A leading Chinese tourism official has predicted a 10-percent rise in the number of domestic tourists this year.

Shao Qiwei, director of China National Tourism Administration, said domestic tourists would top 1.9 billion this year, a year-on-year rise of 10 percent, at a recent awarding ceremony of Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA) held in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Statistics show that the number of domestic tourists in the country was 1 billion in the first six months of the year, up 11.7percent over the same period last year.

Shao said his administration had been highlighting domestic tourism development since the beginning of the year in accordance with the central government's principle of boosting domestic demand and consumption.

Shao told travel agencies across the country to make greater efforts in boosting tourism consumption, and fostering new consumption outlets.

"Domestic tourism development will sure become one of key areas for expanding domestic demands. A steady rise in domestic tourists will offset the decrease of overseas tourists to the Chinese mainland because of the global economic downturn," Shao said.

Source: Chinaview

Editor: Charlie