With the Chinese economy continuing to boom, more and more Chinese citizens are taking the opportunity to travel abroad, resulting in a steady surge in outbound tourism from the country in recent years. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Chinese citizens made over 140 million outbound trips in 2018, up from just over 10 million trips in 2000. This exponential growth in outbound travel from China has led to the country becoming the world’s largest source of outbound tourists and has had a significant impact on the global tourism market.
The Chinese outbound travel market is heavily influenced by the country’s rapidly growing middle class, who now have the financial resources and leisure time to explore the world. As the economy continues to grow and disposable income rises, more and more Chinese citizens are choosing to pursue international travel. This increased demand is further fuelled by the growing number of young adults who, being more exposed to global trends and cultures, are eager to explore the world outside of China.
The Chinese outbound travel market is also being driven by the country’s government, which is actively promoting outbound tourism through its ‘Golden Week’ holiday period, during which millions of citizens are encouraged to travel abroad. In addition, the government is also making it easier for Chinese citizens to travel overseas, by introducing a new policy that allows individuals to apply for multiple-entry visas when travelling to certain countries.
The tourism industry is taking full advantage of this growing outbound travel market, with more and more destinations making concerted efforts to attract Chinese tourists. For example, many countries are now offering discounts and special privileges to Chinese travellers, while many tourist attractions and hotels have also started to provide services tailored to Chinese tourists.
As the Chinese outbound travel market continues to expand, the global tourism industry is set to reap the benefits. With more and more Chinese citizens travelling overseas, it is likely that the number of outbound trips from China will continue to grow in the years ahead. As such, the global tourism industry will undoubtedly be looking to capitalize on this rapidly growing market.