The Chinese Are Coming

Last year, more than 34 million Chinese traveled abroad, a 300-percent increase from 2000. By 2020, 115 million Chinese are expected to vacation overseas, which will make them the largest bloc of tourists in the world. Here’s where they’re dropping their yuan: Bangkok The Numbers: In 2006, more than a million Chinese holidayed in Thailand. ...

Last year, more than 34 million Chinese traveled abroad, a 300-percent increase from 2000. By 2020, 115 million Chinese are expected to vacation overseas, which will make them the largest bloc of tourists in the world. Here's where they're dropping their yuan:

Last year, more than 34 million Chinese traveled abroad, a 300-percent increase from 2000. By 2020, 115 million Chinese are expected to vacation overseas, which will make them the largest bloc of tourists in the world. Here’s where they’re dropping their yuan:

Bangkok

The Numbers: In 2006, more than a million Chinese holidayed in Thailand.

The Attraction: Close and cheap. Thailand was one of the first countries open to Chinese tourists, and it’s a popular launchpad for travel around Southeast Asia.

Las Vegas

The Numbers: Of the 320,000 Chinese tourists who visited the United States last year, nearly 90 percent spent time in Nevada.

The Attraction: Vegas, baby! High rollers are drawn to Sin City for the plentiful casinos, upscale shopping, and glitzy entertainment.

Paris

The Numbers: Some 600,000 Chinese traveled to France in 2006, where they spent twice as much in the boutiques, on average, as Americans.

The Attraction: The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the romance of the City of Light—but mainly the shopping.

Sydney

The Numbers: Last year, more than 300,000 Chinese went Down Under, a number expected to triple by 2015.

The Attraction: Australia’s Outback and Great Barrier Reef draw Chinese families interested in adventure, and Sydney’s culture lures professionals tired of the Hong Kong routine.

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