Chinese outbound tourism contributed US$ 115 billion in 2017
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
“I prefer customised trips to group tours because I’ll have a more flexible schedule and can change it as I like. I’d also have more time to go shopping and find good local restaurants.” – 29 year old Chinese traveller Du Ni
China Daily reports on the rise and rise of Chinese outbound tourism, a growing regional phenomenon that is contributing to tourism booms, especially in nearby Asian countries.
A vibrant economy boosts tourism, strengthens soft power – that zip file-like aphorism, when uncompressed, would unfold a fascinating story of a delicately interlinked travel ecosystem involving China and the rest of the world.
Newly affluent, upwardly mobile Chinese on the mainland are spending big money on their outbound travels for enhanced life experiences. More and more countries are realising Chinese tourists are good for their local economies. According to a June report from the China Tourism Academy, Chinese outbound travellers spent more than US$115 billion outside the mainland, 5 per cent more than in 2016.
Much of that spending was on high-end, customised, memorable trips, confirming their rising purchasing power, evolving tastes and China’s consumption upgrade. In the bargain, overseas star hotels and tourist attractions were laughing all the way to the bank. So did domestic airlines and travel agencies, industry insiders said.
Read the rest of the China Daily report HERE.
