Can Yangshuo seek a place among busier rivals in South China Karst? Prudence Lui finds out
Nestled among karst peaks and rivers, Yangshuo is already an established destination for domestic visitors and foreign backpackers, but the government’s tourism infrastructure push and entry of global hospitality chains in recent years have raised the appeal of the tourist town to a wider segment of international visitors.
“The local area is benefitting in tourist numbers from new infrastructure and improved roadways,” said Glen Cook, general manager of Banyan Tree Yangshuo, which was the first international branded hotel to debut in the destination in 2014.
“Our hotel has had visitors from the US, Europe and Australia, who are attracted to the karst mountains and Li River.”
While it is well known among backpackers, Yangshuo’s novelty on the international tourism stage still offers growth opportunities for the destination, Cook posited.
“International travellers have seen Shanghai and Beijing, while Chengdu and Xi’an are already included on basic tour itineraries in China,” he remarked.
Yangshuo, located 65km from Guilin, is also growing in popularity among Hong Kong travellers. The high-speed transit from Shenzhen has reduced travel time to Guilin to 3.5 hours, making it easier to access Yangshuo too.
However, Yangshuo’s hospitality scene needs to reflect a greater variety in segmentation and prices before the destination can hold its own against the more-popular Guilin, said Hong Kong outbound agents.
“We observed more clients from Hong Kong doing a day tour in Guilin and then staying two nights in Banyan Tree Yangshuo,” noted Eliza Li, senior manager of marketing and products, Wincastle Travel (HK). “It’s not cheap to travel to Yangshuo for FITs so there wasn’t much demand.
Hong Thai Travel Services, deputy general manager, Daniel Chan, shared similar sentiments: “Yangshuo is a must-visit destination for Hong Kong travellers visiting Guilin. However, (demand) remains stable despite new international five-star hotels because it’s still an expensive destination for group travellers.
“The Banyan Tree is located outside downtown so it’s a bit inconvenient for Asian travellers who like exploring around,” he added.
This article was first published in TTG Asia, August 5, 2016 issue, on page 26. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.
