UN Tourism: China returns as the top tourism spender in 2023

UN Tourism reported (04-Jun-2024) the following country rankings for 2023:

• Most visited destinations:
  • France: 100 million international tourist arrivals;
  • Spain: 85 million;
  • US: 66 million;
  • Italy: 57 million;
  • Türkiye: 55 million;
  • Mexico, the UK, Germany, Greece and Austria completed the top 10;
  • Italy, Türkiye, Mexico, Germany and Austria all rose one position compared to 2019. The UK rose from 10th to seventh and Greece rose from 13th to ninth;
• Highest tourism spending:
  • China: USD196.5 billion. China recovered the top position as Asia Pacific consolidated its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • US: USD150 billion;
  • Germany: USD112 billion;
  • UK: USD110 billion;
  • France: USD49 billion;
  • Canada, Italy, India, Russia and South Korea completed the top 10;
  • India increased from 14th place in 2019 to eighth. Italy rose from 10th to seventh;
• Highest international tourism receipts:
  • US: USD176 billion;
  • Spain: USD92 billion;
  • UK: USD74 billion;
  • France: USD69 billion;
  • Italy: USD56 billion;
  • The UAE, Türkiye, Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Macau, India and Mexico completed the top 15;
  • Compared to 2019, the UK rose from fifth to third, the UAE from 13th to sixth, Türkiye from 12th to seventh, Canada from 15th to ninth, Saudi Arabia from 27th to 12th and Mexico from 17th to 15th. [more - original PR]