Sources at the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA)have said that the annual inspection of the tourism industry is over and a large number of travel agents will be out of a job.

The CNTA will revoke the business licenses of 170travel agencies because they failed to pass the annual inspection.

The inspection revealed that,at the end of 2000,the number of travel agencies in China totaled 8,993,up 1,638,or 22.27percent,from a year ago.The annual inspection covered 8,605travel agencies,accounting for 95.69percent of the total,of which 7,884agencies passed the inspection,or 91.62percent.

(Eastday.com.cn 06/18/2001)