(Yicai Global) Aug. 28–Chinese forked out USD257.7 billion while traveling overseas last year to continue to cling to the world apex, a report the United Nations World Tourism Organization issued yesterday shows.

World tourism revenue totaled USD1.24 trillion for the year, per the report -- a rise of 94 billion on 2016 -- of which Chinese trippers'outlays made up almost one-fifth.

The international traveler headcount was 1.32 billion last year, 84 million more than 2016 in a record 6.8 percent leap, the most since 2009, the figures indicate. France takes the gold as a global tour destination and Spain follows with the silver, while China and the US split the bronze.

The US, however, still milked the most moolah from the migratory to the tune of USD211 billion. Among countries and regions in Asia, Thailand, China, Macau and Japan all broke into the ranks of the top ten recipients of tourist largess, the report states.

Editor: Ben Armour