On World Tourism Day, marked on September 27, let's recap the significant strides made in global travel this year. 

The UN Tourism Barometer shows that from January to July 2024, international tourist arrivals reached 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels, driven by strong demand, Asia-Pacific's recovery, improved air connectivity and easier visa processes.

China's tourism resurgence has been pivotal, both domestically and globally. As the world's largest domestic tourism market, China saw 4.9 billion domestic trips in 2023, with spending reaching 4.9 trillion yuan (about $692 billion). Meanwhile, 87.6 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad, and 82 million foreign visitors entered the country.

In the first half of 2024, 14.6 million foreigners entered the country, with 52 percent – or 8.5 million – arriving visa-free. Early estimates suggest 11 million of these visitors were tourists.