(Ecns.cn) – Chinese tourists seem to be everywhere these days. The country's rapid economic growth has fostered a tourist boom among mainland residents, and this new group of world travelers has gradually become an important source of income for many foreign countries.
Though China is still a developing country, news reports of Chinese tourists going on shopping sprees in New York, overbuying Chanel shoes in Paris and snapping up properties in London have begun to appear. Even in the global economic slowdown, many countries now regard Chinese consumers as a driver for their economic growth. However, the outflow of wealth has raised an alarm for the Chinese government.
Chinese tourists flaunting money
Thanks to the progress achieved by the country's reform and opening up, Chinese citizens can now travel almost anywhere on holiday. The growing tide of travelers from China mirrors the emergence of virtually every group of overseas tourists, such as the snapshot-happy Japanese of the 1980s.
But apart from sightseeing, the surging number of package tour groups from China is also bringing a strong new purchase power to their destinations.
According to the latest statistics released by a European fashion shopping village under the Value Retail Group, Chinese tourists ranked first in its total sales of tax free products among non-European countries during the second quarter of 2011.
A similar situation can also be seen in the U.S., where Chinese tourists have already become the biggest revenue source for local travel agencies this year.
Zhang Zailing, general manager of China CYTS Tours USA Inc., pointed out that the appreciation of the RMB, comparatively cheap electronic and luxury products and the decline of American housing prices are the three major causes of the increase of outbound Chinese tourists. According to Zhang, compared to 2010, the number of outbound tourists in the U.S. will increase by 10 to 15 percent this year.
In a survey taken by the U.S. Travel Association, Chinese tourists have already become top consumers, who flash an average of $7,000 each whenever they travel to the U.S., comprising a significant contribution to local GDP growth.
