Shao Qiwei, director of the National Tourism Administration of China, was given the first ever United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Award for Lifetime Achievement here on Tuesday.

Receiving such an important award, Shao stressed that the honor was not just for him.

"The honor goes to my beloved country and to the Chinese people, 16.5 million of whom are engaged directly with the tourism sector," he said on receiving the award from UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

"They are on the front line of the Chinese tourism industry, so this award is for the entire Chinese tourism industry," said Shao, who also thanked the Chinese government for the support of the industry and invited people from all over the world to visit his country.

Rifai also made a speech in which he referred to the world Shao has carried out since being appointed as the head of the China National Tourism Administration in 2005.

He highlighted how tourism has grown enormously in the country over the past seven years to such an extent that 60 million tourists visited China in 2012, making the country the third most important destination in the world.

He added that it was probably, although the numbers have yet to be confirmed, that China would be confirmed as the second largest source market in 2012 and that in the very near future, 80 million Chinese tourists would be travelling abroad, mainly due to Shao's excellent work.

"He is a great leader, who has recognized the power of tourism for people to people diplomacy and to help greater understanding between those people at home and abroad," said Rifai, who said Shao was "the most prominent figure in world tourism in 2012."

UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism and works to encourage tourism as a motor of economic growth, development and sustainability.