PATA COMMUNICATIONS, September 14, 2006
China (PRC) outbound travel to Asia Pacific destinations has grown at an average annual rate of 19.8% since 2001, fuelled by strong economic growth; greater consumer spending power; Beijing’s moves to loosen travel restrictions and allow the Chinese currency to strengthen; and greater segmentation in the marketplace.
Travel trade participants in the PATA Travel Mart 2006 China (PRC) Outbound luncheon workshop learned this today at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.
Panellists in the interactive session included Shanghai Business International Travel Service Deputy General Manager Ms Li Guo; Shanghai Shihua International Travel Service Assistant General Manager Mr Tom Wang; and Tourism Australia Regional General Manager-North Asia & Business Tourism Mr Johnny Nee.
Panel moderator and PATA China (PRC) Representative Ms Kate Chang warned destinations to be wary of the sheer number of potential Chinese travellers in the future.
“Destination tourism organisations will have to check how the Chinese “golden weeks”, which coincide with Chinese New Year, May Day and National Day, fit in with existing inbound patterns,” she said. “There is a risk of destinations being “swamped” by travel demand from Chinese travellers.”
