A senior Philippino official has said his country will become the fourth largest recipient of Chinese tourists by the end of 2005, following travelers from the United States, South Korea and Japan.

The Philippines Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said Monday in Shanghai that the number of Chinese travelers to the country has increased by 147 percent during the first three quarters of this year, much faster than any other countries.

He added the total number of Chinese tourists to the Philippines would hit 100 thousand by the end of this year.

The Philippines is a renowned holiday resort that attracts more than one million people from across the world every year.