China earned 1.55 trillion yuan (US$234.8 billion) in tourism revenues last year, an increase of 20 percent year on year, as the industry rid itself of the shadow of the global financial crisis.

Further, some 2.1 billion domestic trips were made, up 11 percent from one year ago, according to figures released by the National Tourism Administration (NTA).

Those trips generated 1.25 trillion yuan in revenues.

Inbound trips increased 6 percent year on year to 134 million, producing revenues of US$45 billion.

Shao Qiwei, director of NTA, said China's tourism industry had embraced a golden development opportunity due to improving economic conditions and diversified travel needs.

He cited the prediction by the World Tourism Organization that China would become the world's largest tourist destination by 2015.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2011)