BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China has become the world's third-largest tourist destination, receiving 135 million inbound travelers in 2011, said a tourism official.

Shao Qiwei, head of the China National Tourism Administration, also said Friday that China has seen a rapid growth in outbound travel and has become highly significant in sustaining the growth of global tourism.

Chinese people made a total of 70.25 million visits to other countries or regions in 2011, making it the biggest source of outbound tourists in Asia, according to Shao.