China to Surpass France as World’s No.1 Tourist Destination by 2030

China is expected to surpass France as the world’s number one tourist destination by 2030, according to a report released by market research firm Euromonitor International.

“Destinations like China are poised for a successful performance in inbound tourism, with China set to overtake France as the leading destination worldwide by 2030,” the London-cased market research provider said on its official Twitter account.

The report, which was released during a travel market event in London, said that this year would see a total of 1.4 billion trips made around the world—up 5 percent from last year. Much of the sustained tourism boom has been centered in the Asia Pacific region, with a 10 percent increase experienced this year.

The report also said that international trips would reach some 2.4 billion within the next 12 years, with China the largest inbound market by 2030. Most of this increase, it concluded, would come from within the Asia Pacific region.

Economic growth and a higher income rate in nearby Asian countries have encouraged travellers to visit China. Besides, looser visa restrictions, as well as major sporting events such as the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, would also draw more tourists to the country, the report said.

Tourism is one of the key pillars of the Chinese economy. “Much investment has been made to improve infrastructure and standards, in addition to tourism-friendly policies and initiatives,” Wouter Geerts, the firm’s senior travel analyst, said during the travel market event.

China now sits in fourth place on the list of the world’s most visited countries, with France, the United States and Spain making up the the top three, according to the World Tourism Organization.