China expects 2.6 trillion yuan in 2012 tourism revenues

BEIJING, China – China’s tourism revenues are expected to reach 2.6 trillion yuan (412.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2012, up 16.6 percent year on year, the nation’s top tourism think tank said Friday.

Despite downward economic pressures, the country will likely see 3.13 billion tourists in 2012, marking a 12.8-percent increase from the previous year, according to a report released by the China Tourism Academy.

In the first three quarters of 2012, there were 2.35 billion tourists across the country, who brought about 1.92 trillion yuan of tourism revenues, up 15.3 percent year on year, the report said.

However, the academy predicted that the country will likely run a tourism deficit of more than 40 billion U.S. dollars this year, with fewer international visitors arriving partly due to a slowing global economy.

Inbound trips to the mainland made by overseas tourists are expected to fall 2.2 percent to 132 million this year, while outbound trips made by Chinese tourists will hit 82 million, up 16.7 percent year on year, the report said.

Local governments’ increasing investment in tourism infrastructure has contributed to a boom in regional tourism, and the country’s western regions boast the most popular tourism destinations, according to the report.