China, Asia’s largest economy, aims to increase inbound tourist arrivals to 190 million by 2030, a 23% rise from last year, with visitor spending expected to exceed US$150 billion, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced as reported by Global Times.
China recorded 154.5 million inbound tourist arrivals in 2025, up 17.1% year on year, while their spending jumped 39.2% to $131.1 billion, according to the ministry.
Under the ministry’s five-year plan to become a global tourism powerhouse, China will further expand its visa-free entry program by optimizing existing policies and adding more eligible countries, the South China Morning Post reported.
A woman poses for pictures amid tourists visiting the Badaling section of the Great Wall on the National Day holiday in Beijing, China, Oct. 1, 2023. Photo by Reuters |
It also plans to launch new international air routes and dedicated tourist train services while increasing flight frequencies and overall transport capacity.
Furthermore, the tourism ministry will intensify efforts to train foreign-language tour guides.
A report released by the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that China’s tourism industry will expand by 5.3% in 2026, with an average annual growth rate of 6.5% over the next decade. By 2036, the sector is expected to nearly double in size to $3.5 trillion.
Last year, China extended its visa-free entry for 45 countries, many in Europe, South America, and the Gulf besides Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea, until the end of 2026.
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