Illustration for TIME by Suzanne Li

Asia's tourism officials are licking their chops at the expected boom in Chinese travelers throughout the region. The mainland's middle class is estimated at anywhere between 20 million and 50 million, the yuan is holding firm and Beijing is easing up on travel restrictions--good news for Chinese with itchy feet, and for the country's cash-strapped and tourist-hungry neighbors.

The World Tourism Organization is predicting that by 2020, not only will China be the world's top tourist destination, but also the fourth largest source of tourists for the rest of the world (after Germany, Japan and the U.S.). Up to 6 million Chinese are expected to travel abroad this year for business or pleasure--many for the first time--up from 5.3 million in 1997 and 2.8 million in 1992.

Officially, mainlanders are permitted to venture overseas only as part of tour groups organized by state-owned travel agencies--a legacy of the days when Chinese vacationers often chose not to return--and then only for business or family reasons. Even though Beijing has been easing its restrictions by adding New Zealand and Australia to the roster of "approved destinations" (it now includes Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines) for foreign holidays, it's still not that easy for a would-be wanderer from, for example, Wuhan to hop on a plane out of the country. "It takes three chops to exit China," says Eppie Tam, who runs the China department of the Hong Kong Tourist Association. "The first one is from your company to approve your leave, the second is from the Public Security Bureau to confirm that you're clear to travel and the third is the tourist visa from your desired destination." Even so, Tam says the processing time has been reduced, and officials have simplified the procedure for getting a passport or travel permit. The most popular package tours for China's travelers are to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Canny tour operators at these destinations have been catering to the market by providing Mandarin-speaking guides and brochures. Korea has also been wooing mainlanders by granting visas upon arrival at Kimpo Airport, increasing Korean Air and Asiana flights to Seoul and Cheju Island and by assigning 35 travel agencies to cater to Chinese tourists, 210,000 of whom are anticipated this year.

Hong Kong has been the biggest beneficiary of the travel bug sweeping the motherland. Chinese accounted for 22% of tourist arrivals last year (even with a mainland tourist ban around the time of the territory's handover). The percentage is set to rise again this year, with Beijing having recently increased by 30% the number of tour groups that can head for Hong Kong and indulge in its gold jewelry shops and Ocean Park attractions.

China's figures for the first half of this year show that 40% of tourist visas were granted to independent travelers--indicating tacit approval from above as Chinese tourists continue to open their wallets--and minds--around the region.