China will receive 163 million annual inbound visitor arrivals within the next three years, according to a new travel industry report by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
The report – titled Realising China's Tourism Potential,
Recommendations for Future Development – is endorsed by the China
National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and sponsored by Visa. It values
the travel and tourism industry as worth "more than USD100 bn per year
to the Chinese economy." Travel and tourism also accounts for 90
million jobs, directly and indirectly, PATA says.
Focused on six key market segments – Meetings and Conventions;
Incentive Travel; Cruising; Red Tourism, Green Tourism; and Health
& Wellness Tourism – the PATA report aims to offer "practical,
measurable and effective solutions to the challenges that face China's
developing tourism industry," according to Peter de Jong, PATA
President and CEO. "It is not just the impact of foreign inbound
arrivals, but also realising the incredible potential of domestic
travel."
While China's fast-growing tourism statistics are undoubtedly
impressive, de Jong adds that maximising tourism potential is not just
about swelling numbers. "It's also about environmental, cultural and
economic sustainability… and ensuring the tourism benefits are enjoyed
by communities throughout China, in rural areas as well urban centres."
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