A total of record 126 million yuan (US$15 million) was spent last year to promote tourism industry of the eastern province of Shandong, outnumbering all other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the country, according to sources.
Shandong also took the lead in the country to target tourism as a pillar industry of the province's economy.
The province, in cooperation with the World Tourism Organization, made a comprehensive development plan for its tourism industry, and such smaller-scale plans are to be worked out for each city in Shandong.
Last year the province received 820,000 overseas visitors, raking in a revenue of US$380 million, up 13 percent and 20 percent respectively, while the number of domestic visitors reached 80.85 million, bringing in a revenue of 46.2 billion yuan (US$5.6 billion), up 15 percent and 19 percent respectively, according to statistics.
(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2002)
