Interior of Beijing Capital International Airport. Credit: 123rf
CHINA has once again asserted its dominance as the largest tourist source market in the world, logging a record number of outbound visitors for the third consecutive year.
According to a 2015 report by the China Tourism Academy, the number of Chinese outbound tourists exceeded 100 million for the first time in 2014 to reach a staggering 107 million, a 19.5 per cent growth from the year before. A year-on-year growth of 16 per cent or higher is expected for this year.
Chinese outbound expenditure in 2014 also increased, totalling US$164.8 billion. The report also attributes the growing acceptance of UnionPay cards by overseas merchants, and thus the ease of access to finances for Chinese tourists, as a contributor to the outbound growth momentum and increased spending.
Favourite destinations for Chinese travellers include New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Australia and the US, among others, in terms of customer satisfaction levels based on demands for conveniences such as Chinese tourist handbooks, Chinese restaurants, TV programmes in Chinese and UnionPay acceptance.
