10-03-2008 10:37

Beijing and other 2008 Olympic co-host cities have seen a big rise in tourism.The Olympics have become a driving force for the tourism industry.

Beijing and other 2008 Olympic co-host cities have seen a big rise in tourism.The Olympics have become a driving force for the tourism industry.

Data from China's tourism authority shows that Olympic cities, including Beijing and Qingdao, are welcoming more tourists than before.

Around 380 thousand travellers visited Beijing on the first day of the seven-day National Day holiday, up 30 percent over the same period last year. And the main

Olympic venues have seen over 150 thousand visitors per day for three consecutive days.

The co-host city of Qingdao is also popular. Its Olympic Sailing Center has seen more than 10 thousand visitors each day during this holiday.

The Olympics has boosted these cities' tourism industry as a whole, including hotels and travel agencies.

Wang Peixian, General Manager of China Commercial Int's Travel Service, said, "The effect is obvious. More than 10 thousand visitors have already signed up for Olympic-related group tours."

The China Tourism Academy has issued a report saying that the Olympics has improved not only tourism-related infrastructure, but also tourism services. More importantly, the Games offered a chance for China to fully showcase its culture.

Dai Bin, Deputy Director of China Tourism Academy, said, "The Olympics can been seen as a big advertisement for China tourism. It will dramatically stimulate travel demand to China. "

The National Tourism Administration and the Beijing Tourism Administration have begun promoting the post-Olympic tours. Travel agencies in neighboring countries and regions, like Japan and Taiwan, have started talks with related departments in the Chinese mainland on cooperation deals.

One report from the China Tourism Academy says the Olympics bump may last three to five years. By 2015, China is estimated to welcome over 100 million inbound tourists, becoming the world's largest travel destination.