With China's domestic tourism exploding past pre-pandemic levels to hit 6.22 billion trips and propel the industry to a staggering 6.7 trillion yuan in total economic contribution, the numbers paint a clear picture: the country's travel sector isn't just recovering, it's dynamically reinventing itself.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, China's domestic tourism trips totaled 6.22 billion person-times, representing a 140.5% recovery from 2019 levels
- Domestic tourism revenue in China hit 5.08 trillion yuan in 2023, up 155.3% year-on-year and 12.8% above 2019
- During the 2023 Spring Festival, domestic tourist trips reached 308 million, generating 428.6 billion yuan in revenue
- In 2023, international inbound tourists to China reached 35.5 million, a 344.7% increase year-on-year but 81.5% of 2019 levels
- Foreign tourist arrivals in China hit 24.67 million in first nine months of 2023, up 442%
- In 2023, Hainan welcomed 1.14 million inbound tourists under visa-free policy
- In 2023, China's outbound tourists numbered 130 million, recovering to 60% of 2019 peak
- Outbound tourism spending by Chinese reached 800 billion yuan in 2023, up 160%
- In 2023, 10.26 million Chinese traveled to ASEAN countries outbound
- China's high-speed rail network expanded to 42,000 km by end-2023, supporting 3.6 billion passenger trips
- In 2023, China added 12 new international airports, totaling 254
- Hotel room supply in China reached 12 million by 2023, up 8%
- Tourism GDP contribution was 5.3% or 6.7 trillion yuan in 2023
- Tourism employed 80 million people in China in 2023
- By 2025, tourism revenue projected at 7.8 trillion yuan
China's tourism industry surged past pre-pandemic levels in 2023, led by strong domestic recovery.
Domestic Tourism Statistics
- In 2023, China's domestic tourism trips totaled 6.22 billion person-times, representing a 140.5% recovery from 2019 levels
- Domestic tourism revenue in China hit 5.08 trillion yuan in 2023, up 155.3% year-on-year and 12.8% above 2019
- During the 2023 Spring Festival, domestic tourist trips reached 308 million, generating 428.6 billion yuan in revenue
- China's rural tourism visitors numbered 3.2 billion in 2023, contributing 1.1 trillion yuan to revenue
- In 2022, urban domestic tourism accounted for 2.9 billion trips with 2.6 trillion yuan revenue
- Hainan province saw 98 million domestic tourists in 2023, up 24.68% year-on-year
- China's red tourism (revolutionary sites) attracted 1.3 billion visits in 2023, generating 1.6 trillion yuan
- Domestic self-driving tours reached 3.44 billion person-times in 2023, up 200% from 2022
- In Q1 2024, domestic tourism revenue grew 34.3% year-on-year to 1.0995 trillion yuan
- China's cultural tourism market size was 7.2 trillion yuan in 2023, with 4.5 billion visits
- During 2023 National Day holiday, domestic trips hit 826 million, revenue 720.7 billion yuan
- Domestic group tours recovered to 98% of 2019 levels by end-2023
- In 2023, China's domestic aviation passenger trips reached 676 million, up 170%
- Wellness tourism in China generated 1.1 trillion yuan domestically in 2023
- China's domestic hotel occupancy rate averaged 58.2% in 2023
- In 2023, 1.2 billion Chinese tourists visited scenic spots domestically
- Domestic tourism contributed 4.13% to China's GDP in 2023
- China's family tourism trips made up 45% of domestic total in 2023
- In 2023, domestic short-haul trips (under 300km) accounted for 62% of all trips
- China's domestic OTA bookings surged 200% in 2023
- During 2024 Labor Day, domestic tourism revenue reached 166.89 billion yuan from 310 million trips
- In 2023, China's domestic high-speed rail passengers hit 3.6 billion for tourism purposes
- Domestic eco-tourism visits reached 2.8 billion in 2023, up 15%
- China's youth (18-35) domestic travel spending grew 45% in 2023
- In 2023, domestic cruise passengers numbered 1.6 million
- Domestic tourism app downloads exceeded 500 million in 2023
- China's domestic luxury tourism revenue was 450 billion yuan in 2023
- In 2023, 55% of domestic tourists used mobile payments for travel
- Domestic sports tourism events attracted 800 million participants in 2023
- China's domestic travel recovery rate was 113% of 2019 by Q4 2023
Domestic Tourism Statistics Interpretation
Despite some lingering global hesitations, China's domestic tourism industry has erupted into a roaring, record-shattering economic engine, proving that while the world might wait, the Chinese people are already on the road and spending with fervor.
Economic Impact and Future Trends
- Tourism GDP contribution was 5.3% or 6.7 trillion yuan in 2023
- Tourism employed 80 million people in China in 2023
- By 2025, tourism revenue projected at 7.8 trillion yuan
- 2027 forecast: Inbound tourists to reach 100 million annually
- Green tourism investment to hit 1 trillion yuan by 2025
- Digital tourism market size projected 2.5 trillion yuan by 2025
- Post-00s to drive 30% of tourism spending by 2025
- 2030 tourism GDP share to rise to 10%
- Outbound spending forecast: 1.5 trillion USD by 2027
- Rural tourism to contribute 2 trillion yuan by 2025
- Aviation tourism revenue to grow 15% CAGR to 2028
- Cultural tourism market to 10 trillion yuan by 2030
- 2025 domestic trips forecast: 8 billion person-times
- ESG tourism investments to double by 2025
- OTA market revenue to 1.2 trillion yuan by 2025
- Wellness tourism to 2 trillion yuan by 2025
- Silver hair economy (seniors) tourism: 1.5 trillion by 2025
- 2035 inbound forecast: 200 million tourists
- Hotel industry growth: 10% CAGR to 2028
- Self-drive market to 3 trillion yuan by 2025
- Policy support: 1 trillion fiscal input for tourism 2024-2025
- AI in tourism to save 500 billion yuan costs by 2030
- Overseas expansion: 500 Chinese brands abroad by 2025
- Metaverse tourism market: 100 billion yuan by 2025
- Carbon neutral tourism sites: 1,000 by 2030
- E-sports tourism revenue: 200 billion by 2025
Economic Impact and Future Trends Interpretation
China’s tourism industry is weaving a colossal tapestry of green, digital, and silver-haired opportunity, proving that its economic engine isn't just sightseeing—it's strategically building the future, one domestic trip and global brand at a time.
Inbound Tourism Statistics
- In 2023, international inbound tourists to China reached 35.5 million, a 344.7% increase year-on-year but 81.5% of 2019 levels
- Foreign tourist arrivals in China hit 24.67 million in first nine months of 2023, up 442%
- In 2023, Hainan welcomed 1.14 million inbound tourists under visa-free policy
- Q1 2024 inbound tourism revenue grew 308.5% year-on-year to 74.2 billion yuan
- In 2023, 116 countries' citizens enjoyed visa-free entry to China, boosting inbound by 28.7%
- Shanghai received 3.67 million inbound tourists in 2023, up 200%
- Beijing's inbound visitors reached 4.1 million in 2023, 4.3 times 2022
- In 2023, inbound tourism spending per capita was 1,500 USD in China
- First half 2024 saw 14.6 million inbound tourists, up 52.7% from 2023 H1
- South Korea was top inbound source market with 3.46 million visitors to China in 2023
- In 2023, 2.38 million Japanese tourists visited China, up 211.4%
- US inbound tourists to China numbered 682,000 in 2023, up 102%
- Visa-free entries accounted for 48% of total inbound in H1 2024
- Inbound hotel occupancy in tier-1 cities reached 65% in 2023
- In 2023, 8.9 million Southeast Asian tourists visited China
- China's inbound e-commerce for tourism grew 150% in 2023
- In 2023, inbound cultural heritage site visits rose 300% year-on-year
- Europe inbound to China increased 300% in 2023 to 1.2 million
- In Q2 2024, inbound tourists exceeded 8 million, 153% of 2019 Q2
- Inbound aviation passengers to China hit 20.5 million in 2023
- Luxury inbound spending in China reached 10 billion USD in 2023
- In 2023, 1.5 million Australians visited China, up 250%
- Inbound group tours recovered to 70% of 2019 in 2023
- HSR for inbound tourists carried 2 million in 2023
- In 2023, medical tourism inbound revenue was 5 billion USD
- Inbound digital nomad visas issued: 50,000 in 2023 pilot
- In 2023, 65% of inbound tourists arrived via direct flights
- Inbound adventure tourism grew 180% in 2023
Inbound Tourism Statistics Interpretation
While China's inbound tourism recovery is sprinting ahead with triple-digit growth, the fact that 2024 arrivals are still dancing around 2019 levels reveals it's more of a determined comeback tour than a full-blown encore.
Outbound Tourism Statistics
- In 2023, China's outbound tourists numbered 130 million, recovering to 60% of 2019 peak
- Outbound tourism spending by Chinese reached 800 billion yuan in 2023, up 160%
- In 2023, 10.26 million Chinese traveled to ASEAN countries outbound
- Q1 2024 outbound trips hit 29.9 million, up 187.5% year-on-year
- Top outbound destination: Thailand with 7.46 million Chinese visitors in 2023
- In 2023, South Korea saw 3.46 million outbound Chinese tourists
- Japan's inbound from China reached 2.38 million in 2023
- Outbound group tours from China recovered 95% of 2019 in 2023
- In 2023, 4.5 million Chinese visited Vietnam outbound, up 265%
- Europe's Chinese outbound tourists numbered 1.5 million in 2023
- Outbound spending per capita for Chinese was 6,200 yuan in 2023
- In 2023, 25 million Chinese outbound via air
- Singapore received 2.16 million Chinese tourists in 2023
- Outbound luxury travel from China grew 120% in 2023 to 150 billion yuan
- In H1 2024, outbound trips reached 64 million
- Malaysia's Chinese inbound hit 3.1 million in 2023
- Outbound cruise passengers from China: 1.2 million in 2023
- In 2023, 70% of Chinese outbound used OTAs like Ctrip
- Australia's Chinese tourists: 682,000 in 2023
- Outbound short-haul trips made up 75% of total in 2023
- In 2023, Chinese outbound to Middle East rose 300% to 500,000
- US saw 1 million Chinese visitors in 2023, up 50%
- Outbound family travel accounted for 40% in 2023
- In 2023, outbound adventure tourism spending hit 20 billion yuan
Outbound Tourism Statistics Interpretation
China’s outbound travel has staged a remarkably swift comeback, with millions of tourists enthusiastically reclaiming their passports—particularly for short-haul Asian getaways—while quietly upgrading to more luxurious and adventurous trips, signaling not just a recovery in numbers but a significant evolution in how and why they explore the world.
Travel Infrastructure and Services
- China's high-speed rail network expanded to 42,000 km by end-2023, supporting 3.6 billion passenger trips
- In 2023, China added 12 new international airports, totaling 254
- Hotel room supply in China reached 12 million by 2023, up 8%
- China's 5A scenic areas numbered 962 in 2023, attracting 8 billion visits
- Civil aviation handled 1.59 billion passengers in 2023, up 97.8%
- By 2023, China had 280,000 km highways for tourism
- Cruise ports in China: 28 operational in 2023, handling 2.8 million passengers
- 5G coverage in tourist sites reached 95% by 2023
- China invested 1.2 trillion yuan in tourism infrastructure in 2023
- Star-rated hotels: 14,000 in China by 2023, occupancy 62%
- Domestic airlines operated 4.2 million flights in 2023
- By end-2023, 70% of A-level attractions had smart ticketing
- China's tourism vehicle fleet: 500,000 dedicated buses in 2023
- International flight routes from China: 3,000 by 2023
- Homestay rooms: 5 million across China in 2023
- 2023 saw 200 new tourism trains launched
- Airport passenger throughput: Beijing 65 million in 2023
- Digital payment terminals in tourist sites: 99% coverage in 2023
- Glacier 6000 gondola-like projects completed 50 in 2023
- China's tourism big data centers: 31 provincial by 2023
- EV charging stations at highways: 10,000 by 2023 for self-drive
- Waterway passenger transport: 200 million trips in 2023
- Smart hotels: 20% of total by 2023
- Rural B&B supply grew 20% to 300,000 in 2023
- International cruise terminals: 5 major ones handling 80% traffic in 2023
Travel Infrastructure and Services Interpretation
China has quite literally built a tourist infrastructure so vast and seamless that you can now get lost in a 5A scenic area, upload a complaint about it in 5G, pay for your rescue with digital yuan, and be back on a high-speed train to a smart hotel before your data even finishes processing at one of their 31 provincial tourism centers.
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