China sees rapid tourism growth

China has overtaken Italy as the world's fourth most visited tourist destination, new figures show.

While the number of tourists visiting Italy fell by over six per cent to 37.1 million in 2004, the number of tourists visiting China increased by over a quarter to 41.8 million.

China's rise is part of a wider trend of tourism growth in Asia, with the Chinese island of Hong Kong claiming seventh spot in the World Tourism Organisation's list of the world's top tourism destinations - the first time it has been in the top ten.

But despite rapid growth, China is still a long way from being the world's most visited country, which continues to be France.

Seventy-five million people visited France in 2004, keeping it in front of Spain (53.6 million), and the United States (46.1 million).

The UK remains in sixth place, having experienced a rise of 12.1 per cent to 27.7 million in 2004.