Q: Countries around the world are excited about the rapidly increasing number of outbound Chinese tourists, which is also an important indicator of Chinese people becoming richer. With how many countries has China signed tourism destination agreements? What is the government's attitude toward outbound tourism? What is its potential?

A: The number of outbound Chinese tourists has grown substantially in recent years. According to statistics, the number exceeded 10 million for the first time in 2000, and arrived at 20.2 million in 2003, overtaking Japan as the country with the most outbound tourists in Asia. In 2004, there were more than 28.85 million outbound Chinese tourists, an increase of 42.7 percent compared with the previous year, among which 22.98 million went to foreign countries for personal reasons, a category that grew by 55.2 percent.

The range of tourist destinations for Chinese people is also broadening. There were only six possible places for Chinese citizens to visit in 1999, mainly in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The number grew to 14 in 2000, 19 in 2002 and 28 in 2003. And the number of tourist destinations grew most rapidly in 2004, when China signed a memorandum of understanding on approved destinations with 41 countries and signed tourism cooperation agreements with four countries. As a result, the number of destinations for outbound tourists reached 90 in 2004, and 63 countries and regions formally started tourism operations for Chinese people. Currently, countries are paying much attention to the huge number of potential tourists in China, in the hope that their country can become the tourist destination of choice for Chinese citizens. That's why when foreign leaders visit China, or when Chinese leaders visit other countries, tourism is an important issue for discussion. Just from June to December 2004, there were 14 occasions when Chinese leaders directly took part in negotiations or agreement-signing ceremonies related to tourism. All of this reflects the Chinese Government's attitude toward the outbound tourism of its citizens.

With continuous and stable economic growth, the incomes of Chinese citizens are increasing day by day. According to the theory of consumption economics, and based on international experience, when per-capita GDP reaches US$1,000, the consumption pattern of citizens changes from survival to enjoyment. Based on China's economic growth, we can see that the outbound tourism of Chinese citizens has come into a golden age and will maintain the momentum of its rapid development.

Chinese tourists visit a village of Masai, an indigenous tribe of semi-nomadic people in Kenya.