Sep 112012
 

Over the past couple of years, after working on tourism development projects around the globe, for nearly every destination without exception from tiny St Lucia to India, China is on everyone’s minds in the tourism world.  I couldn’t help but think of the song “Always on My Mind,” which has been bouncing around the charts globally now in 300 recorded versions. If you recall, the lyrics went partially like this: “If I made you feel second best…Girl I’m sorry I was blind…You were always on my mind…”

Well, destinations such as Australia are far from blind about the Chinese outbound market or considering it second best. The latest edition of the HVS Asia Pacific Newsletter just reported the following, which I take to be an interesting market indicator:

“The Australian Government has granted Tourism Australia a new fund, Asia Marketing Fund, worth A$48.5 million (US$49.9 million). The new funding aims to generate increased visitation and economic returns from Asia, which is Australia’s fastest growing tourism region. Visitor numbers from Asia have tripled since 1990, and spending by Asian visitors in Australia has grown by 64% since 2000. Tourism Australia will focus the first year of the fund on four strategic projects, includng targeting three secondary cities in China – Qingdao, Chengdu and Chongqing through its existing China 2020 Strategy.”

64% growth in spending! Not surprising that the Fund is also targeting secondary cities. Secondary cities in a Chinese context are still nearly of megalopolis sizes. There are more than 100 cities with populations over 1 million in the country! Lots of potential outbound generating markets!

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Dec 222011
 

Where and When do Chinese Travel Outside China?中国游客出境游的目的地和时间选择

By Scott Wayne and Anna Xie 斯科特.韦恩和谢安娜

According to a recent report by the China Tourism Academy (CTA), in the first half of 2011, approximately 32 million Chinese traveled abroad and spent US$28 billion, up by 19% and 17% respectively over the same period in 2010.  According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, China will be the world’s fourth-largest source of outbound tourists by 2020, with 100 million outbound travelers. With such delectable numbers, many destinations are striving to attract more Chinese tourists, especially while the traditional outbound generating markets of the US, Western Europe and Japan are still mired with economic challenges, which have softened some international outbound travel. 中国旅游研究院最近的一份报告指出,2011上半年大约有三千两百万中国游客到国外旅行,花费高达二百八十亿美元。分别比2010年同期增长19%和17%。 根据联合国世界旅游组织数据,到2020年中国将是世界第四大出国旅游客源国,有将近1亿出国游客。这些数据使得各大国家都想尽方法来吸引更多的中国游客,尤其当美国,西欧和日本这些传统的出境游客源国的经济仍受到挑战的时候,他们出境游的人数也呈疲软状态。

According to Qunar.com, the world’s largest Chinese language travel website, the top destinations for travelers from Beijing were Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, New York, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, London and Sydney.

Other destinations are also attempting to “capture” Chinese travelers. India, for example, has launched its ‘Incredible India’ campaign with dances and cultural events throughout China presenting India in an effort to woo Chinese visitors. Sri Lanka is also looking towards China to boost its inbound tourism. And the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center has increased its marketing efforts in response to more interest among Chinese enterprises in incentive trips for their staff. 根据世界范围最大的中文语言旅游网站-去哪儿网,从北京出发的中国游客首选的前十名目的地包括:香港,东京,首尔,新加坡,曼谷,纽约,巴黎,吉隆坡,伦敦和悉尼。

其他的目的地也设法吸引中国游客。比如印度在中国各大城市启动了“神奇印度”宣传活动,通过印度的舞蹈和文化活动来展示印度的魅力。斯里兰卡也想通过吸引中国游客来推动国内的旅游业。另外还有墨尔本会展中心已经加大了在中国的市场营销力度来吸引中国的企业为员工提供到墨尔本的奖励性旅游。

As these and other destinations are learning, it is essential to understand the behavior of Chinese outbound travelers: 各大目的地都在争相吸引中国游客,最关键的是要了解中国出境游游客的消费习惯:

  • According to the Chinese hotel and destination review website Daodao.com (the Chinese version of Trip Advisor), about 34 percent of Chinese travelers choose budget hotels26 percent four-star hotels and 16 percent five-star hotels. 根据中国酒店和目的地评价网站-到到网,大约有34%的中国游客选择经济型酒店,26%选择4星级酒店,还有16%的选择5星级酒店。
  • Increasing numbers of Chinese prefer to visit one or two countries during an overseas trip. 越来越多的中国游客一趟出境游会游览一到两个国家。
  • More than 61 percent of Chinese tourists conducted online research ahead of their trips and about 48 percent of travelers adjusted their trips after conducting this research. 多于61%的中国游客在出游前会上网做一些调查准备,其中48%的游客会在网上调查之后调整自己的出游计划。
  • Shopping is perhaps the most important activity for Chinese traveling abroad with western brands and especially designer brands favored most. Prices are lower for top brands outside China. And the brands demonstrate a person’s  social status and wealth. 对于中国游客来说,购物大概是最重要的活动之一,尤其是欧美的品牌,特别是设计师的牌子。由于这些品牌的售价在中国比在境外高。而且通过这些品牌可以展示个人的社会地位和财富。
  • Most Chinese travel occurs during holidays 大部分中国游客在节假日出游
Public Holidays 中国的法定节日
New Year’s Day 新年 January 01  一月一号
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) 春节 Lunar calendar, varies, longest holiday, students have 1 month off and worker can have 3 days to 2 weeks off 中国的农历新年,学生可以有一个月的假,公司员工有3天到二周的假
Tomb Sweeping Festival 清明节 April 05 四月五号
Labor Day 劳动节 May 01 五月一号
Dragon Boat Festival 端午节 June, varies based on lunar calendar 一般在6月,依农历而定
Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 September, varies based on lunar calendar 九月,依农历而定
National Day 国庆节 Oct.1-3 (plus weekends, usually extended to 1 week) 十月1-3号,加上双休日,有一周的假
Summer Holiday 暑假 Mainly for students and teachers, more than 2 months off  在校的学生和老师,能有2个多月的假

 For deeper information on Chinese travel habits, check out the following: 更多关于中国游客的详细信息,请参照以下资料:

The Green Book of China’s Tourism is compiled annually in Chinese by the Tourism Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the highest-ranking academic institution in China. It includes reports on China’s domestic, inbound and outbound tourism. In 2011 for the first time Social Sciences Academic Press (SSAP) of China and COTRI are cooperating to present this translation in English. The Green Book of China’s Tourism offers 16 chapters edited by tourism experts Zhang Guangrui, Song Rui and Liu Deqian and written by foremost academics, administrators and practitioners of tourism in China. The Green Book provides comprehensive analysis, forecast and prospect on key issues in Chinese tourism related to the industry, government policy, destinations and tourism research. 中国旅游绿皮书是由旅游研究中心和中国最具权威的中国社科院联手打造。它包括了中国国内旅游,入境游和出境游的各个报告。2011年,中国社会科学文献出版社和中国出境游研究所第一次联手推出此书的英文版。中国旅游绿皮书提供了由中国旅游业专家张广瑞,宋瑞和刘德谦编辑的,以及权威学者,行政管理者和业内人士撰写的16个章节。绿皮书提供了中国旅游涉及到行业,政策,目的地和学术研究的旅游综合广泛的分析,预测以及前景。

 

 

 

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Dec 092011
 

Tapping the Chinese outbound market has become a top priority for many destinations. Not surprising, Chinese travelers are one of the fastest growing markets in both arrivals and expenditures — as SW Associates has seen with every client and every project this year. Everybody wants a slice of the Chinese outbound market.

Over the past month following the World Travel Market in London, there has been a steady stream of reports and articles focusing on the fast growth of Chinese travel. The following are some highlights, which we found interesting and useful:

Starting with WTM…

  • Euromonitor International reported that the Chinese are expected to spend US$57 billion on accommodation domestically and internationally this year.
  • About 58 million Chinese traveled outside China in 2010 with outbound forecast to grow by 20%.
  • Chinese tourism investment in the Caribbean is rapidly increasing.
  • Three WTM seminars on the Chinese market
    • China outbound clinic by China travel expert, Dr. Wolfgang Arlt
    • Workshop on the New Chinese Tourists – Tom Jenkins, the Executive Director of ETOA, Jens Thraenhardt, President of Dragon Trail and again with Dr. Arlt.
    • Seminar on China’s MICE market development

And from the October 2011 UNWTO Barometer…

  • Over the past decade, Chinese tourism expenditures have gone from US$13 billion to US$58 billion! 30% growth from 2009 to 2010!

And from ChinaTravelTrends.com (December 2nd, 2011)…

  • “[F]or destinations and companies not located on the beaten track, the much hyped deluge of Chinese tourists has, until now, been little more than a mirage…With the start of the second wave of China’s outbound tourism, all this is changing. The “New Chinese Tourists”, knowledgeable, sophisticated, travel-savvy and predominantly below 45 years of age, are entering the scene. New Chinese tourists look for deeper experiences and closer contact with local host populations during their self-organized trips. Click here for the full article.
  • By the end of 2011, the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) is estimating that Chinese outbound trips will total 65 million.
And from the Tourism Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)…
  • For further details about the Chinese outbound market, as well as the domestic and inbound markets, one of the most authoritative sources is the 2011 Green Book of China’s Tourism:

The Green Book of China’s Tourism is compiled annually in Chinese by the Tourism Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the highest-ranking academic institution in China. It includes reports on China’s domestic, inbound and outbound tourism. In 2011 for the first time Social Sciences Academic Press (SSAP) of China and COTRI are cooperating to present this translation in English. The Green Book of China’s Tourism offers 16 chapters edited by tourism experts Zhang Guangrui, Song Rui and Liu Deqian and written by foremost academics, administrators and practitioners of tourism in China. The Green Book provides comprehensive analysis, forecast and prospect on key issues in Chinese tourism related to the industry, government policy, destinations and tourism research.

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