(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-08-16 11:35

China's tourism industry generated US$17.94 billion in foreign currencies in the first half of this year, up 13.1 percent from a year earlier, according to statistics from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

CNTA data showed that US$16.45 billion, or 91.74 percent of the total tourism forex revenue, was generated by tourists who spent at least one night in China.

In the first six months of this year, more than 12.12 million foreigners came to the Chinese mainland for sightseeing, up 18.47 percent from a year earlier. The growth rate more than tripled the 6.1 percent increase for all inbound tourists to the Chinese mainland, which amounted to 63.37 million.

According to CNTA statistics, nearly 25.9 million inland tourists spent at least one night in China, up 10.25 percent from a year earlier.