Much like every other country around the world, China is dealing with the ongoing aftermath of armed conflict in West Asia and the economic fallout that came in its wake.
But where tourism is concerned, China continues to thrive and up to 175 million cross-border trips out of the country are expected by the end of this year.
It should be noted that, despite extensive political polarisation, Chinese tourists remain keen to explore the world though they are erring on the side of caution by sticking to countries which are friendly with their homeland, countries that offer visa-free access, as well as those that give more bang for the buck.
Cautious avoidance
As of press time, Chinese travel agencies are not selling any group tours to Gulf states and will not be doing so within the foreseeable future as experts say that sales will remain suspended well into June.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also maintained its warning to citizens against travelling to West Asia even as it continues to repatriate Chinese nationals who remain stranded in the Gulf.
With that said, Chinese travel professionals report a decrease of 90 percent in inquiries related to West Asian and even North American travel, with would-be-travellers citing safety, security, and economic reasons behind their decision to eschew destinations within those regions.
Also, especially for those considering trips to the United States, Chinese travellers are being careful about their individual travel histories.
High net-worth individuals, in particular, are changing their personal travel patterns in keeping with changing corporate policies on overseas trips, as well as employment checks on the part of relevant government authorities.
Quality over quantity
At the same time, much like their counterparts overseas, Chinese travellers are also seeking higher quality experiences rather than run of the mill packaged tours.
China’s moneyed class, for example, considers deeper cultural immersion for their trips as they seek more authentic experiences, particularly in Western Europe.
At the same time, especially given the hectic nature of work culture in the Chinese Mainland, many travellers seek full relaxation and wellness options whenever and wherever they go.
These changes also mean a shift in the destinations that Chinese tourists are opting for this year, with a considerable drop in popularity for Japan given the political tensions between the two countries.
Indeed, it is expected that Chinese arrivals in Japan could drop by as much as 50 percent by the end of this year.
Conversely, inbound tourism to China is also on an upward surge: as early as January of this year, foreign arrivals to the country were already up by 38 percent.
Numbers have been driven up by a more relaxed and convenient visa application process, as well as more open policies with several nations under China’s unilateral visa-free programme.
As a result, China has been working on its key transportation, hospitality, and tourism infrastructure programmes, enabling it to confidently roll out a warm welcome to the world.
