According to recent data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, alongside its research partner Chase Travel, the Chinese travel and tourism sector surged by 9.9% last year—over double the global average and substantially outpacing the US’s growth of just 0.9%.
This growth is largely attributed to a more than 10% increase in spending by foreign tourists visiting China in 2025, contrasting sharply with the nearly 5% decrease in expenditures from visitors to the US.
If both nations maintain similar growth trajectories, China could surpass the US as the largest tourism economy by the decade’s end, according to WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara.
“While the US is experiencing a decline, China is advancing rapidly,” Guevara noted in an interview. “If this trend continues, it will close in on the US in three to four years.”
Historically, the US has been the top destination for tourists, attracting visitors to renowned sites such as Disney World and Times Square. However, foreign arrivals have sharply declined due to stricter immigration policies and escalating geopolitical tensions.
Last year, approximately 68 million international visitors traveled to the US, reflecting a 5.5% reduction from 2024, as reported by the International Trade Administration. While events like the FIFA World Cup are anticipated to provide a boost to the US tourism industry this year, disruptions from the Iran conflict may impede a more substantial recovery.
The US travel and tourism industry contributed $2.6 trillion to the global GDP last year, whereas China’s contribution was $1.8 trillion, as per the WTTC.
