According to the Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA), the capital received 51,176 South Korean tourists in May, up 72 percent on the same period last year and more than those from any other nation.

The number of tourists from South Korea to Beijing is expected to reach 500,000 by the end of the year, 80,000 more than last year.

A promotion was launched by the BTA in South Korea in mid-June, and appears to be further boosting the upward trend this and next month.

Beijing Bei Ao International Travel Service and China Youth Travel Service (CYTS) have received over 10 big tourist group bookings since the promotion, the biggest one comprising over 600 tourists.

BTA Vice Director Yu Debin said the association would provide with the best and most convenient tourism services jointly with airline companies and travel agents.

Ma Xiuping, director of CYTS, said the number of their student tourists has increased 200 percent compared to last year, and they made up a third of all group bookings since the BTA promotion.

"Students will become leading consumers in years to come," said Li Xuemin, vice director of the BTA's Tourism Promotion Department, "Exploiting student-centered tourism is good for future market development."

"With strong purchasing power, South Korean tourists spend over 20,000-30,000 yuan each on traditional Chinese medicines, the effectiveness of which they believe in very much," Ma said.

They are also often interested in Chinese mahogany furniture, for which they are led to the Chinese Antique Furniture Market at Gaobeidian in Chaoyang District.

According to the BTA, 3.2 million overseas tourists came to Beijing last year, bringing over US$3.1 billion with them. They are expected to number 3.4 million this year, bringing in US$3.4 billion -- one in seven of them South Korean.

(China.org.cn by Unisumoon June 30, 2005)