Golden Week benefits China's neighbors
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-06 19:39 Singapore has also become a stop for Chinese tourists who are visiting
countries in Africa or around the Indian Ocean. The World Tourism Organization
predicts China will become a major exporter of tourists in 10 years, which will
help boost Singapore's role as an international shipping center.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan are also attracting Chinese tourists
during the golden holidays.
Prior to the May Day holiday, ROK airlines announced that the number of air
routes between China and ROK would increase to 50 in the coming five years.
In addition, economic centers of China, ROK and Japan, namely Shanghai, Pusan
and Osaka, have formed a "tourism triangle" and plan to jointly explore the
tourist market in Europe after the May Day holiday.
Liu Bin, an economist on tourism, said with summer approaching, the cooler
parts of northern Asia represented by Russia and Mongolia will become new
attractions for Chinese tourists.
Sources said some two-way tourist organizations are busy organizing more
Chinese tourists to visit Russia this year amid the celebration of the
Sino-Russia year.
Some Chinese airlines have moved to ensure a share in the new tourism market.
The China Southern Airlines opened its fifth China-Russia route this week,
linking Beijing with Irkutsk. Hainan Airlines also announced the imminent
opening of a route to St. Petersburg in Russia.
Liu said China's flood of tourists will not only benefit the economies of
neighboring countries, but also work as a ligament to strengthen friendship
between China and its neighbors.
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