The competitiveness of China’s tourism industry ranked 39th worldwide, which is a leap forward from its ranking of 62nd four years ago, according to the “2011 Global Tourism Competitiveness Report” released by the World Economic Forum, which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 7.

The increase has resulted from infrastructure construction and a strong investment in tourism, according to the report. It added that in 2010, the number of Chinese outbound tourists ranked third in the world, and China has become an important driving force in the development of global tourism.

However, the report also recommended that China should continue to strengthen its environmental protection and focus on the sustainable and healthy development of tourism while developing the tourism industry.

According to the report, Switzerland topped the rankings, with Germany and France in second and third place respectively. The top-10 countries include Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Spain and Singapore.

The report also said that although the territory of Switzerland is small, it boasts rich resources in world natural and cultural heritages. Besides, Switzerland is the place where many international political, economic and cultural activities are held every year due to its good infrastructure and stable society. All of those factors have contributed to the privilege that the country enjoys in the global tourism industry.