2016 International Tourism Expenditures

According to the 2016 Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Chinese tourists accounted for 20 percent of total international tourism expenditures.

Last year, Chinese tourists' spending reached $261 billion, an increase of $11 billion, equivalent to 12% compared to the previous year. In 2016, 135 million Chinese tourists traveled internationally, and the $261 billion in spending by these tourists placed China at the top of the list of the world's top 10 tourism-spending countries, a position it has held since 2012.

Looking at the top 10 countries in travel spending, the United States ranks second with $121 billion in spending. The other countries that make up the rest of the list and their positions and spending are as follows: third Germany $81 billion, fourth the United Kingdom $63 billion, fifth France $40 billion, sixth Canada $29 billion, seventh South Korea $26 billion, eighth Italy $25 billion, ninth Australia $24 billion, and tenth Hong Kong $24 billion.