The fast development of China's transport infrastructure
provides guaranteed and convenient transportation for overseas and
domestic tourists. Throughout China a great many hotels and
restaurants have been constructed, renovated or expanded to satisfy
all levels of requirement, and there are now 9,751 hotels with star
ratings. All large or medium-sized cities and scenic spots have
hotels with complete facilities and services for both domestic and
international visitors.
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China currently has 1,364 international travel agencies, 249 of
them located in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing. On 12th
June 2003, the China National Tourism Administration and the
Ministry of Commerce jointly issued Interim Regulations on the
Establishment of Foreign-funded or Wholly Foreign-owned Travel
Agencies. On 18th July 2003, the China National Travel
Administration approved the registration of JALPAK International
(China) Ltd. as the first wholly foreign-owned travel company to
enter China's tourist market. The company has started operations in
Beijing, mainly handling Japanese tourism in China. On 1st December
2003, TUI China Travel Company was formally established in
Beijing?-- the first overseas-controlled joint venture in
China's tourism industry. The controlling party is Martin Buese
China Limited and TUI Europe's largest travel group. Their Chinese
partner is China Travel Service that has a network of over 300
local offices.?