my personal life for? I could eat babies for breakfast and bathe in the blood of my slaughtered enemies and that would be none of your business.

My point was that China is awesome like many other "3rd world" places where people actually live more freely and happier lives than many of you would believe. And that it's sad that with all the development in China lots of hutongs and shikumen with more character than a medium-sized suburban town in California disappear for good.

Oh. I feel sorry for people who have cancer or something.

And here's some additional info for you, Mr.Palin: We didn't have sex with these women. They're just there to drink and talk with. I'm in a relationship and I don't cheat. There are 3 types of girls in Shanghai bars. Normal girls who do hit on laowais with awesome dance moves pretty frequently, "prostitutes" who just hang out there for free drinks and have some kind of deal with the bar and then there's just plain prostitutes.

However, it's a good idea to bring your own escorts/friends to fend off the forementioned 3 types. Also, these women speak languages and are way classier than the regulars. Also, you should at least talk to a classy prostitute. Your might learn to respect them too.

And wtf is everyone pointing out faults in my personal life for? I could eat babies for breakfast and bathe in the blood of my slaughtered enemies and that would be none of your business.

My point was that China is awesome like many other "3rd world" places where people actually live more freely and happier lives than many of you would believe. And that it's sad that with all the development in China lots of hutongs and shikumen with more character than a medium-sized suburban town in California disappear for good.

I think u'r actually clueless....but if that's the way u live ur day, well..keep, ur words speak for themselves..