TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chinese citizens spent US$38 billion throughout the Chinese New Year period, according to information released by UnionPay.

UnionPay data revealed Chinsese tourists wordlwide spent 50 percent higher this year than previous years.

Hundreds of millions of transactions made by Chinese tourists through the UnionPay network reached 238 billion yuan—equivalent to US$38 billion—according to information released by a Chinese credit card provider.

Japan's television network Nippon reported some 450,000 Chinese tourists spent the Chinese New Year holiday in Japan and spent around six billion yuan—equivalent to US$95 billion.

Meanwhile, 300,000 Chinese tourists visited Thailand and spent around four billion yuan, or US$700 million.

Tourists are still returning to China as the Chinese New Year holiday draws to an end, and an endless stream of goods—ranging from fashion items from France, electronics and appliances from Japan, and cosmetics from South Korea—are flowing into the country.

The Chinese New Year holiday is often used by Chinese tourists to unwind and purchase luxury goods overseas. It has been reported that around five million tourists holidayed abroad throughout the 2015 Chinese New Year period.

"Perfumes are so much cheaper to buy in Paris compared to China," said a tourist who just came back from a holiday in France.

Another Chinese tourist who just returned from Japan said, "Japan is a producer of quality electronic goods, so I chose to buy several despite their bulky sizes, including a rice cooker," he said.

ANTARA