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China has recovered its position as a top spender on international tourism in 2023 as Asia and the Pacific consolidate its recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.
In 2022, the United States headed the list of top spenders.
France, Spain and the USA took the top spots for
most-visited destinations.
Chinese expenditure on travel abroad reached USD $196.5
billion in 2023, ahead of the United States (USD $150 billion), Germany (USD
$112 billion), the United Kingdom (USD 110 billion) and France (USD $49
billion).
Making up the top ten spenders for 2023 are Canada, Italy,
India, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea.
India jumped to 8th place, from 14th
in 2019, confirming the country’s growing importance as a source market, while
Italy rose from 10th to 7th position.
France consolidated its position as the world’s most visited
destination in 2023 with 100 million international tourist arrivals.
Spain was second with 85 million, followed by the United
States (66 million), Italy (57 million) and Türkiye, which closed the top five
with 55 million international tourists.
Completing the top ten most visited destinations in 2023
are Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece and Austria. Compared to before
the pandemic, Italy, Türkiye, Mexico, Germany and Austria all rose one
position, while the United Kingdom rose from 10th to 7th
and Greece from 13th to 9th.
On the side on international tourism receipts, the ranking
is led by the United States, earning USD 176 billion in 2023, followed by
Spain (USD 92 billion), the United Kingdom (USD 74 billion), France (USD 69
billion) and Italy (USD 56 billion).
Following the above, destinations earning the most from
international tourism in 2023 include the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye,
Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Macao (China), India and
Mexico which complete the top 15 list of tourism earners.
Upward movements in the ranking among the top earners
include the UK jumping to the 3rd position from 5th
pre-pandemic, the United Arab Emirates from 13th to 6th,
Türkiye from 12th to 7th, Canada from 15th to
9th, Saudi Arabia from 27th to 12th, and
Mexico from 17th to 15th.
Croatia (from 32nd to 25th), Morocco
(from 41st to 31st) and the Dominican Republic (43rd
to 34th) also moved up in the Top 50 ranking by receipts in 2023, as
did Qatar (from 51st to 37th) and Colombia (50th
to 44th).
Looking ahead to a full recovery globally in 2024
As per the latest World Tourism Barometer, in 2023
international tourist arrivals recovered 89% of 2019 levels and 97% in Q1 2024.
UN Tourism’s projection for 2024 points to a full recovery
of international tourism with arrivals growing 2% above 2019 levels, backed by
strong demand, enhanced air connectivity and the continued recovery of China
and other major Asian markets.
Total export revenues from international tourism, including
both receipts and passenger transport, reached an estimated USD 1.7 trillion
in 2023, about 96% of pre-pandemic levels in real terms.
Tourism direct GDP recovered pre-pandemic levels in 2023,
reaching an estimated USD 3.3 trillion, equivalent to 3% of global GDP.