Chinese tourism to create 40 million jobs in 10 years

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 ◆ Chinese tourism to create 40 million jobs in 10 years

China's tourism industry is expected to provide 40 million jobs in the next decade, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

People working in the tourism industry increased by 500,000 annually during the 1996-2000 period.

Tourism is a labor-intensive industry comprising several related trades including transportation, accommodation, food and recreation. It is becoming the principal channel to absorb laid-off workers, said He Guangwei, chairman of the CNTA.

According to a development plan set forth by the State Development Planning Commission and the CNTA, efforts will be made to keep the tourism industry growing at a faster pace than that the national economy in the coming 10 years.

China's National Bureau of Statistics reported recently, the nation's gross domestic product reached 7.1682 trillion yuan (866 billion US dollars) in the first nine months of this year, a rise of 7.9 percent year-on-year.