National political advisor Dai Bin told China.org.cn that China's tourism industry is set to maintain strong momentum and vast potential during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). To support that growth and better welcome visitors from around the world, he said the country needs more comprehensive laws, regulations and supporting measures.
National political advisor Dai Bin speaks to China.org.cn at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 4, 2026. [Photo/China.org.cn]
Dai, president of the China Tourism Academy and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is in Beijing to attend the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, which opened on March 4.
Data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism showed that during the nine-day Spring Festival holiday, domestic tourism trips reached 596 million, an increase of 95 million trips compared to the same period last year. Domestic tourism spending totaled 803.48 billion yuan, up 126.48 billion yuan year on year. Both the number of trips and total spending have hit record highs.
This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Dai predicted that China's tourism industry will maintain relatively rapid growth over the next five years.
Currently, the per capita annual travel frequency in China has reached a relatively high level. At present, this is equivalent to one trip per quarter. However, when comparing this to developed countries, there is still significant room for improvement. He estimated that by the time China becomes a moderately developed country, the per capita annual travel frequency will reach seven to eight trips, meaning the scale of the tourism market is expected to nearly double.
Dai said he expects the third revision of China's Tourism Law to establish the protection of people's right to travel as its legislative purpose and guiding principle. He also hopes the law will extend these protections beyond traditional package-tour participants, noting that about 80% of today's tourists are self-driving, independent travelers or those opting for customized tours.
"They visit not only scenic spots and resorts but also commercial districts, theaters and food markets. The same is true when they travel overseas," Dai noted, stressing that legal protection should cover all aspects of a tourist's entire journey.
He called for broader coverage in tourism legislation, ensuring the government has a clear legal basis to act. He noted there is still no clear legal definition of "scenic areas," which could create ambiguity when determining responsibility, particularly for incidents that occur outside designated scenic areas, where the scope of government authority may not be clearly defined.
"So, in the end, I hope we can advance the revision of our Tourism Law in accordance with the principle of universal benefit and shared access, making it more widely applicable and capable of carrying the ideals and concepts of higher-level tourism development for humanity," he said. "A people-centered vision of tourism should be truly embodied as the will of the state through legislation, so that more people — whether the elderly, people with disabilities, or children — can freely travel across this beautiful land of China and move, explore, and engage with the wider world on this blue planet."
Data also shows strong enthusiasm among foreign visitors. During the nine-day Spring Festival holiday in 2026, the country received more than 898,000 inbound international tourists. Dai noted that with major conveniences such as visas and payment services opening wider, "China Travel" has entered a new stage of prosperity. The next challenge is to improve the subsequent phase of travel facilitation. Bringing foreign tourists into China is only the first step; what matters more is ensuring they can travel smoothly, stay comfortably and enjoy their experiences.
The political advisor cited examples of foreign tourists visiting small towns and rural villages and staying in local homestays. However, some small hotels or homestays lack the capacity to receive foreign guests, and some operators turn them away due to unfamiliarity with procedures. He emphasized that to further enhance the "China Travel" experience, efforts must be made to improve transportation, accommodation registration, language environment and dietary habits.
He called for efforts to promote the design of national tourism routes for inbound foreign tourists, the development of tourist-friendly eco-cities, the restructuring of international tourism promotion systems and the enhancement of tourism products.
Dai also noted that China has already brought back many tourists and expatriates from the Middle East as the security situation in Iran has become tense.
"With China's outbound tourism continuing to grow, safety and service quality have always been key concerns for the government. Whether Chinese tourists join organized tours or travel independently, I believe that whenever they encounter safety or quality issues abroad, the Chinese government will respond proactively."
