Not only are Chinese tourists the most to travel (83 million trips in 2012, up by 14 million in one year), but their spending is growing. The Chinese Center for Tourism Research estimates the total sum spent during these trips to be $102 billion during these trips abroad, for a 40% increase in two years.The Center estimates that the 100 million trips abroad threshold will be surpassed in 2014 with a corresponding increase in spending.Two continents have benefited significantly from this spending, Asia with growth in intra-regional tourism, and Europe, a favorite destination for beginner travelers.The French minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius, announced that from January 27th, the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations with China, visas will be granted to Chinese tourists within 48 hours. Until now, the delay has been ten or more days during peak travel periods."More than 1.2 million Chinese tourists traveled to France last year and these figures are expected, we hope, to grow massively in the years to come," announced the French Foreign Minister. "We hope to facilitate and increase human exchanges between our people and it is in this spirit that from January 27th a 48-hour Visa operation organized by my services will guarantee individual Chinese travelers quick turnaround for the formalities that must be accomplished prior to their stay in France," outlined the minister to the AFP.China is also poised to become the world's primary tourist destination in the future, a title currently held by France with 83 million international tourist trips. The growth rate is exponential with a large proportion of domestic tourism between provinces, compensated for by international tourists.
