Uyghur rights group urges hotel chains not to ‘sanitise’ China abuses in Xinjiang

Almost 200 international hotels are operating or planned in China’s Xinjiang region amid government efforts to promote tourism despite ongoing human rights concerns, The Guardian reported.

A report by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) identified 115 active hotels and at least 74 more under construction or planning. Some hotels have links to forced labor and state-run labor transfer programs. The surge in hotel development coincides with Xinjiang receiving about 300 million visitors in 2024, including nearly 5 million foreign tourists, according to Chinese state media.

Major global hotel chains such as Accor, Hilton, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham have properties in the region, including locations tied to China’s paramilitary Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), which faces international sanctions over alleged ethnic minority abuses. The report highlights concerns over hotels built on demolished religious sites and involvement with government employment programs accused of forced labor practices.

Human rights groups argue that foreign business presence helps normalize the Chinese government’s crackdown on Uyghurs and other minorities. The UHRP calls on hotel chains to halt expansion, review operations, and sever ties to comply with international human rights standards.