Xinjiang tourism booms in 2012

URUMQI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region saw booming tourism in 2012, with tourist arrivals reaching 48.6 million, sources from the region's tourism bureau said on Thursday.

The number visiting the region surged 23 percent compared to the figure for the previous year, thanks to strong government promotion along with improved infrastructure and service at tourist attractions, according to the sources.

Tourism revenues totaled 57.6 billion yuan (about 9.17 billion U.S. dollars) last year in Xinjiang, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.

The regional government launched a campaign on infrastructure construction and environmental protection at tourist sites in 2012.

Affluent municipalities and provinces such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong have launched new train and flight services to bring more tourists to Xinjiang, as part of their efforts to help support the region's development.