On Thursday, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) hailed the importance of the reopening of China for tourism, given the country’s huge importance to the global tourism market.
The UNWTO said the reopening of China represents the ‘missing piece’ in the recovery of world tourism after the worst crisis in its history.
China was the world’s largest outbound tourism market before covid-19 pandemic. According to UNWTO data, Chinese tourists made 166 million international trips, and spent 270 billion U.S. dollars, much of it in destinations in developing economies.
Between 2020 and 2022, almost 3 trillion U.S. dollars in tourist revenues were lost globally due to the pandemic. “The lifting of Chinese travel restrictions will benefit the entire world.” The organization said.
The UNWTO said in 2019 Chinese citizens made 6 billion domestic trips shows that tourism is a key driver of employment and economic growth, including for rural communities in China.
The UNWTO said the trickle-down effect of China’s reopening will also benefit other economic sectors, helping to create greater dynamism at local, national and global level.
From the UNWTO delegates led by Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, traveled from the Spanish capital Madrid to Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, to attend an event celebrating the reopening of China for tourism.
Hu Heping China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism met with the delegation in Hangzhou on Friday.
