According to recent statistics from the World Travel & Tourism Council, in collaboration with Chase Travel, the Chinese travel and tourism sector experienced a significant growth of 9.9% last year, more than double the global average and considerably outpacing the US’s 0.9% growth.
This increase is primarily driven by over a 10% rise in spending by foreign tourists visiting China by 2025, contrasting sharply with the nearly 5% decrease in expenditures by visitors to the US.
If both nations maintain similar growth trajectories, China is likely to surpass the US as the world’s largest tourism economy by the decade’s end, stated Gloria Guevara, President and Chief Executive Officer of WTTC.
“As the US contracts, China is rapidly advancing,” Guevara mentioned in an interview. “If this trend continues, in three to four years, it will close the gap with the US.”
The US, traditionally the top destination for vacationers keen on attractions like Disney World and Times Square, has experienced a significant decline in foreign visitors due to stringent immigration policies and rising geopolitical tensions.
Last year, around 68 million international tourists came to the US, marking a 5.5% decline from 2024, as reported by the International Trade Administration. Although high-profile events like the FIFA World Cup may provide a boost to the US tourism sector this year, ongoing global travel disruptions stemming from the Iran conflict could impede a robust recovery.
In 2022, the US travel and tourism industry contributed $2.6 trillion to the global GDP, while China accounted for $1.8 trillion, according to WTTC data.
