China is poised to become both the world’s greatest economy and leading global travel and tourism market
Chinese vice-premier Wang Yang told the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Hainan: “In the next five years, Chinese outbound tourism will exceed 500 million trips.”
WTTC president and chief executive David Scowsill said: “It is widely accepted that China will overtake the US as the world’s biggest travel and tourism economy in the next 10 years and, indeed, as the biggest economy.
“China’s travel and tourism industry is forecast to keep growing at 7% a year.”
Scowsill said: “This demonstrates the mutual dependence of our industry and the world’s fastest-growing economy.”
However, vice-premier Wang Yang identifed some problems. He said: “There is a gap between our tourism products and the needs of citizens and also a gap between our tourism services and the demands of visitors.
“We are deeply concerned at our over-stretched tourism sites.”
He outlined a six-point plan to develop the industry in China, including a relaxation of visa restrictions to facilitate easier entry and exit.
Wang Yang pledged the government would expand both investment and international financial cooperation.
Chinese National Tourism Administration (CNTA) chairman Shao Qiwei told the summit: “The Chinese government proposes to make tourism a pillar industry of China’s economy.”
He described plans for a national leisure strategy as “a tourism strategy with Chinese characteristics”.