Shaghai's tourism has boomed in recent years to occupy a significant position in the local economy. International tourism has grown steadily. Since 1992 the number of overseas tourist coming to Shanghai has exceeded one million in 1992 to 1.432 million in 1996. Over the past five years the city received a total of 6.623 million overseas tourists, an increase of 14.29 percent. International tourism earnings incresed from US $608 million in 1992 to US $ 1.7 bnillion in 1996, totaling US $4.364 billion over the five years, an inrease of 92.43 percent. Tourism development has also promoted Shanghai's exchanges and cooperation witht the rest of the world in various fields.

In 1996 the number of domestic tourist visiting Shanghai reached 60.11 milliom. The number of those on organized tours increased from 1.533 million in 1992 to 2.0688 million in 1996, or a total of 8.8145 million over the five years, an increase of 35 percent. The added value of tourism took up 4.1 percent of the city's GDP in 1996. Shanghai's tourism industry has expanded over the past five years and facilities have improved considerably. Currently the city has 118 star-level hotels, 320 international and domestic travel agencies and 194 designated tourism restaurants, shops and service institutions. A total of 216,200 people wok in the tourism industry.

Tourism enterprises in Shanghai have expanded operations and gained vitality through share-holding systems, conglomeration and other contemporary business practices. In addition, Shanghai has formed an educational and training netwrok of 54 tourism school. Better personnel has given Shanghai an advanced position in terms of management service.

Over the past five years Shanghai has adhered to a strategy of integeration, coordination and exploitation. Civil aviation, an important support of the tourism industry, is now a keylink between Shanghai and 88 domestic and foreign cities. The number Chinese and foreign airlines serving Shangahi has reached 40, with over 300 flights. The Honggiao Airport expansion project and another new airport, still underconstruction, will add impetus to tourism development in Shanghai.

The local railway department has inaugurated tourist trains to Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, Hanzhou, Nanchang and Huangshan. The Shanghai Railway Station operates 80 trains every day. The city's outbound road network includes the Shanghai-Nanjing and the soon-to-be-finished Shanghai-Hangzhou expressways, and the National Highways 312, 318 and 320. The development of urban network, composed of three ring roads crossed by 10 roads radiating outwards, has alleviated haevy traffic in the city proper. Convenient transportaio has in turn accelerated Shanghai's tourism development.

Over the past five years Shanghai adjusted its product structure and has promoted a theme tour each year. Shanghai has become more aware of its disitnctives in devloping and designning tours. It has made use of the city's historic and cultural resources and taken advantage of its economic contracts, new urban facilities and comprehensive services. For instance, the Yangpu and Nanpu bridges, the elevated inner ring road, People's Square, the renovated Bund., the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Shanghai subway have been included in Tour of New Shanghai. Sites that were related to distinguished figures have been included in a Tour of Former Residences of Famous Personage. Many commercial and cultural activities in Shanghai have also been used. The East China Tourism Trade Fair, the Shanghai International Arts, Film, TV and Tea Culture festivals and the Shanghai Osmanthus, Peach Flower, Citrus adn Tourism festivals have lent more charm to the city.

High-grade Tourist Highway Network Set up in Yunnan.

In recent years Yunnan Province in Southwest China has worked hard on its land transportation. Now, a its land transportation. Now a highway network, centred on the provincial capital of Kunming, has been formed to all major tourist destinations.

In the second half of 1995, Yunna began its tourist land transportation project. It spent 150 million yuab (US $18 million) to import 150 tourism coaches from Japan and the Republic of Korea. The largets tour bus company in the province now operates nearly 10 express bus routes from Kunming to Quijing, Chuxiong, Dali, Stone Forest and Yuxi.

Yunnan, which is inhabited by many ethnic minorities, has unique historical and natural attractions. The operation of these tourist buses provides a convenient way for tourist to tour various attractions in Yunnan when arriving via air of train.

The express buses operate on regular buses operate on regular schedules, and they are equipped with air-conditioners and toilets. Bus attendants describe the scenery along the way and provide food and drinks to passengers at no charge.