2010: Year of China World Expo Tourism

China's tourism market is gearing up for the Shanghai World Expo.  The National Tourism Administration has set 2010 as the Year of  World Expo Tourism.

The tourists all received Expo "Haibao" mascots as gifts.

The CNTA is also planning to hold several campaigns to promote China's World Expo around the world.

Shao Qiwei, Director of China National Tourism Admin., said, "For the inbound tourism sector, we need recovery. For the domestic travel market, we need expansion. So we need to seize the opportunity, and work with other tourism markets around the globe."

The Administration is also planning to use the World Expo as the 2011 tourism theme overseas.

The Shanghai World Expo will open on May 1st and run through October 31st. It's expected to draw 70 million visitors, 3-and-a-half million of them from overseas.