Tourism in China

Chinese Outbound Tourism Spendings

Kay Schaefer — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:42:44 +0000

Today a short news I have read on china view about the spendings of Chinese outbound Tourists. Besides the regional differences due to Nielson, I think it is not surprising, that the Chinese Tourist spends 2,597 to 3,506 U.S. dollars. I am asking myself if this amount has really increased?

Actually with the weak dollar these days statistics based on the US Dollar should be evaluated carefully.

China Tourism facts 2007 with a new records

webmaster — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:53:35 +0000

The CNTA has published the new tourism facts of 2007. Compared to 2006 their have been only new records:

China Tourism facts 2007
Total tourists	1,783 million
Increase tourists	15%
Total revenue	< 232 billion US $
Increase revenue	22.6 %
Inbound Tourism
Inbound Tourists	132 million
Increase Inbound Tourists	5.5%
Inbound Tourists overnight	54.72 million
Increase Inbound Tourists overnight	9.6%
Domestic Tourism
Domestic Tourists	1.61 billion
Increase Domestic Tourists	15.5%
Domestic Tourism Revenue	111.25 billion US $
Increase Domestic Tourism Revenue	24.7%
Outbound Tourism
Chinese Outbound Tourists	40.954 million
Increase Chinesse Outbound Tourists	18.6%

It is not surprising that there is an increase in all touristic sectors. I am and will be always impressed by the sheer number of Domestic Tourist. Can you imagine 1.61 billion persons traveling? And a lot of them at once…

CAAC accepts foreign flight applications for the Olypics

Kay Schaefer — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:58:41 +0000

The CAAC has officialy begun to accept flight applications from foreign airlines for flights during the Olympics and Paralympics 2008 in Beijing. This includes special flights like VIP flights as well as charter or business flights related with one of the olypic related cities.

China tries to show his best face to world. I think the impressions of millions of tourists and people in front of the television during the olypics will have a lasting influence on the outer view of China as tourism destination. A good example for an event with a lasting efect has been the World Football Championship in Germany. We will see which kind of influence the olympics will have on China…

CNTA announced first tour group to USA in June 2008

Kay Schaefer — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:37:44 +0000

After the new ADS (Approved Destination Status) agreement between China and the United States of America finally follows the first group of tourists.

Zhang Xiqin, vice director of the CNTA, expects the first groups of Chinese tourists to arrive in the USA in June 2008. Due to Zhang there are still some details to be negotiated between China and the� U.S..

Who thought that their will be an ADS-Agreement between this two states at all and now it is nearly settled. Allowing tourism groups to travel to the United States seems to be another strong signal for the further growth of the Chinese outbound tourism market.

Mainland Chinese Outbound Tourists to Japan on third place

Kay Schaefer — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:15:54 +0000

The Japanese government plans to achieve 10 million tourist in 2010 and strengthen their tourism industry as a strategic industry. Focusing on this goal with the main target market in Asia, their have been cooperation’s with China, like the development of the air transport.

In 2007 Japan’s international tourists increased by 14% to a total of 8.35 million visitors. Due to the Japan National Tourist Organization, the majority have been from South Korea with 2.6 million, an 22% increase, on second place are the tourist from Taiwan with 1.39 million, followed by Chinese Mainland visitors with 943,000 tourists an increase of 16%.

This also shows a strong growth of the Chinese outbound tourism market in Asian tourism destinations. We can expect even further growth with the continuing development of the Chinese tourism markets.

34 million Chinese outbound tourists in 2006

webmaster — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:12:33 +0000

In the year 2006, according to official statistics, approximately 34 million Chinese tourists went abroad. This made China the largest outbound travel market in whole Asia. This year’s tourists are still increasing. In the first half of 2007 the outbound travel market has increased by 14.04%.

Six more Countries gain ADS

webmaster — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:12:05 +0000

The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) approved six more countries as destinations for Chinese tourists from October 15th 2007.

According to the CNTA the six new ADS-Countries are: Oman, Morocco, Monaco, Syria, Namibia and Bulgaria.

China had 132 Approved Destination Status countries and regions at the end of 2006. The 132 ADS-Countries include approx. 86 countries which are open for Chinese tourist groups.

The ‘Golden Week Concept’ in question

Kay Schaefer — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:40:31 +0000

The three ‘golden week’ holidays were originally introduced to increase tourism and free time. Starting in October 1999 it had a tremendous influence on the tourism industry. But holidays for a whole country on the same time brings big problems.

This topic has been a discussion among domestic tourism experts a long time. Zhang Hui, dean of the tourism administration department at Beijing International Studies University, introduced during a forum in Xiamen a possible solution to shorten the ‘golden weeks’ and increase the paid leave of Chinese employers.

This may be a good way to avoid the chaos caused by millions of domestic travellers during the ‘golden week’ holiday.

CNTA fights against zero-fee tours

webmaster — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 09:32:48 +0000

Right after the SARS epidemic in 2003 started so called “zero-fee” package tours because of the severe drop of travellers. Zero-fee tours are cheaper than the basic costs of transportation, accommodation and attraction tickets. In order to regain the losses, tour guides get high provisions from different shops.

This practice obviously damages the Chinese tourism market, says Shao Qiwei, director of the CNTA. From 2006 CNTA has taken action to end the illegal activity of travel agencies and tour guides, which lead to a total fine of RMB 20 million. Shao Qiwei also said that the CNTA will pursue their course to clean up the travel market of “zero-fee” package tours.

This is a good example why it will be very difficult for foreign travel companies to enter the price driven Chinese tourism market. The price seems to be one of the most important factors for Chinese tourists.

China domestic travel market is opening

webmaster — Wed, 30 May 2007 10:00:02 +0000

Experts have already expected that China have to lower some boundaries for foreign companies who want to enter the Chinese tourism market in the context of China’s entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Finally China has announced, four month before the official deadline for the terms set by the WTO, that they will soon “fully open” the Chinese domestic travel market to foreign owned travel agencies.

The head of the CNTA (China National Tourism Administration) Shao Qiwei, said that China is welcoming the entry of big international tourism companies and that the new competition will help to enhance Chinese tourism companies as well.