Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. [Photo/VCG]

The number of Chinese tourists increased by 12 percent in 2015, topping a 120 million people, with Hong Kong, Seoul and Phuket Island revealed as the top three destinations for individual tourists, according to a Ctrip 2016 report.

The report, released on May 31, showed a drastic increase in the number of individual tourists in the past year, accounting for half of all outbound tourists.

"If the world is having a more relaxed visa policy towards Chinese tourists, the number might soon exceed that of package tourists," a Ctrip counselor said.

Almost half the tourists – 45 percent – were young, aged between 25 and 35 years. They were followed by 36 to 45-year-olds, who made up 28 percent of the total.

The report also revealed the skyrocketing number of tourists had boosted China's economy. It coincided with another survey which found shopping was one of the important driving forces for Chinese tourists.

China's State Information Centre says China's tourism industry has generated a GDP growth of 734 billion yuan (about $11.1 million), which is 14.5 percent of the world's tourism GDP and 1.5 percent of the world's total GDP.