China’s expenditure on travel abroad reached US$ 102 billion in 2012, making it the first tourism source market in the world in terms of spending.
Over the past decade China has been, and still is, by far the fastest-growing tourism source market in the world. Thanks to rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes and relaxation of restrictions on foreign travel, the volume of international trips by Chinese travellers has grown from 10 million in 2000 to 83 million in 2012.
Expenditure by Chinese tourists abroad has also increased almost eightfold since 2000. Boosted by an appreciating Chinese currency, Chinese travellers spent a record US$ 102 billion in international tourism in 2012, a 40% jump from 2011 when it amounted to US$ 73 billion.
China has become the largest spender in international tourism globally in 2012.
Great. But will Chinese tourists actually benefit destinations and enhance their sustainability or will they get less-than-cost prices and spend money that just leaks out of local economies to big global organizations?
From the destination community’s point of view it is important that China’s market is addressed with quality sustainable tourism product.
It is clear that most Chinese tourists come from big cities and would relish an authentic, sustainable taste of the countryside and of western culture? Will they have the opportunity to experience this…
Or will they get a commodity?
Valere Tjolle
UNWTO World Tourism Barometer http://mkt.unwto.org/en/barometer
World’s Top Tourism Spenders http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/top_spenders_0.pdf
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