MORE than half of Chinese travellers now make accommodation reservations via the web or mobile, up from 45 per cent in 2013, according to a Hotels.com survey.
According to the OTA’s third edition of the Chinese International Travel Monitor (CITM), slightly less than half use review sites in the research stage of travel, a third keep their eyes on social media, and 84 per cent share photos and experiences on social media during and after a trip.
Younger Chinese travellers are also venturing overseas on their own, with two-thirds saying they now prefer to travel independently, five percentage points higher than in 2013.
Given how connected the Chinese traveller is, free Wi-Fi is unsurprisingly the most important service in a hotel, said 59 per cent of respondents.
Abhiram Chowdhry, vice president and managing director APAC of Hotels.com, said: “There are many factors driving the desire of the Chinese people to explore the world. The rising affluence of the growing middle class with higher disposable incomes, the upward trend in the number of repeat travellers, more relaxed visa conditions and improved local infrastructure are all dovetailing to expedite this growth.
“However, our report quantifies another factor: the rate at which technology is transforming the landscape of Chinese overseas travel.”
The CITM garnered responses from more than 3,000 Chinese international travellers and 3,000 hoteliers around the world.
