As China's economic growth persists, it is set to fuel significant expansion in the outbound tourism industry. There is substantial potential for further growth, with estimates suggesting it could soar to an impressive USD 915.89 billion by 2034 from USD 239.38 billion in 2024, marking a robust CAGR of 14.40%.
| Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated China Outbound Tourism Market Size (2024) | USD 239.38 billion |
| Forecasted Industry Size (2034) | USD 915.89 billion |
| Projected Value CAGR (2024 to 2034) | 14.40% |
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Direct Flights and Easy Visas Drive Chinese Travel Abroad! Tourism has always played a crucial role in boosting demand in China outbound tourism because of urbanization. With rising disposable income in China, millions of people can now afford to travel abroad. Given new direct-flight services and easier visa procedures, Chinese travelers now have more mobility and can travel abroad more easily. This trend is expected to continue, leading to increased travel volume and global impact.
China's Government Boosts Outbound Tourism! The government is now more enthusiastic about the outbound tourism sector. In August 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in China announced that travel agencies could start organizing trips to 138 countries for Chinese group tours again.
This decision is expected to significantly boost outbound travel from China. Among destination regions, the Middle East is expected to experience the fastest recovery in arrivals from China.
Southeast Asian Countries Woo Chinese Tourists! Travelers today are looking for genuine, local experiences, especially in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Africa, India, the United States, and Japan. Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Singapore have all made efforts in 2024 to draw in Chinese tourists.
They have removed visa requirements to make visiting easier and more appealing. With the urge to have rich travel experiences, the outbound travel Industry from China is expected to grow significantly in the next decade. As a result, our experts predict a 3.82X increase in outbound tourism sales in China by 2034.
Digital Revolution Fuels China's Travel Interest! Around half of the population in China uses social media, email, and instant messaging, and 85% have a personal account. Travel influencers are posting pictures and videos on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Outbound tourism companies are using digital technology more extensively and are advertising on these platforms, too. All of these are likely to lead to China outbound tourism demand.
From 2019 to 2023, the outbound tourism industry in China showed impressive growth, boasting a 13.70% CAGR. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China led the world as the biggest outbound tourism market. This makes up over 9% of total outbound tourism expenditure in China. Domestic travel in China has bounced back strongly. This happened after the government relaxed three years of zero-COVID rules.
Recent information from the United Nations World Tourism Organization showed that outbound tourism in China reached around 55% of its pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2023. During Golden Week in early October, millions more individuals are likely to travel within China. This includes visits to Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand.
| Attributes | Quantitative Outlook |
|---|---|
| China Outbound Tourism Industry Size (2019) | USD 125.31 billion |
| China Outbound Tourism Industry Size (2023) | USD 209.80 billion |
| Historical CAGR (2019 to 2023) | 13.70% |
While domestic trips rebounded in 2023, domestic spending is expected to fully recover by 2024. Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China shows a notable increase in international passenger flights, jumping from less than 500 flights per week in early 2023 to over 4,600 flights in early 2024.
With the rapid resumption of international flights and more favorable visa policies in major destinations, there has been a notable rise in residents' interest in exploring foreign countries.
Many travelers in China prefer going abroad in family or group settings. Chinese tourists prefer Southeast Asian countries because of easy transportation, friendly language settings, many tourist attractions, and affordable travel expenses. This means travel companies in this region must create a positive environment and reputation to earn the trust and loyalty of their customers.
Principal Consultant
The growing interest of tourists from China in gastronomy tourism presents significant opportunities for travel companies in the China overseas travel market. Food is important in Chinese culture.
Tourists from China enjoy gastronomy tourism because it lets them try different foods, taste local flavors, and learn about culinary customs. Consequently, travel companies can create specialized gastronomy tour packages that showcase local cuisines, flavors, and culinary traditions of various destinations.
Sharing food experiences on social media is also trendy among Chinese tourists, adding to the appeal of gastronomy tourism. Travel companies can use the fact that many Chinese tourists love social media to their advantage. They can ask tourists to share their food adventures online. This helps promote gastronomy tourism and makes the travel company more known and respected among possible customers.
There is another opportunity available for businesses to attract tourists from China by leveraging personalized experiences and excellent customer service. Many tourists from China, particularly millennials, have a strong desire for customized travel experiences.
Therefore, strategies such as having multilingual staff, offering translation services, and providing personalized itineraries and special services/amenities could be proven beneficial. Therefore, the future of China’s outbound tourism and hotel market looks bright.
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As far as the booking channel is concerned, the online booking segment is likely to perform better in 2024, holding 64.00% of China’s outbound tourism industry share. Similarly, the leisure segment is expected to generate significant turnover in terms of purpose, possessing a 44.20% revenue share of the outbound tourism industry in China in 2024.
| Segment | Estimated Industry Share in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Online Booking Channel | 64.00% |
| Leisure Purpose | 44.20% |
The online booking channel segment is likely to become the prime revenue generator within the industry. The majority of bookings are done online, matching how people search for travel information. The significant impact of digital technology on tourists in China is expected to reshape the online booking channel for China’s travelers abroad market. China has a large number of smartphone users, with over 600 million people using them.
With the rise of online travel platforms and enticing deals, the online booking sector is expected to grow the most in the coming years. With a large number of Chinese travelers using smartphones, there is likely to be a surge in online bookings through mobile apps and websites.
Over 80% of Chinese independent travelers (FITs) book their flight tickets online because of the advanced global distribution system (GDS). This is likely to make online booking a big part of how people plan their trips in the China outbound tourism industry.
The leisure purpose is the top segment in the China outbound vacation market. Leisure is the top reason for travel, followed by visiting friends and relatives (VFR) and business trips.
The rise in disposable income among Chinese households has made leisure travel more accessible and affordable. Moreover, the growing influence of social media and digital platforms has contributed to the popularity of leisure travel. Travelers are inspired by online content showcasing exciting activities and unique experiences. This has prompted them to plan leisure-oriented trips.
Travelers have become more refined in their tastes as they explore new leisure experiences like beach resorts, skiing trips, and "staycations." Many senior travelers from China, aged 55-65, plan to spend their next leisure trip during the Chinese New Year holiday instead of celebrating at home with family.
For example, tourists from China see South Korea as a perfect destination. They visit for different reasons such as leisure, kimchi, Khan Steam, skiing, cosmetics, corporate trips, or attending concerts over the weekend.
Outbound tourism industry players employ miscellaneous strategies to attract Chinese travelers and get a competitive edge. They highly focus on offering personalized travel experiences, such as customized itineraries and exclusive packages. They also capitalize on digital platforms for marketing and booking convenience. Some adopt competitive pricing strategies, while others prioritize customer service excellence and partnerships with local businesses for unique offerings.
Recent Developments:
The industry size for outbound tourism in China is forecasted to be worth USD 239.38 billion in 2024.
The market value of China’s outbound tourism is projected to surpass USD 915.89 billion by 2034.
The CAGR of China outbound travelers market is estimated to be around 14.40% through 2034.
The outbound tourism industry from China was valued at USD 209.80 billion in 2023.
Increased interest in experiential travel is a key industry trend.
1. Executive Summary 2. Market Overview 3. Market Background 4. Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast, 2024 to 2034 5. Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, By Purpose 5.1. Business 5.2. Leisure 5.3. VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) 5.4. Others 6. Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, By Booking Channel 6.1. Phone Booking 6.2. Online Booking 6.3. In Person Booking 7. Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, By Tour Type 7.1. Independent Traveler 7.2. Tour Group 7.3. Package Traveller 8. Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, By Age Group 8.1. 15-25 Years 8.2. 26-35 Years 8.3. 36-45 Years 8.4. 46-55 Years 8.5. 56-65 Years 8.6. 66-75 Years 8.7. Above 75 Years 9. Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034, By Region 9.1. North (China) 9.2. East (China) 9.3. Central (China) 9.4. South (China) 9.5. West (China) 9.6. North West (China) 10. North (China) Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034 11. East (China) Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034 12. Central (China) Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034 13. South (China) Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034 14. West (China) Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034 15. North West (China) Market Analysis 2019 to 2023 and Forecast 2024 to 2034 16. Market Structure Analysis 17. Competition Analysis 17.1. Tuniu Corporation 17.2. Intrepid Travel 17.3. G Adventures 17.4. TUI China 17.5. China Highlights 17.6. Exodus Travel 17.7. The Dragon Trip 17.8. World Expeditions 17.9. On The Go Tours 17.10. Contiki 17.11. Sita World Tours 18. Assumptions & Acronyms Used 19. Research Methodology
Travel and Tourism
October 2022
REP-CN-2986
250 pages
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Trends, Growth, and Opportunity Analysis of Outbound Tourism in China
