China has now become the fourth largest source for outbound tourists, after Germany, Japan and the US, and is expected to overtake the first three to be the biggest outbound tourism market by 2020
China's outbound travel market is continuing to achieve strong growth, according to the China Outbound Tourism Yearbook 2011 released at the seventh International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism held in Beijing yesterday.
The number of Chinese outbound travelers grew by 17.8 percent in the first quarter of 2011 to 16.15 million, and is expected to increase by 15 percent to 66 million in 2011, the yearbook, prepared by the China Association of Travel Services and Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting Co, said.
"Emerging countries are driving the growth of global tourism. China has now become the fourth largest source for outbound tourists, after Germany, Japan and the US, and is expected to overtake the first three to be the biggest outbound tourism market by 2020," said Philippe Lemaistre, program and coordination officer at the World Tourism Organization.
With 141 countries and regions getting the approved destination status, people from the Chinese mainland have more choices and they are paying more attention to the quality of their travel experiences.
More extensive travel and longer stays within one country or region are becoming attractive to more travellers, the yearbook said "as tour operators try to avoid offering similar products and low-price competition, more customized travel products with specific themes, such as island and cruise, will increase significantly in 2011 and 2012."
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