Chinese Tourists Spend the Most on Travel

Chinese tourists topped the list of highest spending tourist shoppers in 2015, reaching US$137 billion. This figure is projected to increase by 86 percent by 2025. The United States ranked second with US$101 billion in tourist spending.

Visa's report, "Mapping the Future of Global Travel and Tourism in Asia Pacific," identifies two factors driving this increase in tourist spending. First, the growth of the middle and upper-middle class population, particularly in China. Second, tourism promotions and international events such as the World Cup in Brazil.

Visa projects that outbound travel worldwide will generate over US$1.5 trillion in transactions annually by 2025. China is still expected to lead with US$255 billion, approximately one-sixth of the global transaction value.