FIT travel to China is “the big on-going growth story”, according to TUI China, which reports an ever-increasing demand for flexible and more individualised travel itineraries for all key regions in China from all its major source markets.
CEO Marcel Schneider said: “While group travel still represents the backbone of our business, for quite some time now here at TUI China, the big ongoing growth story has been FIT travel to China. This is especially true for second- and third-time visitors who prefer a more personalised way of travelling.
Schneider also noted a strong increase in demand for the company’s adventure and soft adventure itineraries. Increasingly, Tibet, the Silk Road, Yunnan and Sichuan are proving to be popular destinations within China.
Despite the appreciation of the Chinese yuan against almost all Western currencies and the recent oil price increase, Schneider claimed “solid and strong bookings from all our major source markets for spring and summer 2011”.
“As the booking pattern for China has become more short-term, there are still availabilities here-and-there for our autumn dates.
“We are confident and positive for 2011.”
– Full story in TTG Asia March 11
