Amid concerns about the growth potential of the Chinese economy facing significant challenges, data from the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism show that international inbound arrivals have been lagging behind during the five-day “May Day” holiday. Currently, the number of foreign visitors entering China is only 30% of the level in 2019 before the pandemic.
In 2019, nearly 98 million international tourists visited China. In 2023, the number dropped to 35 million, including business travelers and students.
The real estate industry in China is experiencing continuous crises, local government debts are rising, and youth unemployment rates remain high. To achieve this year’s GDP growth target of around 5%, the Chinese Communist Party may find a ray of hope in the tourism industry, which could potentially bring broader business opportunities and more service industry prospects.
However, the number of foreign tourists visiting China has significantly declined, with BBC Chinese reporting that the current figure is only about 30% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019.
A recent article by a prominent figure in the career field, “罗sir职话,” on May 13 titled “More Terrifying than Real Estate Decline is the Absence of Foreign Visitors,” pointed out that the current number of foreign visitors entering China is only 30% of the 2019 level, which poses a significant problem. China’s path to “internationalization” may be further away.
The article stated that the reduction in tourism and foreign investment directly affects the willingness of foreigners to visit China. The main reason foreign tourists come to China is for consumption and investment, and commercial activities like consumption and investment are most afraid of uncertainty.
Over the past three years, strict epidemic prevention measures imposed by the Chinese government have led to a sharp decrease in tourists from other countries, yet this alone cannot explain the current situation.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center overseas in 2023 showed “negative perceptions of China prevail among individuals in most Western countries, which may make foreign visitors in China uncomfortable.”
BBC Chinese reported that travel advice from some countries’ official sources also echoes this sentiment, sometimes using harsh language.
The U.S. government warns that due to arbitrary enforcement in China, including laws related to exit bans and risks of arbitrary detention, it advises prospective travelers to “reconsider traveling to China.”
Australia recommends that travelers to China exercise “utmost caution” and warns that “Australians may face risks of arbitrary detention or severe enforcement under broadly defined ‘National Security Laws’.”
Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that even after half a year of China reopening its borders, international travelers to China remained scarce, marking another sign of the growing divide between the Chinese government and Western powers, potentially leading to negative impacts for a long time.
The report mentioned that the absence of overseas tourists is particularly apparent in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. In the first half of last year, the number of overseas tourists in these cities was less than a quarter of the comparable figures in 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19.
Experts point out that the reduction in overseas tourists and business travelers coming to China means fewer opportunities for foreigners to witness the situation in China firsthand and engage with local people, which is an important factor in easing geopolitical tensions.
Xiao Qianhui, the president of the Smart Travel Branch of the China Tourism Association, a semi-official organization, mentioned in a speech in May last year that the number of tourists from Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea has significantly decreased. As a large number of foreigners who used to be based in frontline cities evacuated due to the pandemic, this will have a long-lasting negative impact on inbound tourism. Currently, most foreign visitors coming to China are from neighboring countries like Russia, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.