Park administrators in Beijing are apparently unprepared to make Vice-Mayor Zhang Mao's promise of offering free admission to most of the parks in the city a reality. Zhang, responsible for tourism and economic development, told a work conference on Tuesday that all the non-heritage protected small parks and museums should be made available to the residents free of charge by the end of this year. (China Daily)

Tonga's director of Tourism Va 'inga Palu said the expected start of visits by Chinese tourists later this year could help turn the kingdom's economy around. According to news reaching Wellington from Tonga April 12, Palu said Tonga needs a tourism market like China to give the ailing economy a boost. (Xinhua)

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