China Posts Double-Digit Outbound Growth

The 2016 results on expenditure from major outbound markets reflect increasing demand for international tourism across the world, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

With a 12% increase in spending, China continued to lead international outbound tourism, followed by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and France as top five spenders.

UNWTO secretary-general, Taleb Rifai said:

“The latest data on outbound tourism spending are very encouraging. Despite the many challenges of recent years, results of spending on travel abroad are consistent with the 4% growth to 1.2 billion international tourist arrivals reported earlier this year for 2016.”

Rifai continued:

“People continue to have a strong appetite for travel and this benefits many countries all around the world, translating into economic growth, job creation and opportunities for development.”

China, the world’s leading outbound market, saw its international tourism expenditure grow by US$ 11 billion to US$261 billion, an increase by 12% (in local currency) in 2016.

The number of outbound travellers rose 6% to 135 million in 2016.

This growth consolidates ChinaÆs position as number one source market in the world since 2012, following a trend of double-digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004.

The growth in outbound travel from China benefited many destinations in Asia and the Pacific, most notably Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, but also long-haul destinations such as the United States and several in Europe.

Go to http://www.unwto.org for more.