Hong Kong, China – The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today unveiled its latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), revealing that China is powering ahead as one of the world’s most dynamic Travel & Tourism markets, marking a significant comeback and long-term growth trajectory.
In 2025, China’s Travel & Tourism sector is forecast to contribute a record ¥13.7TN to the national economy, the highest level ever and 10.3% above pre-pandemic, and support more than 83MN jobs, with an additional 1.3MN jobs created this year alone.
While this is still nearly 1MN jobs below pre-pandemic highs, the sector is rapidly closing the gap.International visitor spending is projected to rise by nearly ¥33BN – 13% above 2019, while domestic spending is forecast to increase by over ¥1.1TN, reaching ¥7TN, further cementing China’s strength as a global Travel & Tourism leader.
Looking Back on 2024
Last year, the sector contributed almost ¥12TN to China’s economy, a 23% increase on the previous year, and supported over 82MN jobs — nearly one in every nine across the country.
Following one of the world’s longest border closures, international visitor spending in China surged to a record ¥1TN in 2024, a 66% year-on-year increase and almost 10% above 2019 levels.
Domestic travel continued to dominate, accounting for more than 85% of all tourism spending, reaching ¥5.9TN. With growing demand across a population of 1.4BN, China’s domestic market is leading the way in global tourism recovery, even amid broader economic uncertainty.
But China’s strength doesn’t lie in domestic travel alone. A targeted focus on international market reactivation, infrastructure investment, visa facilitation, and global brand positioning is driving a broader recovery and setting the foundations for sustained inclusive growth.
Everything is pointing in the right direction for China’s Travel & Tourism sector. Jobs are catching up, international visitor spending hit a record ¥1TN last year, and the outlook for 2025 is strong. While 2024 wasn’t without its challenges with an uneven recovery – international travel spend exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Recent moves, such as refund-upon-purchase for international visitors and the expansion of visa-free access to international visitors show a smart, outward-looking strategy. This is long-term thinking in action, focused on competitiveness, experience, and re-establishing China’s position as a global Travel & Tourism leader. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO
Vision 2035: A Global Powerhouse
By 2035, WTTC forecasts that China’s Travel & Tourism sector will contribute over ¥27TN to the economy, 14% of total GDP, and will grow at twice the rate of the overall economy at 7%.
Travel & Tourism will support more than100MN jobs, adding nearly 20MN new roles over the next decade.
Domestic visitor spending is expected to reach just under ¥14TN while international visitor spending is projected to rise to ¥1.5TN, reflecting the country’s strengthened global connectivity and appeal.
China’s sustained investment in infrastructure, digital transformation, and destination development is positioning it as a world leader in modern, sustainable tourism.
As global tourism rebuilds, the data points to a sector that is not just recovering – its redefining the future of global Travel & Tourism.
Editors Notes
- All figures are given in CNY
For more information and to access the full factsheet, including WTTC’s latest Environmental Social Research (ESR), please visit WTTC’s Research Hub.
About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world’s leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.
