Tourism contributed more than 10% to China’s economy and employment in the first nine months of 2016, according to Li Jinzao, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) comprising 3.36bn domestic and 194m inbound and outbound trips taken so far this year.

 

Speaking at the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) in Macau earlier this month, Jinzao said domestic tourism has grown by +11% this year, inbound and outbound by 13.5% and tourism revenues by 3.7% respectively, compared to the same period in 2015.

 

CHINA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT…

On behalf of CNTA, Li congratulated the GTEF on its efforts, while recognising the tourism industry’s significant role as a whole in world economic development and he also took the opportunity to comment on the current development stages within China’s tourism industry.

 

 

TOURISM – THE ‘WORLD’S BIGGEST INDUSTRY…’

He said: “The tourism industry has become the world’s biggest industry, [and] continues to grow despite international economic downturn and is catching the eyes of more and more countries and regions.”

 

He added: “China has been ranked the world’s biggest outbound tourism market for four consecutive years, contributing over 13% to the global tourism revenue per year on average.”

 

As part of his address, Li also made six suggestions to the audience based on how China will promote tourism. He said continued innovation within the sector remains key, while giving ‘full play to the role of tourism in stimulating consumption’.

 

 

TOURISM INCOME HAS MANY ROLES…

He said it was also important to embrace the role of tourism in attracting investment, while recognising the role the industry plays in helping to reduce poverty by raising incomes and improving integrated development. Public services on all levels can also benefit, he said.

 

According to Li, the Macao government has always valued tourism development and has in recent years accelerated the restructuring and upgrade of its tourism industry to build the Special Administrative Region of China (SAR) into a world tourism and leisure centre.

 

Li added that CNTA will continue to follow ‘the instructions of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang’ by continuing to support Macao in future.