Chinese travellers are set to spend a record US$968 billion (RM4.2 trillion) on domestic trips in 2025, marking a significant increase in local tourism amidst concerns over sluggish consumer spending.
According to a forecast by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), spending by local holidaymakers will rise nearly 19% compared to 2024. This growth in domestic travel is seen as a positive sign for the tourism sector, especially as global consumer spending remains weak.
The forecast also predicts that international holiday spending will surpass pre-COVID levels by 2025, after a slower-than-expected recovery last year. In 2024, international travel spending fell 11% short of the expected 1.8 trillion yuan.
This surge in domestic tourism spending comes as China invests heavily in cultural and tourism events to stimulate consumption. With the ongoing challenges of slow consumer spending and the looming threat of US tariffs, more affordable domestic travel options, such as road and train trips, are growing in popularity.
