China sees fall in foreign tourists this year
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The number of foreign tourists to China fell in the first 10 months of the year and the global economic crisis was expected to make things worse next year, authorities were quoted saying in an AFP report.
The number of overseas visitors staying overnight in China between January and October fell 1.9% year-on-year, China Daily said. The report, citing Shao Qiwei, head of the National Tourism Administration, said the trend was expected to continue in 2009.
“Foreign visitor arrivals are sure to decline next year as a result of the global economic slowdown, so we must focus our efforts on stimulating domestic demand,” Shao was quoted saying.
However the domestic tourism market remained strong and the outbound sector was up 14% in the first 10 months, China Daily said.
AFP said the drop in foreign tourist numbers could be attributed to several events during the year – the deadly unrest in Tibet in March, the earthquake in Sichuan province in May and travel restrictions for foreigners in the lead up to and during the August Beijing Olympics.
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