In 2016, with income growth and tourist consumption increase, due to ease of relaxed visa policies, flights and promotion in many countries, China outbound tourism heat continued. The number of China’s outbound tourists reached 122milion in 2016, increase to 169 million outbound Chinese tourist in 2019. In 2023, post Covid19, the world witness the return of Chinese tourist since Jan. China Outbound Travel Market 2024 projection can be view here.

China overtook both USA and Germany to have become the largest outbound market in the world since 2012. Chinese traveler are now the top source of tourism income, spending $277 billion, according to UNWTO in 2018. In 2019, Chinese tourists spent a collective US$255 billion on international travel.

Statistics

Number of China Outbound Tourist

China has been the largest source of outbound tourists in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Maldives, the UK and the other countries. However, China's outbound tourists are still less than 10% of the country's total population, and only 10% of the population hold the passports, which suggests huge potential in China’s outbound travel market.

Chinese Per Capital Consumption

Total consumption by Chinese travelers overseas reached $109.8 billion and $900 per person on average last year, accounting for 16% of the country's total tourism consumption. From the statistics, in 2016, more than 65% of the consumption is for outbound travel and 35% is for domestic travel. In 2018, Chinese per capital spend $1200.