China's tourist spending is expected to be more than six trillion yuan (867 billion US dollars) in 2017, according to an industrial report.

The number of domestic, inbound and outbound tourists might reach over five billion in 2017, with outbound tourism expected to grow as more Chinese people have time and money to travel abroad, according to a report released by the China Tourism Academy and online travel agency giant Tuniu.com.

Around 4.7 billion domestic, inbound and outbound tourists spent 5.5 trillion yuan (795.5 billion US dollars) in 2016, the report claimed.

Chinese tourists no longer prefer group tours and many go to suburban and rural areas.

Cruises and island tours are gaining popularity, with cruises expected to have earned 1.8 billion yuan (260.3 million US dollars) in 2016.

China plans to raise tourism revenue to 7 trillion yuan (1.01 trillion US dollars) by 2020, according to the country's five-year tourism plan (2016-2020).

Email:tanyuhan@nbd.com.cn