The Xinhua News Agency reported recently that 80 million Chinese traveled overseas in 2012, up some 15 percent compared with the previous year and giving the country the world's largest number of outbound travelers.
Experts have noted that overseas Chinese travelers have done much to stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities in developed countries, since many Chinese tourists tend to spend big, particularly on luxury items, when they leave the country. To give domestic consumer spending a lift, it has been argued that reducing tariffs and consumption taxes will lead some Chinese to spend more here within the country's borders.
But even if luxury products and high-end goods are the same price in China as they are in other countries, Chinese travelers will probably not loss their enthusiasm for shopping overseas. When people travel, they will go shopping. This is a natural result of the globalization of trade, travel and consumption.
The author is Zheng Yuchuan, a commentator.
Buzzwords during 2013 Spring Festival holiday