Related Stories

Brits 'will always travel to Spain' (22 Apr 2009)

Drop flight tax plans, says BA (22 Apr 2009)

Indian cricket ace to coach at La Manga Club (23 Apr 2009)

Ryanair 'may introduce obesity tax' (23 Apr 2009)

Skyscanner reveals 'top bank holiday destinations' (23 Apr 2009)

China 'set for rise in tourism'

(21 May 2007)

Going on holiday? – Get a great deal on travel insurance

China is set to become the third most popular tourism destination in the world, it has been revealed.

According to a United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) official, the Asian country could overtake the United States in 2008 to rank only behind France and Spain in terms of popularity as a global holiday hotspot, reports China Daily.

Xu Jing, representative for Asia and the Pacific of UNWTO, said: "I am confident China will overtake the US next year."

Meanwhile, the country is predicted to become the most popular destination in the world by 2015.

Over the course of 2006, the Asian country was reported to account for some 5.8 per cent of the global tourism industry, a rise of some 0.3 per cent from 2004.

However, next year's Olympic Games to be held in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai are set to give a further boost to the country's tourism industry.

Earlier this year, Thomas Cook suggested China is set to become an increasingly popular location of British holidaymakers in 2008 due to the Olympics.

Dubai, Vietnam and the Maldives were also reported as becoming tourism hotspots over the course of next year, reports Travel Mole.

© Adfero Ltd