BEIJING, March 25 (UPI) -- The China National Tourism Association predicts the number of Chinese traveling abroad will grow 3-fold over the next 15 years.
The agency believes that by 2020 Chinese will be making 100 million overseas trips every year -- and that Europe will be moving up on Asia as the favored destination, Xinhua, the official government news agency, said. In 2005, 35 million Chinese traveled abroad.
Shen Huirong, a CNTA official, said the agency is negotiating with other countries to ease immigration procedures for Chinese tourists.
A study by Goldman Sachs found that Chinese tourists spent more per capita on shopping than those from any other country. Officials say Chinese tourists un Europe even buy products labeled "Made In China" and bring them home.
