by Wang Diqing, Yuan Ye

NAIROBI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Many African countries have witnessed a surge of Chinese tourists this month as more and more Chinese choose to visit the "magic" continent during their seven-day National Day holiday that lasts from Oct. 1 to 7.

The number of Chinese tourists to Africa reached 110,000 in 2005, doubling that in the previous year. However that number has so far accounted for only 5 percent of the total outbound tourists from China, which has the world's largest population of 1.3 billion.

African countries have already seen the huge potential. Governments and tour operators are seeking ways to penetrate into China's emerging tourist market.

The number of Chinese visitors to Kenya has been on an upward trend in the last four years especially after China granted Kenya the Approved Destination Status for outbound Chinese tourist groups in 2004, according to Kenyan Minister for Tourism and Wildlife Morris Dzoro.

"This increase contributes positively towards the recovery of Kenya's tourism sector and significantly contributes to growth of the Kenyan economy," the minister told Xinhua in an interview.

Kenya's tourism earnings this year are expected to hit about 816.3 million U.S. dollars, a 10 percent rise over last year, said Dzoro, adding the success followed aggressive marketing campaigns abroad, especially in the emerging markets of the Far East.

After launching of an official Kenyan tourism website in Chinese language by President Mwai Kibaki in August 2005, more promotional efforts have been undertaken to promote Kenya as a preferred tourist destination for the Chinese people, the minister said.

Zimbabwe is also positioning itself to tap more tourists from China to benefit from the growing numbers of affluent Chinese taking holidays abroad.

China granted Zimbabwe the Approved Destination Status tourism green-light in 2004, and in that year, the flow of Chinese tourists to Zimbabwe increased by 217 percent to 25,974, and the figures have kept rising almost every year since, said Zimbabwe's Minister of Environment and Tourism Francis Nhema.

The growing business, which Nhema said the government was anxious both to retain and expand, prompted Air Zimbabwe, the national air carrier, to start weekly flights to Beijing and other Asian destinations.

Among ways the Zimbabwean government was working to win more Chinese tourists was the posting of a tourism attach to the country's embassy in Beijing, and the invitation of Chinese tour operators to local travel and tourism expos.

LARGEST TOURIST MARKET

Even Cote d'Ivoire, the western African country yet to emerge from years of conflicts, has posted a tourism official to its embassy in China. According to a government official, as the country is to embrace peace sooner or later, it is better to do the market exploration work in advance.

The intention to grab a bigger Chinese tourist market is well grounded. The Asian country is ranked as the world's 12th largest source of tourists. And in Chinese terms, this is hundreds of millions of people.

More than 10 million Chinese went to other countries for sightseeing last year. The number of outgoing visitors rose to 5.48 million in the first half of this year, up 10 percent over last ear's same period. The World Tourism Organization predicted that China is to be the world's largest tourist market by 2020.

As for Africa, tourism already has become an increasingly important revenue earner across the continent.

According to statistics from the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel and tourism industry in North Africa represents 13.4 percent of GDP and provides 12 percent of employment. In sub-Saharan Africa, the sector contributes 8 percent of GDP and generates 10.5 million jobs, accounting for 6.6 percent of total employment. Tourism revenue in Africa is expected to grow by 4.7 percent per annum in real terms between 2007 and 2016.

Currently there are 16 African states that have been granted the Approved Destination Status by China. Regional giant South Africa, which is one of the first African countries to get the status, has long been active in tapping into China's burgeoning travel market.

A recent market survey conducted by South African Tourism reflects the growing interest in South Africa as a prime destination for Chinese tourists. More than 30 million respondents stated a "great interest" in South Africa and said they would put it at the top of their destination list. The number of Chinese tourists to South Africa has increased from over 10,000 in 2003 to more than 40,000 in 2005.

Since last year South Africa has sent a series of tourism exhibitions to big cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, as part of its aggressive tourism promotion campaign aiming at the Chinese market.

South Africa's Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk has said that his government plans to take advantage of China's growing interest in South Africa's tourism sector as well as the wealth of development opportunities this industry presents.

"We regard China as a fantastic opportunity and we have already opened a tourism office in Beijing. In preparation to the Soccer World Cup 2010, we are also starting to train our guides and tourism services sector to become fluent in Mandarin," said the minister.