INTERNATIONAL. China recovered its position as top spender on international tourism in 2023, according to new data released by UN Tourism.
Chinese expenditure on travel abroad reached US$196.5 billion across the year as Asia Pacific travel continued its sharp recovery.
The country topped the list ahead of the USA (US$150 billion), which headed the rankings in 2022. The rest of the top five featured Germany (US$112 billion), the UK (US$110 billion) and France (USD$49 billion), with the top ten rounded out by Canada, Italy, India, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea.
Comparing performance to the pre-pandemic year, UN Tourism highlighted India’s growing importance as a source market which has seen it leap from 14th place in 2019 to eighth in 2023.
Meanwhile, France retained its position as the world’s most-visited destination in 2023 with around 100 million international tourist arrivals. Spain was second with 85 million, followed by the USA (66 million), Italy (57 million) and Türkiye (55 million). Occupying the sixth to tenth places were Mexico, the UK, Germany, Greece and Austria.
Compared to pre-pandemic rankings, Italy, Türkiye, Mexico, Germany and Austria all rose one position in 2023, while notably the UK rose from tenth to seventh and Greece from 13th to ninth.
In terms of international tourism receipts, the 2023 rankings were led by the USA, which earned US$176 billion. The country was followed by Spain (US$92 billion), the UK (US$74 billion), France (US$69 billion) and Italy (US$56 billion).
The top 15 was rounded out by the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Macau (China), India and Mexico.
Upward movements in the international tourism receipts rankings included the UK jumping to third position from fifth pre-pandemic; the United Arab Emirates (13th to sixth); Türkiye (12th to seventh), Canada from (15th to ninth), Saudi Arabia (27th to 12th) and Mexico (17th to 15th).
Notable risers lower down the same chart include Croatia (from 32nd to 25th), Morocco (41st to 31st); Dominican Republic (43rd to 34th); Qatar (51st to 37th); and Colombia (50th to 44th).
According to UN Tourism’s latest World Tourism Barometer, 2023 international tourist arrivals recovered to 89% of 2019 levels and 97% in Q1 2024.
The tourism body’s projection for 2024 points to full international tourism recovery with arrivals expected to grow +2% above 2019 levels, backed by strong demand, enhanced air connectivity and the continued recovery of China and other major Asian markets.
UN Tourism also noted that total export revenues from international tourism, including both receipts and passenger transport, reached an estimated US$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 US$3.3 trillion, equivalent to 3% of global GDP. ✈
