According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China inbound tourist numbers stood at 141.2 million in 2018, an increase of 1.2% year-on-year (YoY), bringing with it tourism revenue of US$127 billion, up 3.0% YoY. Meanwhile, domestic tourism totalled US$5.5 billion in 2018, up 10.8% YoY, bringing RMB5.1 trillion in revenue (up 12.3% YoY).

Shanghai recorded 8.9 million inbound tourists in 2018, according to the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, up 2.4% YoY, with a revenue of US$7.3 billion, up 8.4% YoY. At the same time, the city received 340 million domestic tourists, up 6.7% YoY.

Shanghai has 72 five-star hotels, 65 four-star hotels and 51 three-star hotels officially registered with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Shanghai is home to the second-most five-star hotels in China after Shenzhen (101 five-star hotels). Shanghai played host to the second annual China International Import Exhibition in Q4/2019 thanks to its global economic status and MICE facilities for business travellers and its mature tourist infrastructure.