#Unwto

Europe is seeing a renewed wave of Chinese travellers this summer, driven by strong outbound demand from China and weakening interest in the United States, and analysts are asking whether US policy under President Donald Trump helped redirect that traffic. The European Travel Commission reports a sharp rise in Chinese intent to visit — 72 per cent of Chinese respondents say they planned to travel to Europe for the May–August period — while tourism industry publications covering flow patterns report arrivals from China to Europe rose year‑on‑year in early 2025.

Europe is seeing a renewed wave of Chinese travellers this summer, driven by strong outbound demand from China and weakening interest in the United States, and analysts are asking whether US policy under President Donald Trump helped redirect that traffic. The European Travel Commission reports a sharp rise in Chinese intent to visit — 72 per cent of Chinese respondents say they planned to travel to Europe for the May–August period — while outlets covering tourism flows say arrivals from China to Europe rose year‑on‑year in early 2025. At the same time, inbound tourism to the US has softened, prompting debate about whether political and trade tensions have discouraged Chinese and other long‑haul visitors from booking American trips and instead pushed them towards European destinations (South China Morning Post: Europe is expecting a wave of Chinese tourists). (European Travel Commission Long‑Haul Travel Barometer 2/2025). (Bloomberg analysis of Chinese travellers and Europe, June 2025).

European travel is experiencing a notable rise in Chinese visitors this summer. Analysts attribute this to strong outbound demand from China and a cooling appetite for U.S. trips. The European Travel Commission notes a sustained intent among Chinese travelers to visit Europe for May through August, with several European destinations reporting year-on-year gains in Chinese arrivals in early 2025.

Meanwhile, inbound tourism to the United States has softened. Observers suggest political and visa uncertainties may be shaping long-haul travel choices, nudging some travelers toward Europe. Across major travel outlets, the trend is being tracked as a broader reshuffle in global tourism patterns, with European destinations mobilizing aggressively to attract Chinese travelers.

Kyoto, Japan’s fabled city of tranquil temples and ancient tradition, is groaning under the weight of a tourism boom so intense that even its famed serenity seems to be fading. As foreign visitors surge to record highs, experts and locals are asking: Has the search for ‘real Japan’ turned Kyoto into a tourist trap, and what lessons does this overtourism crisis hold for other Asia-Pacific destinations, including Thailand?

Kyoto’s growing pains are a parable for the age of global wanderlust. Once famed for the hush of its geisha districts, quiet lanes, and mossy Zen gardens, the city now wears the marks of its billion-yen popularity. According to the report in New York Magazine’s Intelligencer (nymag.com), the city welcomed almost 37 million international visitors in 2024—a staggering leap from 6 million in 2011. This year’s arrivals are running another 25% higher. The allure? Social media’s stylized images, a favorable currency rate, and the ease of digital navigation have made Kyoto more accessible than ever. But the impact is visceral: iconic streets pack thick with streams of photo-chasing travelers, while local culture contorts to accommodate the global demand.