China is flexing its power on the tourism world map as its tourists continue to travel across the globe. As per tourism consulting provided by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism contributes more than ten percent of the total Chinese economy. This figure is greater than the contribution by education, banking or automotive industries. More than a whopping sixty six million people in the country are engaged in tourism jobs. Also Chinese nationals made a combined one hundred and twenty million foreign trips last year. This is a model that Thailand hopes to replicate in the near future. What Thailand especially wants to learn from China is traveling within the country for rural tourism. That is going to be the next big tourism innovation in Thailand with rural areas being developed for purposes of off-beat retreats. The 12 Hidden Gems plan has been developed for this very purpose.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/988649/china-plan-hailed-as-model-for-boosting-rural-tourism