• More than 97 million Chinese traveled abroad in 2013

    January 14, 2014
    More than 97 million Chinese traveled abroad in 2013

    Beijing : Hoteliers such as the Peninsula, which offers special Chinese New Year packages globally, are set to benefit from a growing number of tourists. A new report by the Tourist Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences  confirmed that China’s massive number of outbound tourists became even bigger in 2013, with 97 million traveling abroad. This number surpassed last year’s mark by 14 million people, and caused Chinese tourists to comprise 75 percent of overseas travelers in Asia and Europe, according to the report. In addition, the number is expected to climb above 100 million in the coming year.

    Although the report didn’t release statistics on how much this enormous group was spending this year, Academy director Song Rui told that when figures on overseas spending become available, there will “definitely” be a new record by Chinese tourists. Outbound Chinese tourists became the world’s biggest-spending travelers in 2012 with US$102 billion spent overseas, and local businesses across the world are bending over backward to attract these high-spending tourists. Here are some of the main actions tourist-centered industries have taken to appeal to Chinese visitors:

    Special amenities to make Chinese visitors feel at home are becoming commonplace at luxury hotels throughout the world now. Chinese-language materials, Mandarin-speaking staff, Chinese menu items, in-room tea kettles, and free slippers are a few of the amenities being offered across the world. One of the first hotels to do this was Hilton, whose global Huanying program offered Vivienne Tam-designed slippers. Some hotels around the world have also been joining retailers in celebrating Chinese holidays. The Peninsula goes all out for Chinese New Year, and just started celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival in select global locations as well.

    Luckily for retailers, luxury shopping is a major pastime for Chinese tourists, especially because imported goods are so much more expensive at home. Jewelry, watches, clothes, and accessories are top items of choice for Chinese travelers. Retailers across the world are adopting a host of services for Chinese travelers, including Chinese-language services and Chinese payment systems such as UnionPay. Special marketing campaigns include decorations and special products for holidays—especially the upcoming Chinese New Year—as well as campaigns on Chinese social media. For retailers’ ultra high-end VIPs, free international trips to shop and learn about product heritage are not uncommon, and airport chauffer service can bring wealthy travelers right to a store’s doorstep.

    In order for hotels and retailers to benefit from Chinese tourists, it helps for them to have local organizations doing everything they can to market certain locations. As a result, tourist organizations have been setting up more offices in China and engaging in China-specific marketing campaigns, often with the help of Chinese celebrities. Chicago plans to open a tourism office in Chengdu that will become the city’s fourth in China, and the Los Angeles tourism board recently opened a second China office. One of the most creative examples of a marketings has been New Zealand’s partnership with actress Yao Chen, who has one of the largest numbers of followers on all of Sina Weibo. In September 2012, Yao was married in New Zealand, which generated massive social media, internet search, and Chinese media coverage of the destination. Other recent partnerships have included actress Gao Yuanyuan and Visit California and Wanting Qu and Visit Vancouver.

    As can be exhibited by Macau’s success, Chinese tourists love to gamble, and locations such as Australia’s Gold Coast and Las Vegas hope to lure some of those visitors away from the Asian high roller stronghold. Australia’s Crown Casino is building a massive new waterfront complex with the aim of attracting Chinese visitors, while Las Vegas made the list of Chinese travelers’ top 10 Golden Week destinations this fall as Chinese arrivals to Las Vegas rise annually.

    http://www.jingdaily.com/4-businesses-set-to-win-big-with-chinas-100-mil…

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      Bangkok named Asia’s best

      holiday destination for 2025

      Bangkok has been ranked as the best city to visit in Asia for 2025 by Smart Travel Asia, a leading digital travel magazine, based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of travellers and readers worldwide.

      The city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year.

      Smart Travel Asia highlighted Bangkok’s strengths as its 24-hour vibrancy and diverse experiences, including food, culture, shopping, and the friendliness of its people, describing it as a “city full of energy and colour, day and night.”

      The city’s dominance stems from several compelling factors. Bangkok has emerged as a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering everything from legendary street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and panoramic 360-degree rooftop bars. Its cultural and heritage sites, including the iconic Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho temples, remain major attractions to international tourists.

      Additionally, from luxury malls in the city centre to the Chatuchak weekend market, Bangkok caters to every type of shopper. Affordability and friendliness also play a key role, as Bangkok remains an accessible living cost destination where welcoming smiles continue to charm travellers.

      In the Smart Travel Asia 2025 rankings, Bali (Indonesia) and Tokyo (Japan) shared second place behind Bangkok, while Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Luang Prabang (Laos) tied for fourth. Thailand further strengthened its tourism appeal with Chiang Mai placing third and Phuket sharing fifth place with Hong Kong (China).

      Having the three cities, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, in the top 10 highlights the diversity and appeal of Thailand’s tourism offerings for travellers worldwide. — VNA/VNS ( Oct.12, 2025)

      India resumes tourist visa for

      Chinese citizens after 5 years

      India announced  that it will open tourist visa applications to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025. It was the first time in five years since the South Asian country suspended Chinese citizens’ tourist visa applications in February 2020.

      The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account  that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to three Indian visa application centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province.

      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

      Chinese experts said the latest move taken by the India marks a phased milestone in the easing of relations between the two countries, and creates favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

      On February 2, 2020, India temporarily suspended its e-visa facility for Chinese travelers and foreigners residing in China amid coronavirus outbreak. – Global Times

      Gulf Cooperation Council Tourism 

      Dubai – As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.

      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

      Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity”,  featured more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

      Messe Berlin India launched 

      to drive growth of ITB India 

      Messe Berlin announces the official launch of Messe Berlin India, a newly incorporated subsidiary that underscores the company’s long-term commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. Headquartered in Delhi , the new entity will serve as a strategic base for expanding ITB India and launching future projects tailored to the Indian market. With this establishment, Messe Berlin is reinforcing its vision of India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth within the exhibition and events industry.

      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)