Xinhua news reports that China's domestic tourist number and outbound tourist number reached 1.12 billion and 28.853 million, respectively, last year.

These numbers make the country the largest domestic travel market in the world and the biggest outbound travel market in Asia.

The report says that from 1978 to 2004, the inbound traveler number of China increased from 1.81 million to 109 million, and foreign travel currency from US$260 million to US$25.74 billion.

Shao Qiwei, director of China National Travel Administration (CNTA), said at a recent travel exposition that China's tourism industry will grow more vigorously in the coming years with the upgrading of its position in the international travel market.

The World Travel Organization (WTO) forecasts that by 2020, China will become the biggest travel inbound and outbound travel country in the world.