With several destinations experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infections, adapting to Chinese preferences, social media channels and engaging the Chinese tour operators to stimulate the international travel demand among the Chinese tourists.
GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company’s latest report, ‘Tourism Source Market Insight: China’, reveals that China’s international departures declined by 52.5% in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19, as per a media report.
GlobalData’s COVID-19 Recovery surveys (*June 2020 and December 2020) found that demand for international travel among Chinese respondents was lower in December 2020 compared to June 2020. The surveys suggested that 59% of Chinese respondents declared they would ‘somewhat’ or ‘strongly disagree’ with the statement ‘I will consider booking an international trip this year’ in December compared to 54% in June.
Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “COVID-19 and fears of xenophobia are both threatening the prospects of international departures from China. Additional steps are critical to interact with Chinese citizens to help spark international travel demand when travel is more easily accessible. Adapting to Chinese offerings such as hosting a website with Chinese language preferences or selling local tours and excursions in Mandarin can all add to the quality of a Chinese tourist’s experience. A destination that makes Chinese tourists feel welcome may be the first to see an increase in post-pandemic travel.”
Partnerships with Chinese tour operators is another route that can be taken. There is a strong desire for familiar and trustworthy products amongst Chinese travellers.
Bonhill-Smith concludes: “Even though 85% of its international departures are focused on destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, China regularly features in the top 10 international arrivals for destinations across the Middle East and Europe. It is the largest and most lucrative source market globally, so engagement is now critical to battle any anti-Chinese/racism fears, and stimulate future travel demand of the Chinese tourists.”
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