The municipality is aiming to receive three million overseas visitors this year, bringing in 2.6 billion US dollars in foreign exchange. The city also aims to host 95 million domestic tourists, drawing 99.8 billion yuan (12.06 billion US dollars) in income.

Shanghai plans to welcome more than four million overseas tourists, earning 3.3 billion US dollars in foreign exchange, and 100 million domestic tourists by 2005.

The eastern metropolis has designated the next five to 10 years a "golden period" for developing tourism.

Under the plan, Shanghai will build itself into a tourism destination for doing business, holding conferences and exhibitions, shopping, and glamor and leisure entertainment.

The city also aims to attract tourists with its advanced cultural and sport attractions, industry, agriculture, science and technology.

Moreover, it is expecting to host 70 million visitors during the World Expo in 2010.

Shanghai boasts a series of advantages in fulfilling its targets.

The city has 41 international and 548 domestic travel agencies and 310 star-level hotels. The city's tourism enterprises have opened more than 20 representative offices in 13 countries and regions. Eight of the world's leading hotel management companies have opened branches in Shanghai.

Last year, Shanghai hosted 87.5 million domestic tourists and more than 2.7 million overseas tourists.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2003)