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China seen as having big future in tourism

China is set to become the world`s leading tourist destination by 2017. The country may achieve the feat three years earlier than World Tourism Organization predictions. The agency predicts China will receive 137 million inbound tourists in 2020.

The Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua says China earned $25.7-billion from tourism last year, providing jobs for some six million people. In addition, increasing numbers of Chinese are also traveling overseas. Approximately 29 million Chinese have gone abroad, making China the single largest source of tourists from Asia.

Officals say China will achieve the target earlier because of the recent growth in tourism. Without a doubt, much of this will begin with the Summer Olympic games which are to be held in the capital, Beijing, in 2008.