China in line for record foreign tourists: report

BEIJING (AFP) - More than 12 million foreign tourists visited China in the first half of 2007 and the country is in line to set a new record if the trend continues, according to the national tourist body.

The total for the first six months of the year is 18 percent up on the same period from 2006, suggesting the number of foreign visitors could exceed last year's record of 22 million.

Tourism growth is expected to stay strong in coming years with an expected boost from next year's Beijing Olympics, and another shot in the arm supplied by the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

As a result, China is tipped to overtake France by 2014 as the world's top tourism destination, according to the World Tourism Organization.