With attractions such as the Great Wall, giant pandas, and the Aerracotta Army, it’s no surprise that people love going to China. The country is predicted to overcome France and become the world’s number-one tourist destination by 2030, according to a new report. Not only is China expected to receive more visitors than any other country, but it will also have more outbound travellers with 260 million outbound trips in 12 years’ time. The United States and Germany currently have the largest number of outbound travellers.
The report was compiled by global research company Euromonitor International. Report author and consultant Wouter Geerts recently discussed the research at the World Travel Market in London. He noted that by 2030, much of China’s tourism will include travellers from within Asia, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and nearby regions, reports The Guardian.
Economic growth and higher incomes in surrounding countries will lead the increase in visitors. In addition, it’s becoming easier for Asian visitors to obtain visas. Geerts noted that 80 percent of tourists visiting Asia originate from the continent.
Canadian visitors are required to get a visa to visit China, which costs $145.
A large part of China’s tourism is domestic travel. In 2018, there were 4.7 billion trips, and that number is expected to increase over 40 percent to 6.7 billion trips by 2023.
Regional tourist boards are taking advantage of the increase in travel and subsequent economic boost by focusing more heavily on some of its programs. Last year, China debuted the “all-for-one” tourism initiative, which promotes conservation, cultural diversity and the environment, noted The Guardian.
Visitors to China explore many parts of the country. Beijing is home to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, which draw millions of visitors annually. Travellers also flock to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Army—a collection of 6,000 life-size terracotta warriors and horses.
Shanghai is another popular tourist destination. Its high-speed train is perfect for day trips to areas such as Suzhou and Hangzhou, which are just an hour away. Chengdu is known for its giant pandas, and travellers can participate in volunteer programs to take care of the animals.
One of the country’s most scenic regions is Zhangjiajie, which is famous for peaks such as the Heavenly Pillar in the National Forest Park. Also popular are the Yellow Mountains in Huangshan, the Longji Terraced Fields in Guilin, and the Yangtze cruise in Chongqing.
