SLOWER GROWTH OF MAINLAND CHINESE TOURISTS GOING ABROAD

BEIJING, Jan 8 (Bernama) - An estimated 50 million mainland Chinese tourists
will holiday abroad this year, growing at a low of 9 percent because of the
global economic slump.

The rate is lower than that of previous years, China National Tourism
Administration (CNTA) chief Shao Qiwei was cited as saying by the China Daily
newspaper.

Last year, 46 million Chinese went overseas, up 12 percent from 2007.

Inbound travellers to the mainland will grow by just 1.5 percent to 132
million after dropping for the first time since 2003 to 130 million last year.

"All major inbound source markets, except for Hong Kong and Russia, slumped
last year amid the economic downturn," he was quoted as saying.

"The inbound tourism sector is facing a considerable challenge this year,"
Shao said.

At home, the industry is forecast to grow by 9 percent to 1.85 million
tourists with increased government measures to ramp up domestic spending to
boost its export-hit economy.
-- BERNAMA