Chinese people travelling abroad spent RMB 1.5tn ( $ 226.15bn ) in 2015 , almost half of which was used to buy high - quality , cost - effective goods , according to the Ministry of Commerce . Among them, the number of Chinese travelers registered a 131 percent increase. Fewer travel restrictions , more flights and lower costs were all cited as incentives for Chinese tourists to explore foreign shores . The market has plenty of growth , with fewer than 10 % of Chinese people owning a passport . In contrast , the World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that international travellers spent RMB 5000 in China , only 2.94 % more than the previous year .
Chinese people travelling abroad spent RMB 1.5tn ( $ 226.15bn ) in 2015 , almost half of which was used to buy high - quality , cost - effective goods , according to the Ministry of Commerce . Fewer travel restrictions , more flights and lower costs were all cited as incentives for Chinese tourists to explore foreign shores . The market has plenty of growth , with fewer than 10 % of Chinese people owning a passport . In contrast , the World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that international travellers spent RMB 5000 in China , only 2.94 % more than the previous year .