China's tourism sector experienced significant growth in 2025, driven by a surge in both domestic and international visitors. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported record highs in tourist arrivals and spending, signaling a robust recovery and expansion of the industry.
Key Takeaways
- Foreign tourist arrivals to China exceeded 150 million in 2025.
- Inbound tourist spending rose by 40% year-on-year, reaching over $130 billion.
- Domestic travel recorded 6.5 billion trips with an expenditure of $875 billion.
- China's unilateral visa-free policy now covers 50 countries.
- Mobile payments by foreign visitors topped 80 billion yuan ($11 billion).
International Arrivals Surge
Foreign tourist arrivals in China saw a substantial increase in 2025. Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sun Yeli, confirmed this at a press conference during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. Inbound tourist trips surpassed 150 million, marking a 17% rise from the previous year. Spending by these international visitors also climbed, reaching over $130 billion, a 40% year-on-year increase.
A significant portion of this growth is attributed to China's expanded unilateral visa-free policy. This policy now extends to 50 countries, making spontaneous travel to China more accessible for many. Sun Yeli stated,
"A spontaneous trip to China has become very realistic."More than 30 million foreign visitors entered China without a visa last year, highlighting the impact of these relaxed entry rules.
Tourism by Numbers (2025)
- Inbound tourist trips: Over 150 million
- Foreign visitor spending: Over $130 billion
- Increase in foreign visitor spending: 40% year-on-year
- Countries covered by visa-free policy: 50
Domestic Tourism Reaches New Peaks
Alongside international growth, China's domestic tourism sector also achieved record figures in 2025. The total volume of domestic travel exceeded 6.5 billion trips, an increase of over 16% compared to the previous year. Expenditure from these trips reached approximately 6.3 trillion yuan (around $875 billion), representing a 9.5% rise.
The Spring Festival holiday in February 2026 further underscored this trend. During the nine-day holiday, domestic travelers made 596 million trips. Spending during this period surpassed 800 billion yuan ($110.47 billion), setting new records for the festive season.
Modernizing Payment for Travelers
China has actively worked to improve the travel experience for foreign visitors, especially regarding payment systems. Mobile payments have become an integral part of daily life in China, and these systems are now more accessible to international tourists. Spending via mobile payments by inbound tourists reached 80 billion yuan ($11 billion) in 2025.
Facilitating Foreign Payments
To ease transactions for international visitors, China has implemented several measures:
- Allowing international bank cards to link with domestic mobile payment applications.
- Enabling the use of overseas e-wallets within China.
- Expanding the number of currency exchange and tax-refund points for departing travelers.
Culture and Technology Drive Growth
The cultural sector also contributed significantly to the overall economic growth. In 2025, revenue from culture and related industries for enterprises above a designated size hit 15 trillion yuan ($2.1 trillion), showing a 7.4% increase. Total profits for these enterprises reached 1.4 trillion yuan (around $194 billion).
Minister Sun Yeli emphasized the growing importance of the "experience economy." He noted that culture is increasingly empowering tourism, creating unique travel experiences. China plans to deepen the integration of culture and tourism. This involves developing new cultural brands that combine performances and sporting events with travel opportunities.
Innovation in Tourism
Intelligent technology is playing a crucial role in nurturing the tourism sector. Efforts are underway to stimulate new formats, scenarios, products, and models. The goal is to upgrade traditional tourism offerings and enhance visitor engagement. Sun Yeli also highlighted the focus on improving the quality and originality of artistic works. New technologies, including large AI models, are lowering barriers to artistic creation. This could lead to new forms of internet-based popular culture and broader public participation.
Ensuring Quality and Oversight
To maintain the integrity of the booming tourism industry, authorities are increasing oversight. Tourism bodies will step up efforts to curb irregularities. This includes addressing issues such as false advertising and instances of forced consumption. These measures aim to protect consumers and ensure a positive experience for all visitors.
