Luo Shugang, minister of culture and tourism, took questions from the media on China's tourism industry.[Photo/Xinhua]

Last Friday, Luo Shugang, minister of culture and tourism, said with the number of overseas trips made by the Chinese last year reaching 150 million, China has become the largest source of tourists in the world.

In an interview on March 8, the third ministers' "passage interviews" of this year's two sessions, Luo took questions from the media on China's tourism industry.

He told the press that last year Chinese made more than 5.5 billion domestic trips, with an average of four trips per person, which suggests that China has entered the era of mass tourism.

The minister also stressed the importance of civilized tourism: "On one hand, measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of tourists; On the other hand, we have to advocate civilized behaviors among outbound visitors, making Chinese tourists representatives of China's image, tellers of China stories and ambassadors of the Chinese civilization,” said Luo.

Statistics showed that in 2018, a total of 620,000 Chinese tourists visited the Czech Republic, an increase of 26.5 percent over the previous year.With the number of overseas trips made by the Chinese last year reaching 150 million, China has become the largest source of tourists in the world.[Photo/Xinhua]

The minister also said that infrastructure at tourist sites should be further upgraded and reception and service quality improved, so that the travel environment can be more comfortable and convenient.

Speaking of "toilet revolution", a campaign launched in 2015 that aims to increase the number and sanitation of toilets at tourist sites, Luo said that more moves will be made to increase the number of restrooms and improve sanitary conditions at major tourist attractions.

He said that while it will take two more years to solve the restroom shortage, the country's "toilet revolution" has made steady progress in the past four years, with 35,000 tourist restrooms built or renovated by the end of 2018.

With the number of overseas trips made by the Chinese last year reaching 150 million, China has become the largest source of tourists in the world.[Photo/Xinhua]