China is set to knock France off its perch as the world’s biggest tourist destination by 2030, predicts global research firm Euromonitor International.

Visitors from neighbouring countries as well as rising middle-class prosperity in Asia are cited as the main reasons that China will overtake long-time chart-topper France as the world’s most popular holiday destination, said Euromonitor’s head of travel Caroline Bremner at travel trade fair World Travel Market London on Tuesday.

China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and Malaysia are predicted to see the strongest increase in leisure arrivals over the next decade.