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has bee an important tourism destination in Asia and the fifthlargest tourism country in the world (measured in number of international tourist arrivals).[1] The inflow of foreign tourists runs beside a strengthening stream of domestic tourists, whose numbers reached nearly billion in 2006. Domestic tourism alone generated US$ billion in 2006, nearly times the revenue of 2000.Source: China National Tourism AdministrationA steady rise in the personal ine of Chinese workers serves as a resource for leisure travel and the development of China’s tourism industry. Time is the other key resource, and the fivedayperweek work scheme instituted in 1995, followed by a holiday longvacation scheme in 1999, has given travelers the leisure time to spend their broadening ines on hotels and attractions. International tourism to China has increased exponentially along with the country’s remarkable economic development, which has bee more and more apparent to the eyes of the world. China’s dynamic economy, whose Gross Domestic Product was estimated at $ trillion in 2006,[2] also stimulates more business (hereafter “mercial”) travel. New and improved infrastructure—roads, railways, and airlines—have literally paved the way for the increased travel that the government and the economy of China continue to make possible.A study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Tourism Research Center showed that 90% of economy hotel guests are domestic travelers and 10% are inbound travelers. This study also reported that business travelers are the major demand generators for economy hotels, representing roughly 65% of the economy hotel market in 2006. The meeting and group contingent prised 9% of the total, and leisure demand generated the remaining 26%.Source: 2007 China Economy Hotel Development Report by CASS Tourism Research CenterThe redoubling numbers of mercial and leisure travelers is the primary reason for massive economy hotel development across China. The economy hotel, as we here define it and as the Chinese are embracing it, features most of the fundamentals of its more upscale petition: clean and fortable rooms, plimentary breakfast, and Internet access. The fundamental distinction is price, which in the case of economy versus luxury hotels can mean affording one night versus five for many Chinese and foreign travelers. Low capital and a high return on investment is another reason for the significant development of economy hotels. According to the Mainland China Economy Hotel Survey, the average capital investment in an economy hotel in 2006 was approximately $1 million (approximately $7,500 per guestroom), with full returns to e in an average of three to five years. The GOP (Gross Operating Profit per Revenue per Square Meter) was % in 2006. Performance measured in terms of occupancy and average rate drives this level of profitability: A 2004 report by Deloitte Development LLC revealed that “over 50% of the Chinese markets monitored are performing above the regional Asia Pacific total, and every single Chinese market is outperforming the Europe average.” [3] A third buttress for the rise of China’s economy hotel industry es from the Chinese government. By easing travel restrictions and providing Chinese workers with extended vacation time, t