In 2009, the aggregate numbers of Chinese inbound tourists and inbound overnight tourists amounted to 126.48 million and 50.88 million respectively, showing a drop respectively of 2.73% and 4.10% year on year.
Foreign exchange earnings of Chinese inbound tourism were $39.68 billion, a 2.86% decrease over 2008.
The number of inbound tourists (excluding those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) came to 21.94 million with a year on year decline rate of 9.82%.
PR Inside reports that now the figures seem to be on a major upswing and most analysts agree that the decrease will be reversed and tourism will rise, although perhaps only in high single figures. One of the reasons is the Shanghai World Expo where early bookings suggest a major boost to tourism.