Chinese Tourists Among Top Four Spenders

Mainland Chinese tourists have become the world’s number four tourism spenders, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Chinese tourists spent a total of US$ 44 billion outside the country in 2010. This is a 21% rise over 2009, placing them behind only Germany, the US and the UK in terms of international spending. The Chinese big-spenders are mostly middle-class travellers from a younger age demographic who value tourism as a cultural experience, and take the opportunity to buy luxury goods abroad.