China's tourism infrastructure grows stronger

The number of China's star-rated hotels has reached 13,908, including 607 five-star hotels, bolstering the country's tourism infrastructure, according to a report submitted to China's legislature on Wednesday.

Shao Qiwei, director of China's National Tourism Administration, revealed the figures in a report delivered to a bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which runs from Monday to Saturday.

China has a total of 23,315 travel agencies with 1,387 able to operate overseas outbound tour services, and boasts more than 20,000 scenic spots nationwide, Shao said.

Shao said China's tourism has seen a rapid growth over the years with the total tourist arrivals from domestic and overseas for the 2006-2010 period reaching 9.3 billion, generating a revenue totaling 6 trillion yuan (950 billion U.S. dollars).

Source: Xinhua News Agency, December 28, 2011