China’s latest five-year development plan establishes a bold vision for the country’s inbound tourism sector, targeting 190 million international visitors annually by 2030. This marks a deliberate effort to deepen global engagement while stimulating domestic consumption, with projections indicating foreign tourist spending will surpass $150 billion each year by decade’s end. The initiative shows China’s commitment to positioning itself as a premier destination for global travelers.
Central to the plan are streamlined visa policies and expanded infrastructure. Current visa-free access covers citizens of 50 countries, and the 240-hour transit rule now applies at 65 ports. Additional upgrades include enhanced payment systems, improved transportation networks, and multilingual services supported by AI-driven translation tools. These changes aim to eliminate friction points for visitors handling China’s tourism ecosystem.
The strategy envisions a fully integrated tourism network by 2030, with major gateway cities and international shopping districts serving as focal points. Early results demonstrate strong momentum: in 2025, China recorded more than 150 million inbound tourist visits, up over 17 percent from a year earlier. Spending by inbound travelers surpassed 130 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, an increase of nearly 40 percent year on year.
The 2030 targets of 190 million annual inbound tourist visits and 150 billion U.S. dollars in annual inbound tourism spending would mark increases of about 26 percent and 15 percent, respectively, from the 2025 levels, reflecting expectations for continued growth in international travel. Analysts point to China’s rich cultural heritage, world-class infrastructure, and growing global influence as foundational strengths. The country’s tourism sector already dominates globally, ranking as the largest domestic market and a top choice for outbound travelers.
Economic indicators support this optimism: in 2025, China’s tourism economy grew by 9.9 percent, more than double the global growth rate of 4.1 percent. This performance highlights the sector’s outsized role in driving overall economic activity.
The plan extends beyond international visitors, setting domestic targets of 8.3 billion trips and 7.7 trillion yuan (approximately $1.13 trillion) in spending by 2030. A key innovation is the push for inclusive tourism, featuring barrier-free facilities and specialized services for elderly travelers. These measures address practical gaps, such as parking accessibility and reservation systems, while reinforcing broader consumer welfare objectives.