Improved Tourism Competitiveness

China has risen two positions to be 15th in the latest global tourism competitiveness ranking released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on April 6.

The WEF Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks 136 countries and regions across 14 dimensions, revealing how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector.

While advanced economies such as Spain, France and Germany continue to top the rankings, 12 of the top 15 most improved countries are emerging markets, with some in Asia.

“The rise of Asia’s giants shows that the Asian Tourism Century is becoming a reality,” said Tiffany Misrahi, the WEF’s community lead for the aviation, travel and tourism industries.

As one of Asia’s giants, China received nearly 57 million tourists in 2016, which accounted for over 20 percent of international arrivals in Asia, says the report.

It attributes the improvement of China’s tourism competitiveness ranking mainly to the country’s increased international openness, improved information and communications technology and further investments in its tourist service infrastructure.

China’s increased prioritization of its travel and tourism industry has also supported its rise, says the report.