In 2013，the scale of China's outbound tourism increased from 83 million trips in 2012 to 98 million trips, a year on year growth of 18 percent. Meanwhile, expenditure on outbound tourism increased by 26.8 percent to 128.7billion USD. China has become the world's biggest market for outbound tourism.

China contributed one fifth of the growth in inbound overnight tourists

The China Tourism Academy issued its Annual Report of China Outbound Tourism Development 2014 on June 10, 2014.

According to the report, the development of China's outbound tourism has encouraged the relaxation of visa rules, which has further promoted development. Currently, China has signed visa abolition agreements with 81 countries, and implemented ADS visa (Approved Destination Status visa) in 116 countries and regions. In other words, Chinese citizens can undertake group tours in more than half of the world's countries and regions, accounting for 67.4 percent of the countries and regions that have diplomatic relationships with China. In addition, the Renminbi central parity rate hit record highs on 41 occasions in 2013, and the appreciation range tripled from 2012, which also contributed to the rapid development of outbound tourism.

Statistics released by World Tourism Organization show that from January to September 2013, inbound overnight tourists increased by 41 million globally, while in the corresponding period, outbound overnight tourists from China grew by 8 million, making up 19.6 percent of the global total. It is obvious that China's outbound tourism market is playing an ever more important role for many tourist destinations.

The post 80s generation are the main force, preferring popular commodities

In 2013, exits on private purposes from China reached 92 million and the demand for travel continued to rise. Multiple exit tourists made up over 60 percent and the post 80s generation became the main force. Medium-price starred hotels were favored by most Chinese outbound tourists, and most of them have shifted from buying luxuries to buying functional and popular commodities during their travels.

Dai Bin, Dean of the China Tourism Academy points out that the "sight-seeing group tour" and "shopping tour" have gradually been replaced by self-guided tours and in-depth tours, which also suggests that outbound tourism has become part of the normal lifestyle of middle class Chinese.

Chinese tourists will enjoy more facilities and be more sophisticated

According to the report, China's outbound tourism is estimated to reach 114 million trips in 2014, a year on year growth of 16 percent.

According to Dai Bin, China's outbound tourism market will experience further positive changes in 2014. On the one hand, Chinese tourists will become more sophisticated; on the other hand, destinations will provide more facilities to Chinese tourists, from simplifying visa procedures and reducing visa fees to further research on Chinese markets and the needs of Chinese tourists, so as to increase the overall satisfaction of Chinese tourists. At the same time, local people at destinations will show the necessary tolerance and respect for the cultural differences and living habits of Chinese tourists. 

The article is edited and translated from《中国游客 对全球都重要》, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition, author: Yin Jie.