Sichuan's Tourism Income Hits CNY160.3 Billion In 2010

According to figures released by Sichuan Tourism Administration the province generated a record CNY160.3 billion in tourism revenues in the first 10 months of 2010, 28.3% more than in the same period the previous year.

The tourism administration said that the result exceeded the level recorded before May 12, 2008, when the Wenchuan Earthquake hit the province and killed at least 68,000 people. It also exceeded last year's full-year revenue of CNY147.25 billion.

In the period from January to October, the number of visitor arrivals at the Aba (Ngawa) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture was 7.70 million, 64.8% more than in the same period of last year, and its tourism income was CNY6.5 billion, 76.1% more than in the same period a year earlier. Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong received 1.57 million and 1.07 million tourists, respectively.

Tourist arrivals in the southwestern province are expected to reach 250 million in 2010, with tourism revenue hitting CNY170 billion.