China’s Travel & Tourism Sector on the Rise
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) recently released its latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), which shows that China is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic Travel & Tourism markets. This progress indicates a significant bounce-back and a promising long-term growth trajectory.
Record-Breaking Forecasts for 2025
By 2025, China’s Travel & Tourism sector is expected to contribute a record ¥13.7TN to the national economy, which is 10.3% higher than pre-pandemic levels. This sector is also predicted to support more than 83 million jobs, with an additional 1.3 million jobs created this year alone. Despite being nearly 1 million jobs below pre-pandemic highs, the sector is rapidly closing this gap.
Furthermore, international visitor spending is projected to increase by nearly ¥33BN, 13% above 2019. Domestic spending is also expected to grow by over ¥1.1TN, reaching ¥7TN, further reinforcing China’s position as a global Travel & Tourism leader.
Reflecting on 2024’s Achievements
In 2024, the sector contributed almost ¥12TN to China’s economy, a 23% increase from the previous year, and supported over 82 million jobs. After one of the world’s longest border closures, international visitor spending in China surged to a record ¥1TN, a 66% year-on-year increase and almost 10% above 2019 levels.
Domestic travel, which accounted for over 85% of all tourism spending, reached ¥5.9TN. With the growing demand from a population of 1.4 billion, China’s domestic market is leading the global tourism recovery, even amidst broader economic uncertainty.
2035 Vision
By 2035, the WTTC forecasts that China’s Travel & Tourism sector will contribute over ¥27TN to the economy and grow at twice the rate of the overall economy at 7%. This sector is expected to support more than 100 million jobs, adding nearly 20 million new roles over the next decade.
Domestic visitor spending is projected to reach just under ¥14TN, while international visitor spending is expected to rise to ¥1.5TN. These projections reflect the country’s strengthened global connectivity and appeal.
