China's tourism administration reported 8.7747 million tourists from outside the Chinese mainland visited the mainland in May, up 61.42 percent year-on-year, and 11.37 percent over the same period of 2002.

According to the figures released by the National Tourism Administration, overseas tourist arrivals from five continents grew dramatically last month.

China's tourism industry suffered a heavy blow in spring of last year due to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, resulting in cancellation of tour plans by overseas travel agencies.

Growth was recorded in the number of tourist arrivals from China's 16 major sources of overseas tourists, except Thailand and the Philippines.

The number of tourists from the Philippines in May dropped slightly over the same month of last year, while the number of tourists from Thailand remained unchanged.

The administration said foreign currency income from the tourism sector is estimated at US$1.85 billion, up 163 percent over last year, and 8.91 percent over May, 2002.

Overnight tourists spent US$1.689 billion in the mainland, accounting for 91.3 percent of the country's overall tourism sector, while one-day tours accounted for 8.69 percent, or US$161 million.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2004)