Tourism from outside the Chinese mainland slumped 8% in the first half of this year, due largely to the global financial crisis and the A/H1N1 flu epidemic. But a series of stimulus measures spurred China's domestic tourism to grow more than a fifth during the same period.

World Tourism Organization officials recently attended the International Conference on Destination Management in Hangzhou. They praised China's decision to focus on its internal market.

Chinese cities traditionally popular with tourists have offered incentives to lure travellers since the start of this year. Hangzhou gave out free coupons worth a quarter of a billion yuan. It was a risk that paid dividends, working better than expected.

Wang Xinzhang, Deputy Director of Hangzhou City tourism Committee, said, "The coupons are good at stimulating spending. A one yuan coupon would have stimulated 57 yuan spending in related sectors. "

Overseas tourists to China during August climbed 3 percent compared to the same month last year. It was the first increase in more than a year, signaling the market is starting to stabilize.

China's National Tourism Administration officials say the growth in the domestic market has softened the impact of the economic downturn. The country's tourism during the second half is expected to increase compared to last year's numbers.

Editor: Guo Changdong Source: CCTV