Forget the quiet years; China's tourism industry is roaring back to life, with inbound visitor numbers skyrocketing by over 190% in 2023 and major holidays like the Spring Festival seeing arrivals more than double as the world rediscovers the Middle Kingdom's boundless allure.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, China recorded 145.3 million inbound international tourist arrivals, representing a 4.5% year-on-year increase.
- South Korea was the largest source market for inbound tourists to China in 2019 with 6.02 million visitors.
- In 2023, inbound tourist arrivals to China reached 35.5 million for the first 10 months, up 193.5% year-on-year.
- In 2023, China's domestic tourist trips reached 6.57 billion, up 14.2% from 2022.
- Domestic tourism revenue in China hit 5.18 trillion yuan in 2023, a 17.1% increase YoY.
- During 2024 Spring Festival holiday, domestic trips totaled 2.51 billion person-times, up 34.6% YoY.
- In 2019, Chinese outbound tourists numbered 155 million.
- In 2023, outbound trips from China reached 97% of 2019 levels with 130 million.
- During 2024 Spring Festival, outbound trips hit 10.5 million, up 150% YoY.
- In 2023, tourism directly contributed 4.43% to China's GDP.
- Total tourism GDP contribution in China was RMB 10.35 trillion in 2023.
- Tourism employment in China reached 78.18 million jobs in 2023.
- China has over 57,000 travel agencies as of 2023.
- Total star-rated hotels numbered 13,800 in China end-2023.
- A-class scenic spots total 2,336 in China as of 2024.
China's tourism industry is recovering strongly after a sharp pandemic decline.
Domestic Tourism Statistics
1In 2023, China's domestic tourist trips reached 6.57 billion, up 14.2% from 2022.
Verified2Domestic tourism revenue in China hit 5.18 trillion yuan in 2023, a 17.1% increase YoY.
Verified3During 2024 Spring Festival holiday, domestic trips totaled 2.51 billion person-times, up 34.6% YoY.
Verified4In 2019 pre-COVID, domestic tourist trips were 6.0 billion.
Directional52023 domestic tourism revenue recovered to 89% of 2019 levels.
Single source6Hainan domestic tourists numbered 15.6 million during 2024 Spring Festival, up 96.3% YoY.
Verified7In first half 2023, domestic trips reached 2.9 billion person-times.
Verified8Beijing saw 25.7 million domestic tourists during 2024 Spring Festival.
Verified92023 saw 2.62 billion urban resident domestic trips.
Directional10During 2024 National Day Golden Week, domestic trips hit 775 million person-times.
Single source11Shanghai domestic tourists reached 45.8 million in 2023.
Verified12In 2023, rural tourism trips totaled 3.48 billion person-times.
Verified13Guangdong had 1.2 billion domestic tourist trips in 2023.
Verified14During 2023 Summer vacation, domestic trips grew 10.7% to 8.3 million daily average.
Directional15In H1 2024, domestic tourism revenue reached 3.5 trillion yuan.
Single source162023 Labor Day holiday saw 274 million domestic trips, up 11.6% YoY.
Verified17Hunan province recorded 1.05 billion domestic trips in 2023.
Verified18In 2024 Q1, domestic trips totaled 1.27 billion person-times.
Verified19Jiangsu saw 1.1 billion domestic tourists in 2023.
Directional20During 2024 Dragon Boat Festival, domestic trips reached 102 million person-times.
Single source21Sichuan province had 920 million domestic trips in 2023.
Verified22In 2023, family/group domestic travel accounted for 65% of trips.
Verified23Zhejiang recorded 850 million domestic tourists in 2023.
Verified242024 May Day holiday generated 312 million domestic trips.
DirectionalDomestic Tourism Statistics Interpretation
China's tourism industry has so vigorously shaken off its pandemic slumber that, with a record-breaking 6.57 billion domestic trips in 2023 and holiday figures rocketing past pre-COVID levels, it seems the entire nation is on a permanent, revenue-generating field trip to rediscover its own backyard.
Economic and Financial Statistics
1In 2023, tourism directly contributed 4.43% to China's GDP.
Verified2Total tourism GDP contribution in China was RMB 10.35 trillion in 2023.
Verified3Tourism employment in China reached 78.18 million jobs in 2023.
Verified4Inbound tourism revenue was 686.3 billion yuan in 2023.
Directional5Domestic tourism revenue 5.18 trillion yuan in 2023.
Single source6Outbound tourism spending by Chinese was estimated at 1.2 trillion yuan in 2023.
Verified7During 2024 Spring Festival, tourism revenue hit 425.9 billion yuan.
Verified82019 total tourism revenue was RMB 6.63 trillion.
Verified9Tourism investment in China reached RMB 1.7 trillion in 2023.
Directional102024 National Day tourism revenue 659.4 billion yuan.
Single source11Hotel industry revenue grew 18.4% to 408 billion yuan in 2023.
Verified12Travel agency revenue up 25.1% to 412 billion yuan in 2023.
Verified13Scenic spots revenue increased 24.4% to 402 billion yuan in 2023.
Verified14In 2023, tourism tax contributions totaled RMB 1.1 trillion.
Directional15Average daily tourism revenue during 2024 May Day was 5.8 billion yuan.
Single source16Cultural tourism revenue share reached 25% of total in 2023.
Verified17Rural tourism revenue 1.2 trillion yuan in 2023.
Verified182024 Dragon Boat Festival tourism revenue 40.7 billion yuan.
Verified19International tourism exports contributed RMB 1.45 trillion in 2023.
Directional20Domestic tourism spending per capita was 788 yuan in 2023.
Single sourceEconomic and Financial Statistics Interpretation
While China's outbound tourists show a taste for global exploration, their wallets are overwhelmingly loyal to the domestic market, fueling a colossal economic engine that serves nearly 80 million workers and generates over ten trillion yuan in activity, all while ensuring the taxman enjoys a very scenic view of the balance sheet.
Inbound Tourism Statistics
1In 2019, China recorded 145.3 million inbound international tourist arrivals, representing a 4.5% year-on-year increase.
Verified2South Korea was the largest source market for inbound tourists to China in 2019 with 6.02 million visitors.
Verified3In 2023, inbound tourist arrivals to China reached 35.5 million for the first 10 months, up 193.5% year-on-year.
Verified4During the 2024 Spring Festival, inbound trips to China hit 16,710, a 113.5% increase from 2023.
Directional5In H1 2023, China welcomed 11.87 million inbound tourists, recovering to 86.7% of 2019 levels.
Single source6Visa-free entries to China surged 190.3% year-on-year to 8.52 million in the first 8 months of 2024.
Verified7In 2022, inbound tourists to China numbered 31.64 million, a sharp decline from 145.3 million in 2019 due to COVID.
Verified8Japan sent 3.45 million tourists to China in 2019, second to South Korea in inbound market share.
Verified9In Q1 2024, foreign tourist arrivals in China reached 4.95 million, up 155.8% from Q1 2023.
Directional10Malaysia topped Southeast Asian inbound markets with 1.2 million visitors to China in 2019.
Single source11In 2023, Hainan welcomed 1.18 million inbound tourists, a 188.5% increase year-on-year.
Verified12The US contributed 2.47 million tourists to China in 2019.
Verified13During 2024 National Day Golden Week, inbound tourists numbered 1.66 million, up 123.7% from 2023.
Verified14In 2019, Asian countries accounted for 72.1% of China's inbound tourists.
Directional15Russia sent 2.44 million tourists to China in 2019.
Single source16In Jan-Aug 2024, 70% of inbound tourists to China were from Asia.
Verified17Vietnam provided 1.56 million inbound tourists to China in 2019.
Verified18In 2023 full year, China saw 35.5 million inbound visitors, 24.1% of 2019 levels.
Verified19Singapore sent 1.08 million tourists to China in 2019.
Directional20In H1 2024, inbound tourist arrivals grew 125.5% year-on-year to 14.6 million.
Single source21Thailand contributed 1.02 million visitors to China in 2019.
Verified22In 2024 Q1-Q3, 46 countries' citizens enjoyed visa-free entry to China, boosting arrivals by 86.6%.
Verified23Philippines sent 0.95 million tourists to China in 2019.
Verified24In 2023, Shanghai welcomed 3.3 million inbound tourists.
Directional25Myanmar provided 0.89 million inbound tourists to China in 2019.
Single source26In first half 2024, Beijing saw 2.65 million inbound tourists, up 129% YoY.
Verified27India sent 0.45 million tourists to China in 2019.
Verified28In 2024 May, inbound tourists to China hit 2.06 million, 152.7% of 2019 May levels.
Verified29Germany contributed 1.18 million visitors to China in 2019.
Directional30In 2023, Guangdong province received 4.8 million inbound tourists.
Single sourceInbound Tourism Statistics Interpretation
China's tourism industry, after being forced into a pandemic-induced hibernation, is now roaring back to life with visa-free policies as its espresso shot and Asia as its most enthusiastic fan club.
Infrastructure and Policy Statistics
1China has over 57,000 travel agencies as of 2023.
Verified2Total star-rated hotels numbered 13,800 in China end-2023.
Verified3A-class scenic spots total 2,336 in China as of 2024.
Verified4High-speed rail network spans 45,000 km supporting tourism in 2024.
Directional5157 countries have visa-free or simplified entry to China by 2024.
Single source6Digital payment adoption in tourism reached 95% in 2023.
Verified7Over 10,000 5A scenic areas developed by 2023.
Verified8Airport passenger throughput 1.22 billion in 2023 for tourism boost.
Verified9Rural homestays numbered 320,000 in 2023.
Directional1072-hour visa-free policy expanded to 54 ports by 2024.
Single source11Tourism highways total 220,000 km in China 2023.
Verified12Online tourism platforms users exceed 900 million in 2023.
Verified13Hainan free trade port tourism policy attracted 20 million visitors 2023.
Verified145G coverage in tourist sites reached 80% by 2023.
Directional15Cultural heritage sites total 5,300 under protection 2024.
Single source16Green tourism hotels numbered 2,500 in 2023.
Verified17Mutual visa exemptions with 22 countries by end-2023.
Verified18Cruise ports operational: 28 in China 2023.
Verified19Smart tourism cities: 150 designated by 2023.
Directional20Hotel rooms total 12 million in China 2023.
Single sourceInfrastructure and Policy Statistics Interpretation
China's tourism industry has constructed a logistical colossus so vast and digitally seamless that it now functions as a national welcoming committee on steroids, ready to process, transport, house, and entertain you from a high-speed rail seat to a rural homestay with a single tap of your phone.
Outbound Tourism Statistics
1In 2019, Chinese outbound tourists numbered 155 million.
Verified2In 2023, outbound trips from China reached 97% of 2019 levels with 130 million.
Verified3During 2024 Spring Festival, outbound trips hit 10.5 million, up 150% YoY.
Verified4Japan was top destination for Chinese outbound in 2019 with 9.6 million visitors.
Directional5In H1 2024, outbound tourists from China grew 120% YoY to 45 million.
Single source6Thailand received 7.5 million Chinese tourists in 2023.
Verified7South Korea saw 3.4 million Chinese outbound in 2023.
Verified8During 2024 National Day, outbound trips reached 2.2 million daily average.
Verified9Vietnam hosted 3.8 million Chinese tourists in 2023.
Directional10In 2023, Chinese outbound spending was $150 billion.
Single source11Singapore welcomed 2.4 million Chinese visitors in 2023.
Verified12Malaysia received 3.2 million Chinese tourists in 2023.
Verified13In 2024 Q1, outbound recovery hit 90% of 2019.
Verified14Australia saw 1.2 million Chinese outbound in 2023.
Directional15In 2023, 60% of Chinese outbound were to Asia.
Single source16France hosted 1.1 million Chinese tourists in 2023.
Verified17During 2024 Summer, outbound to Europe up 200% YoY.
Verified18Indonesia received 2.1 million Chinese in 2023.
Verified19In first 8 months 2024, outbound trips 109 million.
Directional20US welcomed 900,000 Chinese tourists in 2023.
Single sourceOutbound Tourism Statistics Interpretation
China's travel industry, like a determined tourist who refuses to let a delayed flight ruin their holiday, is furiously packing its bags to make up for lost time, with its colossal spending power now jetting across Asia and increasingly eyeing Europe.
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