The China National Tourism Bureau has made some adjustments on the rules concerning the establishment of foreign travel agency branches in China.

The new rules apply for both foreign investment and joint investment companies.

Compared with the old rules, a lower registered capital is now required: now only RMB2.5 million is needed, compared to the previous RMB4 million.

And more regions will be opened to foreign travel agencies apart from the present ones of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xi'an.

China does this three years earlier than the schedule it has committed to the WTO. After the opening of the travel industry, the direct income from the tourism industry in these areas will amount to RMB4 billion each year.