According to the latest report published by China Internet Network Information Center, in 2009 the China’s online travel booking sector usage reached 30.24 million people, an increase of 77.9% compared with the previous year.

CNNIC said in its 25th statistics report on China’s Internet development that the rapid growth of online travel booking became a highlight in the Chinese tourism market in 2009. During the year, this sector gained 13.24 million new users, a year-on-year increase of 77.9%.

The growth rate was higher than those of online share trading, online banking, and online shopping, which were 67%, 62.3%, and 45.9% respectively; and it was only second to the growth rate of online payment, 80.9%.