China regains position as top tourism spender

China has regained its position as the top international tourism spender in 2023, as Asia and the Pacific consolidates its recovery from the effects of the pandemic

Chinese spending on international travel will reach $196.5 billion in 2023, ahead of the United States ($150 billion), Germany ($112 billion), the United Kingdom ($110 billion) and France ($49 billion). The top ten spenders in 2023 will be Canada, Italy, India, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea. India jumps from 14th place in 2019 to 8th place, confirming its growing importance as a source market, while Italy rises from 10th to 7th place.

Key takeaways

• France consolidated its position as the world's most visited destination in 2023, with 100 million international tourist arrivals. Spain came in second with 85 million, followed by the United States (66 million), Italy (57 million) and Turkey, which completed the top five with 55 million international tourists;
• In terms of international tourism receipts, the United States leads the ranking with $176 billion in 2023, followed by Spain ($92 billion), the United Kingdom ($74 billion), France ($69 billion) and Italy ($56 billion);
• UN Tourism's forecast for 2024 points to a full recovery in international tourism, with arrivals growing 2% above 2019 levels, supported by strong demand, improved air connectivity and the continued recovery of China and other key Asian markets.

Read the full story at UN Tourism