CHINA'S annual travel and tourism driven investment will increase significantly to US$80 billion a year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Council president Geoffrey Lipman said his organisation was working closely with China's National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to track the future impact of travel and tourism on the economy and to step up promotion. Hainan would receive greater attention from the council as a 'model destination' in 1996 - the year of resort tourism. The council would work with CNTA, regional officials and companies to seek ways to develop better access, air service, ground transport and quality accommodation. The securing of infrastructure investment would also be studied. Mr Lipman said within the next 10 years Asia would surpass the European Union in travel and tourism receipts with more than $2 trillion in output, or 30 per cent of the world total. 'We are at the dawn of a new millennium, with Asia at the forefront of world economic growth and China at its leading edge. By the year 2000 there will be more than 500 million affluent middle class Asians with more leisure time, disposable income and travel opportunity. Progressive trade liberalisation, opening of markets and easing of travel restraints will steadily intensify this pattern.'
