China’s tourism sector achieved record domestic travel with 1.12 billion trips and generated 1.55 trillion yuan in revenue during the summer vacation of August 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. National railways in China carried 954 million passengers and the civil aviation sector transported 151 million passengers cumulatively over the same period, reflecting a high level of travel activity.
China Expands Visa Facilitation Policies
Effective August 20, 2024, China extended its 240-hour transit visa-free policy to include citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. This policy now encompasses 57 countries. Additionally, citizens of these two countries holding ordinary passports can
enter Hainan without a visa for up to 30 days, expanding the island’s visa-free policy coverage to 61 countries. These policy enhancements aim to stimulate cross-border tourism.
Outbound and Inbound Tourism Booking Trends from China
Online travel platform data revealed sustained high growth in outbound tourism bookings during the 2024 summer vacation, especially to Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. The visa-free entry policies contributed to the increase in bookings. Inbound tourism product booking volumes increased more than sixfold year-on-year, indicating a strong recovery and rising demand for China as a travel destination.
Tourism Performance in Asia-Pacific Markets
Thailand recorded approximately 18.51 million foreign tourist arrivals from January
to August 2024, a decrease of 3.19% year-on-year. Tourism revenue reached about 896.2 billion baht over the same period. China remained the largest source market for Thailand, accounting for about 3.078 million tourists during the first seven months of 2024. Vietnam reported 1.99 million international tourists in August 2024, marking an 18.4% year-on-year increase, with cumulative arrivals reaching 15.91 million in the first eight months, a 14.4% increase. Chinese tourists led Vietnam’s inbound market with approximately 3.54 million arrivals from January to August, a 10.4% increase. Australia’s short-term tourist arrivals for the 2025-26 fiscal year reached 9.1 million, an 8.3%
rise year-on-year; however, arrivals in June 2026 declined 9.2% year-on-year, impacted by rising travel costs.
Tourism Statistics in the US, UK, and Europe
International tourist arrivals in the United States increased slightly by 1.8% year-on-year in August 2024, with the fading impact of the World Cup no longer stimulating demand. In the UK, inbound arrivals are forecasted to reach 44.2 million in 2024, a 2% increase compared to 2023, supported by events like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which boosted international air arrivals by 16% year-on-year in August. China was the fastest growing source market for UK tourism in August with a 70% increase. Spain anticipated welcoming 43 million
international tourists from May to August 2024, representing a 6% rise year-on-year, with tourism consumption projected at 64 billion euros, up 10%. The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2024, notably contributed to heightened tourism activity in Spain.
Personnel Changes in Chinese Cultural Tourism Companies
Several key personnel changes occurred in major Chinese cultural tourism enterprises in August 2024. Three Gorges Tourism appointed Lu Jianguo as Chief Financial Officer on August 3, following the resignation of Chen Jingjing from the CFO role. Huang Jinhuo was named Vice Chairman and General Manager of Longyan Cultural Tourism Huijin Group on August 11. Li Wei was removed as Chairman of
the Nanyang Cultural, Tourism and Sports Group on August 14 and reassigned to the Nanyang Municipal Finance Development Center. On the same day, Qin Lin resigned as director of Zhangjiajie Tourism Group, with Li Xin elected as a non-independent director. On August 17, Sayram Lake Cultural Tourism Investment Group removed Chairman Su Mingde and Deputy General Manager Cao Xudong. Haichang Ocean Park Holdings announced the resignation of its Chairman and CEO on August 18, appointing Chen Wancheng as Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer.
