China’s first half tourism revenue up 12.4% to US$346 billion

BEIJING - China's tourism industry earned RMB2.25 trillion (USS346 billion) in revenue in the first half of the year, up 12.4% year on year, official statistics show. Domestic tourists made 2.24 billion trips in the first half, an increase of 10.5%. Inbound and outbound trips edged up 4.1% to 127 million.

The China National Tourism Administration (NTA) said tourism has become a strong engine for economic growth. The sector contributed 10.8% to GDP last year and created 10.2% of new jobs, according to NTA data.

China's spending in the tourism sector is likely to triple by 2020, to RMB3 trillion, said NTA Head, Li Jinzao, told the First World Conference on Tourism for Development in May. China invested more than RMB1 trillion in the sector last year, an increase of 42% from one year before, according to Li. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).