2010: Year of China World Expo Tourism

BEIJING: China's tourism market is gearing up for the Shanghai World Expo. The National Tourism Administration has set 2010 as the Year of World Expo Tourism.

These 60 South Koreans are China's first overseas tourists of the year. They got a special welcome from the China National Tourism Administration at the Shanghai Pudong Airport.

Full Coverage:  Shanghai World Expo Related readings:  Expo 2010 : illumination des pavillons pour le Nouvel an 2010  Shanghai Expo website to open English version  Roses all the way for Expo  Expo-themed forum held for development and livability

A South Korean tourist said, "Shanghai is holding the World Expo this year. That's why I've brought my whole family to tour Shanghai. I hope the event could be just as wonderful as the Beijing Olympic Games."

The tourists all received Expo "Haibao" mascots as gifts.

The CNTA is also planning to hold several campaigns to promote China's World Expo around the world.

Shao Qiwei, Director of China National Tourism Admin., said, "For the inbound tourism sector, we need recovery. For the domestic travel market, we need expansion. So we need to seize the opportunity, and work with other tourism markets around the globe."

The Administration is also planning to use the World Expo as the 2011 tourism theme overseas.

The Shanghai World Expo will open on May 1st and run through October 31st. It's expected to draw 70 million visitors, 3-and-a-half million of them from overseas.