
China Inbound Tourism 2026: Record-Breaking Growth and What It Means for Global Travellers
China recorded 697 million border crossings in 2025 (+14.2%), with visa-free arrivals surging 49.5% to 30.08 million. In 2026, China is projected to welcome 42.5 million international visitors. This data-driven analysis covers the visa-free revolution, city-level trends, digital infrastructure improvements, and what the inbound tourism boom means for travel operators and hospitality brands.








