2020 China Tourism Facts & Figures

The 2020 China Tourism Statistics reveal a significant decline in both inbound and outbound tourism, as well as domestic travel, mainly caused by strict COVID-19 travel restrictions. 
 

Specifically, inbound tourist arrivals amounted to only 27.2 million, marking an 81.3% year-on-year decrease, while inbound tourism revenue totaled 17 billion, a steep drop of 87.1% compared with the previous year.
 

In terms of outbound travel, the number declined sharply by 86.9% compared to the previous year, totaling 20.23 million.
 

Domestically, tourism also suffered a substantial setback. The number of domestic tourists in 2020 was 2.879 billion, representing a 52.1% decline from 2019, which translated into a reduction of 3.022 billion tourists. Furthermore, domestic tourism revenue decreased by 61.1%, totaling CNY 2.23 trillion, a CNY 3.50 trillion shortfall compared to 2019. Notably, the average per capita expenditure per trip was CNY 774.14, a decrease by18.8% from the previous year.
 

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a heavy blow to China's inbound tourism market, leading to a sharp decline. According to data released by the China Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of inbound arrivals in 2020 was 27.2 million, marking a year-on-year decrease of 81.3%. 2020 was the worst year in the history of China's inbound tourism.
 

During the pandemic, China implemented strict rules for granting entry visas. Since March 28, 2020, China has temporarily halted the entry of foreigners with valid visas and residence permits and suspended various preferential visa policies. This greatly affected the inbound tourism. Moreover, the strict 14-day quarantine system greatly dampened the travel willingness of tourists. Additionally, domestic and international flights were severely reduced, and the income reduction caused by the COVID-19 epidemic was also a crucial factor to the decline in tourism.
 

- Considering their travel safety, the inbound tourists liked short-distance travel more than long-distance travel, so nearby countries and regions emerged as the primary source market. Among the inbound tourism markets, Macau emerged as the primary source, with 13.64 million visitors to the mainland in 2020, accounting for about half of the inbound tourists. For foreign inbound tourists, the primary source countries included Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia, South Korea, Russia, Japan, the United States, India, and Indonesia.
 

- Inside China, the long inbound trips declined a lot and the short trips made the majority. 
 

- Inbound tourists showed a preference for natural and ecological tourism destinations less affected by the epidemic, such as the western regions including Tibet, Qinghai, Ningxia, Guizhou, and Gansu.
 

Under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, China outbound tourism was essentially at a standstill in 2020. In 2020, the number of outbound tourists amounted to 20.23 million, registering a staggering year-on-year decline of 86.9%.
 

- Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan remain the most crucial outbound tourism destinations, accounting for over 80%. Among them, Macau topped the list of outbound tourism destinations.
 

- Asia continued to hold the top position among intercontinental outbound tourism destinations, accounting for 95.45%. The year-on-year decrease in the number of tourists to Asia, Europe, Oceania, America, and Africa ranges from 70% to 95%. Asia experienced the smallest decline, while Oceania the largest.
 

In 2020, the number of domestic tourists in China amounted to 2.879 billion, marking a substantial decrease of 3.022 billion from the previous year, or a 52.1% drop.
 

Quarter	Domestic Tourism Trips (100 million)	Year-on-Year Decline
Q1	2.95	83.4%
Q2	6.37	51.0%
Q3	10.01	34.3%
Q4	9.46	32.9%

The hindrance to outbound travel redirected tourists' interests towards domestic travel, with a staggering 83% of outbound travelers now choosing domestic destinations instead. Natural scenic spots have gained immense popularity among tourists. Furthermore, tourists were more inclined towards unique, niche, and in-depth travel experiences. Itineraries with distinct characteristics, niche destinations, in-depth local elements, and self-driving become extremely popular. 

In 2020, the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival coincided, leading to a surge in domestic tourism at attractions nationwide. According to statistics from the China Ministry of Culture and Tourism, during the eight-day holiday, a total of 637 million people traveled domestically, marking a 79.0% recovery compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, domestic tourism revenue amounted to CNY 466.56 billion, representing a 69.9% recovery on a comparable basis from 2019.

See China Tourism Facts & Figures by Year: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007