China expects tourism revenue to rise

BEIJING, July 9 (UPI) -- A revenue drop from fewer foreign visitors to China would be more than offset by an increase in domestic travel in 2009, the China tourism agency said.

The National Tourism Academy expects revenue from tourism to increase 3 percent in 2009 to $176 billion, Xinhua reported Thursday.

Trips to China by foreigners are expected to drop 5 percent to 124 million visitors with overnight stays dropping 10 percent to 48.2 million, a recent report said.

Revenue from domestic trips and the number of trips taken by Chinese citizens both rose 10 percent in the first half of the year. The academy, part of the National Tourism Administration, said revenue from domestic travelers would increase 8 percent to $139 billion this year.

The global recession and fears of flu outbreaks were keeping foreign travelers away, said the academy's Deputy Director Dai Bin.