An employee from the Indonesian delegation puts the final touches on the country's booth at the China International Travel Mart yesterday. The four-day event opens today in Pudong.

Shanghai's six millionth tourist of the year is expected soon, and the city may hold a party for the lucky visitor, the tourism authority said yesterday, a day before the launch of an international travel exhibition in Pudong.

More than 4,100 domestic and overseas travel agencies, hoteliers, airlines, caterers and auto companies will participate in the four-day China International Travel Mart at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

"We are planning to hold a party for the year's six millionth visitor, no matter he or she is from home or abroad," said Zhu Chengrong, a senior officer from the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission.

The exhibition comes as the number of tourists visiting and leaving China is increasing.

Foreign visitor arrivals in China rose 10 percent last year from the previous year to 120 million, exhibition organizers said yesterday.

Foreign currency revenue from international tourism reached US$29.3 billion, up 13.8 percent from that of 2004.

At the same time, the number of outbound Chinese travelers rose 7.5 percent to 31 million, with 21.4 million of them taking private trips.

"CITM, which has been successfully held seven times, is a significant act to further promote China to become a tourist destination in Asia," said Liu Kezhi, a senior official with the China National Tourism Administration, which is co-hosting the event.

The exhibition, which alternates annually between Kunming in Yunnan Province and Shanghai, is expected to attract participants from 91 countries and regions, up 12 percent on last year's CITM in Yunnan.

The Taiwan Visitors Association is to send 325 people to the event, occupying 70 booths. It's the first time the island province has sent a delegation to Shanghai for the exhibition. The event will open to the public this weekend, from 9 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday and 4 PM on Sunday. Tickets cost 10 yuan (US$1.25).

(Shanghai Daily November 16, 2006)