In 2024, the total revenue from tourism in China amounted to roughly *** trillion yuan. 2020, 2021, and 2022 revenues were estimated to be nearly completely generated by domestic tourism, as strict travel restrictions led to a halt in inbound tourism since February 2020. China in the global tourism industry The global tourism industry had contributed around ten billion U.S. dollars annually to the GDP worldwide over the recent years. The term tourism in this context includes travel for recreation, leisure, business or other purposes. As an interlinked industry, tourism has an impact on several other industries such as retail, accommodation, and transportation. In the past few years, China has been the world’s largest travel and tourism economy, with a global market share surpassing the United States. Tourism in China With rising standards of living, the tourism industry in China experienced a substantial growth spur over the last decade. The Chinese tourism industry reported a **** percent increase in revenue to around *** trillion yuan in 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic. Being the fourth largest country in the world by land area, China provides a wide range of natural, historical and cultural sites. China’s tourism industry consists of domestic and international tourism. Around *** billion domestic trips were made in 2024. The number of foreign tourists visiting China that year ranged at only around *** million.The coronavirus pandemic had a strong effect on tourism in China. While only few foreign passengers were allowed to enter the country, the number of domestic travelers has also dropped more than half in 2020 and started slowly increasing again in 2021. In early 2023, after almost three years of closed borders, China finally reopened the country for international travel.

China Tourism Revenue: Domestic data was reported at 5,754,300.000 RMB mn in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,913,310.000 RMB mn for 2023. China Tourism Revenue: Domestic data is updated yearly, averaging 946,649.296 RMB mn from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,754,300.000 RMB mn in 2024 and a record low of 17,000.000 RMB mn in 1990. China Tourism Revenue: Domestic data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table CN.QAA: Tourism Industry Overview.

In 2025, the tourism industry generated around *** billion yuan during the Chinese New Year travel season in China, representing a ***** percent increase from around *** billion yuan in the previous year and an even more significant growth from *** billion yuan during the equivalent period before the coronavirus pandemic. Traveling during Spring Festival in China Thanks to urbanization and modernization, a new trend of “going out to see the world” has emerged among Chinese consumers. The traditional family reunion and celebration of Chinese New Year is no longer restricted to a designated hometown. More and more people choose online booking services, like Trip.com, to arrange a family trip before New Year’s Eve. In 2025, around *** million Chinese made a domestic trip during the holiday break. Along with a rising individual income, there would be more people opting for a journey during Spring Festival. China’s tourism industry Tourism plays an important role in China’s domestic economy. In 2023, the travel industry in the country generated around *** trillion yuan. Pre-pandemic, China was one of the fastest growing inbound and outbound travel markets in the world. Chinese tourists were making over a *** million outbound journeys per year, spending the most on international tourism compared to other countries. Mainly Asian countries are reaping the benefits of this lucrative market, however Europe could be the next top destination continent with its growing popularity among high-end Chinese travelers.

In 2024, international visitors in China spent around **** billion U.S. dollars, nearly ** percent more than in the previous year. While the international tourism revenue as well as the number of overseas visitors in China grew significantly in 2024, the number still stayed below the pre-pandemic level.

China's tourism earnings rose 11.1 percent from a year earlier to CNY 6.63 trillion in 2019, compared with 2018's 10.5 percent increase, which was the slowest pace of growth since 2008. Revenue from tourism accounted for about 11 percent of GDP in 2019. This dataset provides - China Tourism Revenues- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

China Tourism Revenue: Foreign Currency: Year to Date data was reported at 94.200 USD bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 52.960 USD bn for Dec 2023. China Tourism Revenue: Foreign Currency: Year to Date data is updated monthly, averaging 20.358 USD bn from Jan 2001 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 220 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 131.300 USD bn in Dec 2019 and a record low of 1.242 USD bn in Jan 2001. China Tourism Revenue: Foreign Currency: Year to Date data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table CN.QAA: Tourism Industry Overview. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Key information about China Tourism Revenue Growth

• China Tourism Revenue grew 3.5 % YoY in Dec 2018, compared with an increase of 4.6 % YoY in the previous month
• China Tourism Revenue Growth rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1996 to Dec 2018
• The data reached an all-time high of 189.6 % in May 2004 and a record low of -58.6 % in May 2003

CEIC calculates Tourism Revenue Growth from monthly Tourism Revenue. 2. China National Tourism Administration provides Tourism Revenue in USD. 3. Tourism Revenue is defined as Foreign Exchange Income from Tourism, including the total expenditures of foreigners, overseas Chinese, Chinese from Hong Kong SAR (China), Macau SAR (China) and Taiwan during their stay in the mainland of China.

In 2024, around 765 million people went traveling in China during the National Day holiday in early October. The National Day, celebrated on October 1 in commemoration of the founding of the People's Republic of China, turns into a week-long holiday, also known as the "Golden Week".

Key information about China Tourism Revenue

• China's Tourism Revenue reached 11 USD bn in Dec 2018, compared with 11 USD bn in the previous month
• China's Tourism Revenue data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1995 to Dec 2018
• The data reached an all-time high of 11,904 USD mn in Oct 2018 and a record low of 565 USD mn in Feb 1995

China National Tourism Administration provides monthly Tourism Revenue in USD. 2. Tourism Revenue is defined as Foreign Exchange Income from Tourism, including the total expenditures of foreigners, overseas Chinese, Chinese from Hong Kong SAR (China), Macau SAR (China) and Taiwan during their stay in the mainland of China.

According to a 2025 survey conducted in March among Chinese travelers, around 33 percent of respondents had either already traveled outside mainland China in 2025 or had an outbound trip booked. In contrast, only five percent of respondents stated they definitely would not travel abroad this year.

China Tourism Revenue: Year to Date: Foreigner data was reported at 77.100 USD bn in Dec 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 73.120 USD bn for Dec 2018. China Tourism Revenue: Year to Date: Foreigner data is updated monthly, averaging 10.738 USD bn from Jan 2001 (Median) to Dec 2019, with 217 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.100 USD bn in Dec 2019 and a record low of 454.000 USD mn in Jan 2001. China Tourism Revenue: Year to Date: Foreigner data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table CN.QAB: Visitor: Tourism Revenue.

Tourism Revenue: Domestic: Hainan: Sanya data was reported at 86,410.000 RMB mn in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 88,722.000 RMB mn for 2023. Tourism Revenue: Domestic: Hainan: Sanya data is updated yearly, averaging 19,634.500 RMB mn from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2024, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 88,722.000 RMB mn in 2023 and a record low of 2,469.500 RMB mn in 2002. Tourism Revenue: Domestic: Hainan: Sanya data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sanya Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table CN.QRB: Tourism Revenue: Domestic: Prefecture Level City.

China’s international luxury tourism was anticipated to have experienced a decline in revenue of approximately ** percent by the end of 2020, according to a Statista study published on the topic in March 2021. This Chinese tourism segment, however, has been expected to bounce almost entirely back in 2023 and 2024, where it is forecasted to climb to ** billion U.S. dollars. On the other hand, domestic luxury tourism in the Asian country was less impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Namely, this segment of China's tourism was projected to have generated *** billion U.S. dollars less in 2020 compared to 2019, but quickly thereafter begin bringing in growing revenues each consecutive year until at least 2024, when approximately *** billion U.S. dollars in revenue could be generated.

In the first six months of 2025, the tourists from China's urban areas contributed almost ** percent of the domestic tourism revenue in the country. The total domestic tourism revenue exceeded ***** trillion yuan in the first half of 2025.

China Tourism Revenue: Entertainment data was reported at 4.421 USD bn in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.582 USD bn for 2018. China Tourism Revenue: Entertainment data is updated yearly, averaging 1.968 USD bn from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2019, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.710 USD bn in 2016 and a record low of 86.000 USD mn in 1994. China Tourism Revenue: Entertainment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table CN.QAB: Visitor: Tourism Revenue: By Source.

In 2024, the tourism revenue in China increased by about ** percent compared to the previous year. The annual revenue in 2024 surpassed the pre-pandemic revenue for the first time.

China Travel Agency: Revenue data was reported at 444,272.900 RMB mn in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 160,156.231 RMB mn for 2022. China Travel Agency: Revenue data is updated yearly, averaging 173,600.634 RMB mn from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2023, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 516,572.365 RMB mn in 2019 and a record low of 46,994.815 RMB mn in 2000. China Travel Agency: Revenue data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table CN.QAA: Tourism Industry Overview.

In 2024, the foreign exchange earnings from foreign tourists in China amounted to approximately **** billion U.S. dollars. The data include all kind of expenses from foreign tourists in China, e.g. for transport, sightseeing, accommodation, food, shopping, and entertainment.

In the travel & tourism market in China in 2024, the travel & tourism segment generated the highest revenue, reaching approximately ************** U.S. dollars. The hotels segment ranked second with around ************* U.S. dollars, while package holidays followed with about ************* U.S. dollars.

In the second quarter of 2025, approximately *** billion domestic tourist trips were made in China, exceeding the figure by around *** million from the same period in 2024, i.e. growing by approximately ** percent. Domestic travel during the pandemic Since the entire city of Wuhan was locked down during the initial outbreak of the pandemic in late 2019, China continued with stringent pandemic policies to minimize case numbers, implementing mass testing, contact tracing apps, mandatory quarantine, and imposed citywide lockdowns. This period witnessed a near cessation of international travel, and the annual number of domestic trips declined to around **** of what it was before the pandemic. However, with increasing cases and public dissent against the government's restrictive containment measures, China abandoned its zero-COVID policy and began to ease pandemic regulations in December 2022. Post-pandemic domestic tourism During the post-pandemic recovery, China’s tourism sector showed a robust resurgence. In early 2023, the domestic tourist market has returned to the pre-pandemic levels, reporting a total revenue of over *** billion yuan. In the first half of 2025, the domestic tourism revenue in China exceeded *** trillion yuan, ** percent of which was a contribution of the traveling urban residents.