With the release of a new plan to overhaul the nation's national holiday system, public debates are taking place over the prospect of tourism industry and the investment returns on tourism-related stocks. The new plan would certainly produce a significant influence upon the entire tourism industry, especially tourist plans for city residents.

Industry researchers said that the new plan would promote the development of short- and medium-distance tourist sectors, but it would have a negative effect upon the development of long-distance domestic tours and overseas tours.

However, the development of the tourism industry is fundamentally decided by economic growth and upgrade of consumption structure.

The major driving force for the tourism industry is the increase of per capita disposal income. China's rapid GDP growth in recent years has greatly bulged people's wallets and gradually changed their consumption structure, spurring more demands for tourism, promoting the sightseeing and leisure tourism sector to experience an annual growth rate of over 20 percent.

For more details, please read the full story in Chinese (http://www.cnstock.com/newcjzh/06cjdt/2007-11/14/content_2742180.htm).

(China.org.cn November 14, 2007)