Booming tourism is building prosperous links between China, Singapore and Malaysia, according to sources with the office of the China National Tourism Administration in Singapore and southeast Asia.

More Chinese people have registered for traveling to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand during May 1 Holiday period this year, said Dun Jidong with China Travel Service. According to Dun, tours to the three countries are packed in major holidays such as Spring Festival and the National Day.

Malaysia was the first country that the Chinese government allowed its citizens to enter. Millions of Chinese tourists have been to Malaysia.

"China has huge potential for traveling outside the country. We hope more Chinese tourists come to enjoy our scenery and culture," a Malaysian official in charge of tourism said.

Singapore, also a popular place for Chinese people, hopes to embrace one million Chinese tourists in the next two years.

The number of tourists coming to China from southeast Asia is also on the rise. For example, tourists from Malaysia increased 12. 86 percent year-on-year in the first two months this year. Malaysia and Singapore have been on the top ten list of countries with the most tourists coming to China for several years.

( People's Daily April 27, 2002)