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.
With
this sustained growth, China has become the largest spender in
international tourism globally in 2012. In 2005 China ranked seventh
in international tourism expenditure, and has since successively
overtaken Italy, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. With the 2012
surge, China leaped to first place, surpassing both top spender
Germany and second largest spender United States (both close to US$
84 billion in 2012).
Some
of the other emerging markets have also increased their share of
world tourism spending over the past decade. Among the world’s top
ten source markets by expenditure, the Russian Federation saw an
increase of 32% in 2012, to US$ 43 billion, bringing it from the 7th
to 5th place in the ranking of international tourism spending. Worth
mentioning beyond the top ten is Brazil, with an expenditure of US$
22 billion in 2012, moving to 12th place up from 29th place in 2005.
“Emerging
economies continue to lead growth in tourism demand” said UNWTO
Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “The impressive growth of tourism
expenditure from China and Russia reflects the entry into the tourism
market of a growing middle class from these countries, which will
surely continue to change the map of world tourism,” he added.
Although
the highest growth rates in expenditure abroad came from emerging
economies, key traditional source markets, usually growing at a
slower pace, also posted positive results. Spending on travel abroad
from Germany and the USA grew by 6% each. Spending from the UK (US$
52 billion) grew by 4% and the country retained its 4th place in the
list of major source markets. Expenditure by Canada grew by 7%, while
both Australia and Japan grew by 3%. On the other hand, France (-6%)
and Italy (-1%) were the only markets in the top ten to record a
decline in international tourism spending.
Full
data on international tourism expenditure and receipts will be
published in the forthcoming issue of the UNWTO World Tourism
Barometer, to be released end of April
