2014: Top 10 ‘Biggest Spenders’ in International Tourism

China sits at the top of the list of the world’s top international tourism spenders with a 28 percent increase in expenditure in 2014, reaching a total of US$ 165 billion, preliminary data released on Wednesday by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said.

According to the UNWTO, while the two other major emerging markets among the first 10, the Russian Federation (-6 percent, 5th largest) and Brazil (+2 percent, 10th largest) lost strength, various advanced economy source markets picked up in growth.

The world’s second largest spender, the United States posted a 7 percent increase. The United Kingdom spent 4 percent more and moved from 5th to 4th in the ranking. France increased expenditure by 11 percent, retaining the 6th position, and Italy by 6 percent, climbing from 9th to 8th. Germany (3rd), Canada (7th) and Australia (9th) take the remaining places of the top ten.