MADRID: China has recovered its position as the top spender on international tourism in 2023 as the Asia and the Pacific (APAC) region consolidates its recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, the United Nations tourism agency (UN Tourism) reported today. In 2022, the list of top spenders was headed by the United States. France, Spain and the USA took the top spots for most-visited destinations.
Chinese expenditure on travel abroad reached US$196.5 billion in 2023, ahead of the United States ($150 billion), Germany ($112 billion), the United Kingdom ($110 billion) and France ($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 growing importance of the country 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 w
ith 85 million, followed by the United States (66 million), Italy (57 million) and Trkiye, 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, Trkiye, Mexico, Germany and Austria all rose one position, while the United Kingdom rose from 10th to 7th and Greece from 13th to 9th.
As per UN Tourism’s latest World Tourism Barometer, in 2023, international tourist arrivals recovered 89 percent of 2019 levels and 97 percent in Q1 2024. UN Tourism’s projection for 2024 points to a full recovery of international tourism with arrivals growing 2 percent 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 $1.7 trillion in 2023, about 96 percent of
pre-pandemic levels in real terms. Tourism direct GDP recovered pre-pandemic levels in 2023, reaching an estimated $3.3 trillion, equivalent to 3 percent of global GDP.
Source: Emirates News Agency
