Tourism in China


Term Paper (Advanced seminar), 2002

23 Pages, Grade: 1,0


Excerpt


Table of Contents

1. FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT CHINA
1.1. GENERALITIES
1.2. INHABITANTS
1.3. POLITICAL & ECONOMIC SITUATION
1.4. CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM

2. THE CHINESE TOURISM MARKET
2.1. GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
2.1.1. Inbound Tourism
2.1.2. Domestic Tourism
2.2. POLICIES & REGULATIONS
2.3. TOURISM OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT
2.3.1. Hotels 11
2.3.2. Travel Organizations & Services
2.3.3. Quality Supervision Management
2.4. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
2.4.1. Civil Aviation
2.4.2. Railways
2.4.3. Highways
2.4.4. Waterways
2.5. HUMAN RESOURCES
2.6. MEDIA & ADVERTISING

3. WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION
3.1. MISSION
3.2. PROJECTS IN CHINA
3.2.1. Technical Assistance Missions
3.2.2. Technical Cooperation Projects
3.2.3. Hotel Classification System
3.2.4. World Trade Centre Staff Development
3.2.5. Tourism Master Plans
3.3. SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES

4. SUMMARY & FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Bibliography

Abstract

Since the adoption of the policies of reform and the opening to the outside world, China’s tourism has entered a stage of rapid development. Being a country rich in tourism resources, it has become a demanded destination in Asia for tourists from all over the world, but also domestic tourism is growing vigorously.

This paper is divided in four parts. Chapter one will give an insight into important factors concerning China’s tourism industry and explain its economical and political situation. Besides, investments in tourism will be explained. Chapter two illustrates China’s tourism market, considering tourism operation and management, crucial regulations, infrastructure development but also human resources as well as media and advertising. Chapter three points out the impact of the World Tourism Organization on China’s tourism industry and illustrates through which projects the organization has helped to further development of tourism. In chapter four the main points will be summarized.

Table of Figures

Figure 1: Tourist Arrivals 1978 to 20005

Figure 2: Countries of Origin in 2000

Figure 3: Foreign Exchange Revenue

Figure 4: Foreign Tourists from 1996 to 2000

Figure 5: Top Tourist Generating Countries

Figure 6: International Travel Revenue 1996 to 2000

Figure 7: Total Number of Domestic Tourists 1996 to 2000

Figure 8: Number of Star-Rated Hotels 1999 to 2000

1. Facts & Figures about China

1.1. Generalities

China, the third largest country in the world, is situated in the eastern part of the Asian continent at the west coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is a nation with a long history behind it. Dynasty after dynasty, the concept of "Central Kingdom" evolved since the country has all the things an ideal realm should possess: towering mountains, beautiful lakes and rivers, awe-inspiring temples and monasteries, fascinating statues and much more. It comes out in front in the world in scenic spots and historical sites, spectacular landscapes, and colorful and varied national customs. As the wheel of history brings in the 21st century, China is changing - it is changing into a prosperous, powerful and yet peaceful country.

1.2. Inhabitants

China is known to the world at large as a country whose area is as vast as its inhabitants. China’s population counts about 1.3 billion people and represents consequently a quarter of the world’s population.1 China’s population is distributed unevenly with more than 300 people per square kilometer in the east and about 40 people per square kilometer in the west.2

1.3. Political & Economic Situation

China was established in 1949 as socialist People’s Republic. Since 1978 China is realizing profound transitions. The reform from an isolated planned economy to a social market economy is certainly the most important. The core is an economic opening towards the world in order to achieve an increase of exports and to receive capital assistance from abroad for being able to sustain a modernizing of the economy.3

Furthermore, during the last ten years the Central Government’s economic policy switched from an emphasis on heavy industry development to light industry, as well as the promotion of a service sector including that of tourism.4

1.4. Chinese Investments in Tourism

In 2000, for the first time, the State brought the construction of tourist infrastructures in line with the state debt investment plan. The State had allocated state debt funds of US$ 150 million to 113 projects.5

The state does especially invest in western China, as it has more tourist resources than eastern or central China, but it is also a rare treasure-house for tourism in the world. But most of the scenic spots in western China are situated in the under-
developed or poverty-affected areas. Therefore China’s government has decided to allocate US$ 92 million from the Treasury bonds issued in 2000 for the construction of auxiliary tourist facilities in the western region. That includes highways, promenades, water and power supply systems as well as sewage and garbage treatment plants. The money will also be spent on preserving the natural ecology and historical and cultural legacies, providing tourist information services and installing safety facilities.6

2. The Chinese Tourism Market

2.1. General Development

Describing the present situation of China’s tourism industry, Mr. He Guangwei, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), inaugurated the World Tourism Organization/United Nations Environment Program (WTO/UNEP) International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in December 2000 with the following words:

“ China has developed from a country rich in tourist resources into a major tourist country in Asia. As the emerging sector that is most dynamic and promising in China ’ s tertiary industry, tourism has become a new growth point in its national economic development, attracting more attention from the central government and the local governments at the various levels. ” 7

China has a huge potential in the tourism market which is growing steadily, as it becomes more and more popular as tourist destination. In 1980 China still ranked number 18 on the list of the international top tourist destinations. In 1992 it reached position 10 and in 2000 it was the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world after France, USA, Spain and Italy and received 83.3 million tourists.8 The World Tourism Organization even predicted that by 2020, China would become the most popular destination for tourists in the world, with 130 million tourists expected to visit the country, which would signify an increase of almost 160%.9

The following chart illustrates very clearly the development of China’s tourism industry. During the last ten years China maintained a high growth rate of tourists. In 2000, the number of tourists entering China reached 83.4 million, 44 times the figure of 1978.10

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

Fig.1 : Tourist Arrivals 1978 to 2000 (10,000 persons) Source: www.cnta.gov.cn

Most of China’s tourists come from other Asian Countries, especially Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as recognizable in figure 2. In 2000 they numbered 6.2 million, with a rise of 21.9% over 1999, accounting for 61.3% of the total number. Tourists from Europe counted 2.4 million, which is a rise of 18.5%, sharing 23.3% of the total market. American tourists numbered 1.2 million, a rise of 18.6% and sharing 12.0% of the total. But although the numbers of tourists from Oceania and Africa are still quite small, they also increased enormously: African tourists with 26% and Oceanic tourists 15.8%.

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

Fig.2 : Countries of Origin in 2000 (10,000 persons)

Source: www.cnta.com 11

When China only ranked number 18 on the international list of the top tourism destination in 1980, the income of the tourism industry amounted to US$ 617 million.12 In 2000, the exchange revenue reached US$ 54.4 billion, which is 200 times that of 1978. Figure 3 shows the dramatic increase in China’s foreign exchange revenue during the last 30 years.13

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

Fig.3: Foreign Exchange Revenue (US$100 million) 1998 2000 Source: www.cnta.gov.cn

2.1.1. Inbound Tourism

China’s incoming tourism market continued to sustain a fast growing situation during the last years. Especially the number of foreign tourists set new records. Of the total number of 83.3 million tourists in 2000, as illustrated in figure 4, foreign tourists numbered 10.16 million, an increase of 20.5% from 1999.14

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

Fig.4: Foreign tourists from 1996 to 2000 (10,000 persons) Source: www.cnta.com 15

China’s inbound travel market can be divided in two main parts: on the one hand compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and on the other hand foreigners. Foreign countries which sent most tourists to China last year were Japan, ROK, Russia, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Mongolia, the Philippines, Britain, Thailand, Germany, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, France, India, Viet Nam, Italy, DPRK and Holland. In 2000, the number of tourists to China in all the 20 countries showed remarkable growth trends.16 Figure 5 shows the five top tourist generating countries. Hence, Japan is number one with a total of 2.2 million of inbound tourists and a total ratio of 21.7% followed by ROK with a ratio of 13.3% and Russia with

10.7%. These enormous growth rates show China’s potential as a tourist destination for foreigners. The least growth rate were about 8 to 10% - mainly European countries - but most of the top twenty countries had two digit growth rates last year.

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

Fig.5 : Top Tourists Generating Countries Source: adapted from www.cnta.com 17

A further astonishing figure is China’s inbound travel revenue. In 2000 it amounted to US$ 16.23 billion, which is up to 15.12% compared to 1999. Last year, China held on to its ranking of 7th among world tourist destinations in terms of revenue. Figure 6

illustrates the development of China’s travel revenue from 1996 to 2000.18 During the period from 1996 to 2000, an increase of 160% in inbound travel revenue is to discern.

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

Fig.6 : International Travel Revenue 1996-2000 (US$ 100 million) Source: www.cnta.com 19

2.1.2. Domestic Tourism

Chinese people discover more and more the pleasure of traveling through their own country. As indicated in figure 7, the amount of domestic Chinese tourists increased steadily and reached in 2000 about 740 million. According to China Economic Information, about 70% of all Chinese will have been traveled in 2002 through China.20 But due to huge differences in lifestyles, it is mainly urban Chinese that are able to this luxury.

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten

Fig.7 : Total Number of Domestic Tourists 1996-2000 (100 million persons) Source: www.cnta.com 21

The revenue generated by domestic travelers in 2000 amounted to US$ 38,3 million, more than twice the revenues generated by inbound tourists. China is thus worldwide the country having most domestic tourists.22 Especially in periods like May Day or National Day, the number of tourists is markedly high, rendering high revenues.

[...]


1 http://www.china-club.de/english/chinaguide/ueberblick.htm#popu ;

German National Tourist Office, Broschüre ‚Marktinformation China‘, p.6;

2 http://www.china-club.de/english/chinaguide/ueberblick.htm#popu

3 German National Tourist Office, Broschüre ‚Marktinformation China‘, p.7

4 http://www.world-tourism.org/regional/east_asia_and_pacific/countries/china.htm

5 http://www.cnta.gov.cn/lyen/2policy/tourist.htm

6 Business Alert - China, July 2000

7 Opening speech by H.E. Mr. He Guangwei, WTO/UNEP Conference, 6-8 December 2000

8 http://www.cnta.com/lyen/2fact/inbounde%20tourism.htm

German National Tourist Office, Broschüre “Marktinformation China”‘, p.11

9 Business Alert-China, Issue 04, 2001

10 http://www.cnta.com/lyen/2fact/inbounde%20tourism-1.htm; Business Alert-China, Issue 04, 2001

Tourism in China 6

11 http://www.cnta.com/lyen/2fact/inbound%20tourism.htm

12 German National Tourist Office, Broschüre “Marktinformation China”‘, p.11

13 http://www.cnta.gov.cn/lyen/brief/tourism/Introduction1-2.htm

14 http://www.china.org.cn/e-china/tourism/introduction.htm

Tourism in China 7

15 http://www.cnta.com/lyen/2fact/inbound%20tourism-2.htm

16 http://www.cnta.com/lyen/2fact/inbound%20tourism-3.htm

17 ibid

Tourism in China 8

18 http://www.cnta.com/lyen/2fact/inbounde%20tourism-6.htm

19 ibid

20 German National Tourist Office, Broschüre “Marktinformation China”‘, p.11

21 http://www.cnta.com/lyen/2fact/domestic%20tourism.htm

22 German National Tourist Office, Broschüre “Marktinformation China”‘, p.11

Excerpt out of 23 pages

Details

Title
Tourism in China
College
University of Applied Sciences Hof
Grade
1,0
Author
Year
2002
Pages
23
Catalog Number
V58945
ISBN (eBook)
9783638530040
ISBN (Book)
9783640866212
File size
565 KB
Language
English
Keywords
Tourism, China, Thema China
Quote paper
Franziska Pfund (Author), 2002, Tourism in China, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/58945

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