High-speed and visa-free: how China is cruising to become the world’s top tourism market

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By Ralph Jennings

Published June 16, 2026

Visa waivers for over 70 countries and an increase in domestic travel may mean Chinese tourism overtakes the US in market size, analysts say

An expansion of visa-free entry, the buildout of transportation networks and growing travel interest within China’s borders – including among budget-conscious citizens – are positioning the country to become the world’s top tourism market, analysts said.

China’s travel sector, valued at US$1.8 trillion last year, could reach US$3.5 trillion by 2036, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) trade association said in its 2026 Economic Impact Research report released on June 3. The United States’ tourism market, currently the world’s largest, came to US$2.63 trillion last year, according to the report.

The council calculated that more than 68 million international visitors entered the country last year, up 15.5 per cent from 2024, and said that travel throughout China is undergoing an “accelerated expansion”.

Spending by international visitors is also growing, the council said, and rose by 10.5 per cent last year to US$135 billion, above global average growth of 3.2 per cent. The WTTC predicted that international tourism spending would increase to US$138.4 billion this year and could grow another 4.6 per cent by 2036.

At this rate, the council said, China is “firmly on track to become the world’s leading travel and tourism economy in the coming years if current trends continue”.

Several factors are contributing to this growth in consumer appetite. Beijing’s expanded and extended visa-free travel scheme, first announced in 2023 and covering citizens of over 50 countries, is a key driver of inbound travel growth, said Sienna Parulis-Cook, a director at the travel marketing firm Dragon Trail International.

Investments in commercial aviation and high-speed rail infrastructure, especially between major international gateways and secondary cities in China, also mean domestic tourism is becoming more evenly distributed in various parts of the country, the WTTC said.

Automated payment systems are becoming more widespread too, meaning a smoother experience for travellers, the WTTC report noted.

China has more than 260 commercial airports, up from 218 a decade ago, and 5,500-plus passenger stations throughout its high-speed rail network, which is less than 20 years old.

Chinese nationals, despite their overall soft economy, still travel in ever greater numbers – with an eye towards value for their money – analysts said.

The travel agency China Travel Guide said 6.52 billion domestic trips last year marked a 16.2 per cent gain over 2024.

“The domestic base is enormous, supported by high-speed rail, airports, digital payments and a sophisticated travel platform ecosystem,” said Subramania Bhatt, CEO of the technology and marketing firm China Trading Desk.

Dragon Trail International found that more than half of Chinese travellers were likely to increase spending on “activities and experiences”. The firm said 49 per cent would anticipate a bigger food budget and 39 per cent would allocate more funds to shopping. Travellers between the ages of 18 to 44 were the most likely to plan to increase spending.

“Even when consumers are cautious, they still travel – they may shift from long-haul to short-haul, or from premium hotels to better-value options,” Bhatt said.

“But the travel habit is deeply established.”