China pavilion draws growing global interest in travel to China at Dubai tourism fair

(ECNS) -- The China pavilion emerged as a major attraction at the 2026 Arabian Travel Market, held recently in Dubai, reflecting growing interest in travel to China among visitors from Arab countries.

Featuring the theme “Nihao! China,” the pavilion integrated classical Chinese aesthetics with modern displays, drawing widespread attention from regional travelers and business representatives seeking customized tour routes to Chinese cities.

Official data revealed that the number of foreign visitors to China rose 20.4% year on year in the first half of the year. In 2025, traveler arrivals from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries topped 150,000, up 100.78%, with tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia and the UAE surging by 110% and 113%, respectively.

Over 60 Chinese tourism enterprises took part in business matchmaking sessions during the four-day event. Chinese Consul General in Dubai Ou Boqian highlighted China’s rich resources and continuously optimized travel facilitation policies, welcoming Arab visitors to explore both cutting-edge tech hubs like Shenzhen and historic cultural cities like Xi’an and Chengdu.

(By Intern Lin Qiaochu, Zhang Dongfang)