Li Meng, deputy director of the outbound tourism department of China International Travel Service, said nearby destinations such as Japan and South Korea have started to do more for Chinese tourists. Some, for instance, have put up signs written in Chinese.

Countries including the US and Australia have meanwhile taken steps to simplify the procedures mainland tourists must go through to obtain visas. But obstacles still remain in the application process of some other countries, he said.

Travel services are calling on European countries to simplify their visa procedures for Chinese citizens.

Chen Ruiping, a retired worker from Jiangsu province, said her travel plans will depend in part on how easy it is to obtain visas from certain countries. She said her family has decided to visit Thailand this year.

QUESTIONS

1 How many overseas trips were made by mainland Chinese last year?

2 How many are expected this year?

3 What is the biggest travel expense for mainland tourists?

ANSWERS

1. 70 million

2. 78 million

3. Shopping

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