Outbound Chinese travel accelerates towards pre-pandemic levels
From 6-19 March 2024, Dragon Trail surveyed 1,015 mainland travelers about their travel plans, outbound destinations, travel spending, and response to tourism marketing. In total, 63% of Dragon Trail’s survey respondents have already traveled outbound in 2024 or are planning to do so. This is significantly higher than last year at the same time, when only 41% had outbound travel intentions.
Japan expects flood of Chinese tourists over labor day holiday
Japan is expected to see a surge in Chinese tourists during the upcoming Labor Day holiday, giving another boost to the nation’s tourism industry, which is already benefitting from a weaker yen and a strong cherry blossom season. Japan has become the top overseas destination for Chinese tourists ahead of this year’s five-day national holiday starting May 1, according to an April 16 report by online travel operator Trip.com.
China's tourism contribution to South Africa hindered by visa challenges
Despite the country's efforts to reopen borders after the pandemic, only around 34,000 Chinese visitors arrived in South Africa between January and November 2023. In 2013, South Africa welcomed 151,000 Chinese tourists, but this figure plummeted to 83,000 the subsequent year. By 2019, there was a slight increase to 93,000.
Shanghai hotels stop scanning faces at check-in
Many hotels in Shanghai, including worldwide brands, no longer require visitors who have valid identity documents to have their faces scanned when checking in after the city ended the requirement earlier this month. This should help encourage more overseas visitors to come to the city, industry insiders said.
Global tourism revenue to total $5.8 trillion this year
Global tourism revenue is estimated to total 5.8 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, marking an increase of 139.6 percent over the pre-pandemic level in 2019, according to a report released by an international tourism summit held in Wellington. The Report on World Tourism Economy Trends (2024) predicted that international tourist arrivals would amount to 13.579 billion in number this year, recovering to 103.9 percent of 2019.
Hilton first lifestyle brand hotel in Shanghai signed, next to Legoland
Hilton recently signed an agreement with Shanghai Jinshan Urban Construction Investment Group Co Ltd to jointly build Hilton's first lifestyle brand hotel in Shanghai to elevate the tourism experiences for the upcoming Legoland resort in Jinshan district. Xia Nong, president of Development for Hilton Greater China & Mongolia, said this will mark Hilton's expansion plan for its lifestyle-branded hotels in mega-cities in China.
Young travelers are reshaping the tourism industry
Travelers aged between 20 and 30 are becoming the new consumption power in the industry as they seek different ways to have fun on holiday, China's hospitality and tourism e-commerce platform Putike revealed based on its booking figures. The popularity of niche food destinations soared 133 percent recently with the May Day holiday just around the corner, according to travel review website Mafengwo.
Macau daily gross gaming revenue to reach $99.1 million during Labor Day break
Morgan Stanley Asia predicts that this year’s Labor Day holiday season will generate daily gross gaming revenue of between MOP 800 million (USD 99.1 million) and MOP 850 million. This would be 73 to 77 percent of the 2019 level and 5 to 10 percent below this year’s Chinese New Year between February 10 and 17.
Malaysia, China partner for documentary: boosting tourism
Malaysia and China have embarked on a collaborative effort to produce a documentary series aimed at strengthening cultural understanding and promoting tourism between the two nations. The documentary titled “Starry Embrace” is set to be produced by Hunan Broadcasting System with the association of Tourism Malaysia.
