China is quickly becoming the hot spot for vacations. By 2030, China is expected to overtake France as the world’s top tourist destination, according the market research group Euromonitor International.
Travel worldwide is increasing, but the growing middle class in Asia and a western interest in Chinese culture is making China one of the most attractive places to visit. Euromonitor International predicts that more than one billion trips will be taken in 2018, with another billion visitors entering China by 2030. The popularity of China is aided by a booming economy (both domestically and internationally) and a growing interest in Asia as a whole.
“Tourism is a key pillar of the Chinese economy, and much investment has been made to improve infrastructure and standards, in addition to tourism-friendly policies and initiatives,” said Wouter Geerts, Euromonitor International’s senior travel analyst.
Geerts also asserted that the change in China’s destination rank is due to the loosening of visa restrictions for those traveling in the area. He also noted that other big events, such as the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, will put all of Asia on the radar for international travelers.
It’s not just China seeing a growth in tourism. Countries like Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia, which lost a massive amount of tourist dollars due to growing terrorism and government turmoil over the years, are starting to see an upswing in visitors. Egypt, for instance, has seen a sharp rise in tourism, and while the number of visitors still falls short of its pre-uprising records, this past year saw an increase of 134 percent for incoming travelers. That’s a very good sign that oft-ignored countries are now (or once again) becoming enticing places to visit.
One country that may see a decline, unfortunately, is the United States. It’s still a big if, but the U.S. could definitely take a hit on tourism if the tensions between the two nations continue.
Photo: Shutterstock