Chinese travellers spent a record $102 billion on international tourism in 2012, up 37% on 2011. Boosted by rising disposable incomes, a relaxation of restrictions on foreign travel and an appreciating currency, Chinese tourism spending has increased almost eightfold in 12 years, up from $ 13 billion in 2000.
In 2005 China ranked seventh in international tourism expenditure, and has since overtaken Italy, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. With the 2012 surge, China leaped to first place, overtaking both long-time top spender Germany ($84 billion) and second largest spender United States ($83 billion), which are now second and third in the ranking.