China's inbound tourism market continues to pick up after the Spring Festival holiday.
The tourism industry predicts that travel orders to China from tourists from visa-free countries will see significant growth in the near future.
Visa-free “circle of friends” continues to expand
Recently, there has been good news about inbound tourism.
In order to further promote the exchange of personnel between China and foreign countries, from March 14 to November 30, 2024, China will pilot a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries: Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
“The six countries exempted from this visa have close tourism exchanges with China. The average daily booking volume of Austrian entry air tickets in March increased by 70% compared with January to February, and the average daily booking volume of Swiss entry air tickets increased by 52% compared with January to February. Beijing , Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing and other cities have a high volume of round-trip air ticket bookings with these countries." The relevant person in charge of Tongcheng Research Institute said that the implementation of visa-free entry policy for more countries will be conducive to the rapid development of China's inbound tourism market .
Ning Guoxin, chief political officer of Utrust Travel Group, told reporters: "Since the end of 2023, Utour will welcome multiple inbound tour groups every month. Visas are the first threshold for foreign tourists to enter China, and the visa-free policy is open to foreign tourists. Opening the door to tourism will play a long-term role in promoting the development of inbound tourism."
Yang Jinsong, director of the International Research Institute of the China Tourism Academy, believes that from a demand perspective, the continued expansion of the visa-free "circle of friends" has reduced the financial burden and time cost of foreign inbound tourists, making "just go" a reality, and The length of stay in China is also more flexible, which helps to enhance the experience and reputation.
From a supply perspective, the continued expansion of the visa-free “circle of friends” will help stimulate the enthusiasm of market entities and launch more new products and services.
Overall, the visa-free policy brings more stable expectations and longer-term benefits to the rapid recovery and healthy development of inbound tourism.
The head of the United Nations World Tourism Organization recently stated that China’s recent unilateral visa-free policy for many countries is an important measure that will help the world’s tourism industry pick up.
The "World Tourism Barometer" released by the World Tourism Organization shows that China's outbound and inbound tourism markets are expected to develop rapidly in 2024 due to visa facilitation and increased air transport capacity.
China’s tourism attractiveness increases
The international cruise ship "Tui De Dan" recently docked at the Dalian Port International Cruise Center.
This is the first international cruise ship to visit a northeastern city since China fully resumed international cruise transportation in September last year.
The cruise ship carried more than 2,000 tourists from 47 countries and regions.
Dalian organizes tourists to visit many scenic spots such as Ocean Park, city squares, and charming streets, and experience projects such as riding trams and entering the city music hall.
Recently, Zhengzhou, Henan Province welcomed the first batch of tourists from Australia after the Spring Festival.
This is not only the first tour of Henan’s 2024 “Ten Thousands of Australian Tourists Traveling in Henan” product, but also the opening of Henan Province’s 2024 “Traveling in Henan” inbound tourism market.
Most of these Australian tourists came to Henan for the first time, and they started their cultural journey in the Central Plains here.
In recent years, the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has deeply promoted the international brand building of "Travel in Henan and Understand China", carried out systematic international promotion activities, built a cultural overseas brand, and established an inbound tourism cooperation system, which has achieved positive results.
In March, Henan will welcome thousands of tourists from Australia, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries and regions.
In the future, the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism will join forces with airlines, cultural tourism companies, hotels, travel agencies and other units to establish the "Henan Inbound Tourism Development Consortium" to carry out joint promotions targeting key source markets and promote inbound tourism overseas promotion and product improvement. , service guarantee integrated construction, continue to carry out overseas travel agents' online activities, and implement inbound tourism incentive measures to create a journey of Chinese civilization.
Recently, the attractiveness of China's tourism market has continued to increase, and a large number of Korean tourists have visited Zhangjiajie, Hunan.
According to statistics, from the beginning of January to the end of February, Zhangjiajie received 98,000 inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 34 times, including 42,000 Korean tourists, a year-on-year increase of 175 times.
According to the relevant person in charge of Zhangjiajie City Culture, Tourism, Radio, Television and Sports Bureau, Zhangjiajie strives to create unique products to continuously attract Korean tourists.
In view of the characteristics of Korean tourists who love mountains and rivers, we have launched "Fantastic Landscape" international tourism products such as Fenglin Canyon and Zhangjiajie Landform.
There are similarities in the "filial piety culture" between China and South Korea. Zhangjiajie has created a characteristic tourism brand of "filial piety culture" in the Korean tourism market, and has won the praise of "filial piety culture" among Korean tourists. "How can I be called an old man at this age?"
This year, among the Korean tourists who booked Zhangjiajie tourism products, 66% were under the age of 60. The number of people traveling with their parents has also grown rapidly. Zhangjiajie’s tourism label in South Korea is changing from “senior travel” to “family travel.”
Products and services are constantly optimized
Faced with the accelerating recovery of the inbound tourism market, the tourism industry has taken quick action to continuously enhance the attractiveness of Chinese tourism overseas.
Recently, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism organized 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities including Beijing and Shanghai to jointly participate in the 2024 Berlin International Tourism Fair.
The exhibition is one of the largest in the global tourism industry, and the Chinese exhibitor group has become one of the highlights of the exhibition.
The Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau has launched a rich and diversified inbound tourism product portfolio to showcase the new characteristics and new look of Beijing tourism.
Promotional materials such as the Beijing Tourism New Discovery Product Brochure, the 144-hour transit visa-free leaflet, the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Brochure, and the Beijing Conference Incentive Tourism Resource Album were distributed at the exhibition site, attracting many foreign travel businessmen to negotiate.
China Tourism Group Travel Service Co., Ltd. displayed more than 50 special inbound travel product routes including Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, etc., providing diversified consumer choices for different customer groups in the European market, and cooperated with more than 40 overseas travel companies Contact business partners and conduct in-depth exchanges on customized tours, parent-child tours, group tours and other products.
"Currently, Zhongxin Tourism Group has launched the theme routes of the Yangtze River Cultural Belt, and has cooperated with the cultural and tourism bureaus along the Yangtze River to jointly develop 'culture + tourism' routes. In the future, more special tourism products suitable for overseas tourists will be developed, using tourism as a bridge. Build a friendly platform for the dissemination of Chinese culture." Ning Guoxin introduced.
Xu Xiaolei, chief brand officer of CYTS, told reporters: "China CYTS will continue to boost the inbound tourism market this year. We will first strengthen product research and development, integrate China's great rivers and mountains, traditional culture, new era construction achievements, etc. into inbound tourism product innovation, and recommend complete products to global travel agents. Chinese tourism product solutions. At the same time, we will focus on the pain points of inbound travel and explore the simplified process model of overseas visa application centers around issues such as payment, Internet, translation, tour guides, etc., increase the promotion of tourism resources to overseas customers, expand the source market, and fully Make good use of resources such as CYTS multi-lingual website development and professional tour guide training to ensure the quality of reception services."
Sun Bowen, executive secretary-general of Ctrip Research Institute and general manager of inbound tourism, said that Ctrip will rely on technology, international resources, talent training, e-commerce support plans, etc. to help improve the convenience of inbound tourism.
According to the reporter’s understanding, on the international version of Ctrip’s Trip.com platform, overseas tourists can make reservations for inbound tourism products and services such as hotels, air tickets, train tickets, car rentals, airport transfers, attraction tickets, cruises, travel photography, catering, WiFi, phone cards, etc. .
Currently, Trip.com provides services in 24 languages, covering 39 countries and regions.
The online "China Travel Guide" is a China travel guide that serves overseas tourists, from entry matters to how to take China's public transportation, from how to solve mobile phone communication and Internet problems to booking hotels, attractions, restaurants, etc. Important questions about inbound tourism in China are included to help inbound tourists "go and leave" in China.
Zhao Shan (Source: People’s Daily Overseas Edition)