Being listed at 17th in the 2015 global travel and tourism competitiveness, China has maintained its competitiveness as hotspot tourism destination in the Eastern Asia, according to a report released  in Geneva by World Economic Forum (WEF) on Wednesday.

The 2015 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, measured 141 economies in terms of their potential to generate economic and societal benefits through a sustainable travel and tourism industry.

The 2015 assessment saw Spain lead the world ranking for the first time, traditional tourist destinations France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, Japan and Canada also reached the top 10 destinations.

The report said the competitiveness gap between these advanced economies and emerging markets is closing.

China's natural and cultural resources, and the price competitiveness help China to 17th position in the rankings.

However, factors such as China's particulate matter concentration, tourist service infrastructure undermined the country's competitiveness.

The other top performers in the Asia-Pacific are the region's more advanced economies, namely Australia (7th), Japan (9th), Singapore (11th), Hong Kong SAR (13th) and New Zealand (16th).

Due to the rising number of both international arrivals and middle-class tourists from within the region, East Asia is one of the world's most vibrant tourism hotspots, the report highlighted.

"Travelers are becoming increasingly sensitive to environmental issues when selecting their destinations, and are more informed than ever before, thanks to the media and internet," Roberto Crotti, an economist from WEF said.

He added many countries could still do much more to tackle travel and tourism related challenges, environmental protection, ICT readiness and better promotion of cultural heritage. "This in turn would translate into higher competitiveness and employment," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2015)