2024 China outbound travel to Europe could reach nearly 80% of 2019
Or so said Oxford Economics in a brief report this week in which they also predicted that the number of international outbound trips from China in 2024 will be roughly double that of 2023.
Separately, the European Travel Commission reported that 2024 travel from China to European destinations could reach over 60% of 2019 level.
Switzerland Tourism expects to see 1.0 to 1.2 million visitors from China in 2024 - 65% of 2019.
And the National Tourist Board of Italy (ENIT) is yet more optimistic about 2024, predicting even more visitors from China than were seen in record-setting 2019.
Also, Reuters has predicted that in 2024 outbound tourism from China will shift from shopping-centric group tours to more niche, experience-based trips.
UK aviation analytics provider OAG reports that in January 2024 vs. January 2019, air capacity levels from China were:
- 159% to Italy
- 130% to UK
- 122% to Spain
- 92% to Germany
- 80% to the Netherlands
Some European officials credit China's visa-free policy with the recovery of inbound travel from China.. Under this policy, between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024, holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Ireland may enter China without a visa for stays of up to 15 days.
