The Changing Role of Tourism in China's Economy

Abstract

This article seeks to examine the features of China's tourism development after its rapid economic progress over the past few decades. Three main features were discovered. First, as China's economy continues to grow, the insignificant share of tourism in the economy indicates that tourism is not a growth engine. Second, instead of stimulating economic growth, tourism has been employed to accommodate China's economic needs at different stages of development. Third, the development of tourism actually reflects the rapid urbanization in China. The key cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Macao, are the main drivers of China's overall tourism development.

本文旨在探讨旅游业于中国经济发展过程中的特点，并得出三个重点。第一，虽然中国经济持续成长，但旅游业在总体经济產值中所占的比重不大，这顯示旅游业并非中国经济成长的主要动力。第二，旅游业并非用于刺激中国经济成長，而是配合不同经济发展阶段的需求。第三，旅游业的发展实际上反映了中国快速的城市化进程，北京、上海、香港和澳门等中国主要城市是中國整体旅游业发展的主要驱动力。

Keywords:

• China's tourism development
• economic development
• balance of payment in tourism
• domestic tourism
• inbound tourism
• outbound tourism

Keywords:

• 中国的旅游业发展
• 经济发展
• 旅游业收支平衡
• 国内旅游
• 入境旅游
• 出境旅游

Notes

1. The total number of visitors divided by total tourism expenditure gives per capita tourism expenditure. Domestic tourism expenditure per capita in 2010 was US$119 and inbound traveler per capita expenditure was US$382. Information on the total number of visitors and total tourism expenditures was obtained from the WTTC (2011).

2. According to the Passport Law of the People's Republic of China, there are three different types of passports: diplomatic passports, service passports, and ordinary passports. Travelers who travel with a diplomatic or service passport, such as government officials, employees of state-owned enterprises, and other people sent abroad by the government, are regarded as traveling for official reasons. Chinese citizens who intend to go abroad for nonofficial purposes, such as visiting relatives, studying, working, traveling, or engaging in business activities, shall apply in person for an ordinary passport. Holders of ordinary passports are regarded as traveling for private reasons (Arlt, 2006; News.sina.com.cn, 2006).

3. Among business travelers from China in 2010, 87% were participating in meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (Euromonitor International, 2011).

4. Percentages were calculated by the author. The number of outbound tourists from the United States (2009) and Japan (2010) were 37 million and 17 million, respectively (CEIC Data, 2011).