The annual China Visitors Summit (CVS) is poised to return to Abu Dhabi on 13th and 14th May at the Rotana Saadiyat Resort.
CVS is the world’s leading workshop and meeting platform for Chinese outbound travel and has been staged over 40 times globally since its was launched in 2008.
In the past decade alone, the UAE has hosted the event seven times and it has served as a way to connect Chinese outbound travel buyers with global travel suppliers.
This year’s edition in Abu Dhabi expects to welcome 100 carefully selected Chinese travel industry buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Delegates include travel agents and tour operators, luxury agencies, MICE managers, corporate and business travel planners, OTA representatives, and specialised resellers focused on adventure, history, culinary tourism, and family travel.
At the core of the CVS are two intensive workshop days, during which Abu Dhabi-based travel suppliers,including hotels, museums, attractions, retailers, destination management companies, and transportation firms, will meet directly with these Chinese buyers through structured, pre-confirmed appointments.
The format allows suppliers to present their products and services while highlighting the unique experiences available across the Emirate.
A significant source market
It is no surprise that China has become the world’s largest source market for global tourism: in 2025 alone, nearly 180 million Chinese travelers journeyed abroad, spending approximately US$230 billion worldwide.
With nearly 200 million passport holders and over 21 million first-time passport issuances last year alone, the Chinese outbound market represents one of the most significant growth opportunities for destinations worldwide.
As Chinese outbound travel continues its rapid expansion, with projections suggesting global Chinese tourism spending could reach US$400 billion by 2030, destinations must position themselves effectively to capture this growth.
This includes developing China-relevant product offerings, investing in Mandarin-language communication tools such as WeChat and Little Red Book, training staff to understand Chinese cultural preferences, and building structured reseller relationships.
What CVS means for Abu Dhabi
For Abu Dhabi, with its strong positioning in family travel, arts and culture, heritage, and distinctive Emirati experiences, CVS provides a direct commercial platform to engage with high-value Chinese decision-makers and build long-term inbound business relationships.
Beyond the workshop days, attending Chinese buyers will participate in multiple site inspections across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, visiting hotels, museums, cultural attractions, and tourism infrastructure in order to gain firsthand knowledge of the Emirate’s tourism offering.
As China i2i Group chief executive Alexander Glos explains: “Abu Dhabi has evolved into one of the most culturally compelling destinations in the region. The CVS provides a structured and commercially focused gateway for Abu Dhabi suppliers to connect directly with qualified Chinese outbound buyers. With Chinese global travel expanding rapidly, those who invest in relationship-building today will benefit from sustained inbound growth in the years ahead.”
CVS 2026 is produced by China i2i Group in Shanghai, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and the Al Ain Department of Culture and Tourism.
