China reclaimed in 2023 its position as the world’s top spender on international tourism, according to the United Nations tourism agency (U.N. Tourism). This reflects the continued recovery of the Asia and Pacific (APAC) region from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chinese expenditure on travel abroad reached $196.5 billion in 2023, surpassing the United States (U.S.) ($150 billion), Germany ($112 billion), the United Kingdom (U.K.) ($110 billion), and France ($49 billion). The top 10 spenders also included Canada, Italy, India, Russia, and South Korea. India jumped from 14th place in 2019 to 8th, underscoring its growing importance as a source market, while Italy rose from 10th to 7th position.
Top spenders and destinations in 2023
Additionally, on the destination side, France solidified its position as the world’s most visited country in 2023, with 100 million international tourist arrivals. Spain was second with 85 million, followed by the U.S. (66 million), Italy (57 million), and Türkiye (55 million). The top 10 most visited destinations were rounded out by Mexico, the U.K., Germany, Greece, and Austria.
Tourism recovery continues in 2023 and 2024
Moreover, according to the U.N. Tourism’s latest World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals recovered to 89 percent of 2019 levels in 2023 and are projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2 percent in 2024, driven by strong demand, improved air connectivity, and the continued recovery of China and other major Asian markets.
Read more: $1.3 trillion to lift China’s tourism sector as domestic travelers flock back
Economic impacts of tourism’s rebound
Total export revenues from international tourism, including both receipts and passenger transport, reached an estimated $1.7 trillion in 2023, about 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels in real terms. Tourism’s direct contribution to global GDP also recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, accounting for an estimated $3.3 trillion, or 3 percent of global GDP.
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