China continues to offer increasing opportunities for foreign airlines and travel agencies since its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001.

The number of outbound Chinese travelers reached 57.39 million in 2010, compared to 12.13 million people in 2001. The number of tourists travelling via travel agencies rose to 16.64 million in 2010, up from the 3.70 million in 2001, according to the National Tourism Administration.

Visitors pass by a tourism promotion fair for South Africa at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, Sept 22, 2005. [Photo / Xinhua]