China has surpassed Spain as the world’s third largest tourism destination, according to new figures from the United Nations Tourism Organization. 55.7 million people made a trip to China last year.

The United States held on to the number one spot in 2010, welcoming 78.95 million visitors while France finished second with 60.88 million.

Although Spain welcomed fewer visitors than China, it attracted a higher volume of big spenders. Spain finished behind only the United States in terms of tourism dollars, raking in $52.5 billion.

While China experienced an increase in visitors, the country also saw a 20 percent increase in the number of its own citizens traveling internationally. 57.39 million Chinese citizens traveled abroad last year.

Source: BTN