Xue Laping, deputy director general of marketing and international cooperation with the China National Tourism Administration.
Xue Laping, one of an 82-member tourism delegation from China, currently touring Australia, said in Sydney, ‘Everybody knows that we have this financial crisis, and the travel trade is also suffering a serious downturn in inbound tourism to China.
‘It could be said to be the worst situation since SARS took place in China. But the picture is not that dark. If we look at the bright side, we are still having good progress in outbound travel.
‘From January to October, we have had an increase of about 14% in outbound travel, from China to the outside. And it’s the same situation for Chinese travel to Australia and New Zealand — the Chinese are still very eager to travel abroad.’
He suggested: ‘At this time, our inbound and outbound markets could help each other.
‘I think that everybody knows that China allocated about US$580 billion as a stimulus package for the economy. But confidence is more important than money or currencies.’
China has named next year China Eco-tourism Year 2009 under the slogan “Enjoy Green Tourism and Experience ecological Civilisation”. Shanghai will host world Expo 2010.
Source: eTravel Blackboard