Xishuangbanna is listed as one of the world's "top 12 travel destinations" by Travel+Leisure, reporters learnt from government in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.

Other listed destinations are Bahia in Brazil, Hamburg in Germany, Toronto in Canada, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Xishuangbanna has always been overshadowed by Lijiang and Tibetan. As a habitation of ethnic groups such as Dai and Hani, it is the best choice to experience walking on the Tea Horse Road in Yunnan. Tourists can also sightsee the selva, Buddhist temple, tribes and elephas maximus that is only existing in China.

Bordered with Laos and Myanmar, Xishuangbanna has been an important passageway connecting Southeast Asia and South Asia. It is also the connection between China and ASEAN Free Trade Area.

Yunnan has recommended some travelling itineraries such as Jinghong--Chiang Rai—Chiengmai, Jinghong-- luang prabang—Vientiane and Jinghong—Mongla---Kengtung. Xishuangbanna is becoming a main tourist destination of the domestic tourists and it is also a main tourism market of Southeast Asia.

With a 17.2﹪ year-on-year increase, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture has received 9.2922 million tourists in the first eleven months this year, including 8.6033 million from China and 262,100 from foreign countries. The total income from tourism industry amounted to RMB 8.695 billion, rising 28.2% compared to the same period last year. The foreign exchange revenue reached $ 107.4902 million, growing 37.7﹪ compared to the same period last year.