Chinese Travel Whispers is your (very easy) guide to what’s going on in Chinese outbound travel. We’ll be sharing the things we’ve heard recently on the Chinese travel-trade grapevine, with a few thoughts of our own thrown in.
1. ‘We need more new stuff to sell’
Everyone is looking for differentiated product and operators are actively researching new experiences to add into their itineraries. Where are they looking for inspiration? Well, unless they hear about new products via sales calls or promotions (or Guanxi!), they will look in the same places as their customers; RedNote, C Trip and Fliggy. Or ask their DMC partners. Whatever the new product is, it must provide an opportunity for decent margins.
2. We are hearing a bit more from MICE operators more recently.
This important sector seems on the up.
3. We’ve done some research recently about UK attractions.
The Seven Sisters is now one of the UK’s most ‘searched’ tourism attractions on RedNote, with searches for the beautiful Sussex cliffs exceeding the number for Stonehenge by more than 300%!
4. Uncertainty in the international student market.
A Republican Senator has called for a ban on Chinese student visas. Unlikely to happen but bad sentiment and the fear of visa rejection will put students off risking applications to American universities and push them towards other destinations.
5. What about the Chinese economy?
The OECD predicts uncertainty will lead to a moderating of Global growth. China is predicted a soft 4.8% growth in real terms for 2026 which falls way behind the double digit growth we were seeing in the 2000s, but still far outshines the 1.6% forecast growth of the US and 1.2% of the Eurozone.
6. Agents are telling us that there is still plenty of money in China.
They’ve let us know that many affluent families are very keen to travel to Europe (and perhaps now less keen to travel to the USA). Multi-generational travel is very popular so consider how to make your product appealing to both grandparents and grandchildren.
7. Car rentals on the rise.
As we see car rental bookings surge within China and Asia’s most popular hotspots, destinations need to think about how to respond to this trend and global car rental companies need a robust sales and marketing strategy for Chinese travellers.
8. New direct flight to China.
Hainan Airlines has just announced a new weekly direct service from Haikou (the capital of Hainan Island) and London Heathrow, starting 7th May.
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