Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. Credit: 123rf
CHINESE consumers are not depriving themselves of overseas holidays despite reduced buying power as a result of a depreciating Chinese yuan and emerging cracks in their national economy.
Buyers from China at PATA Travel Mart 2015 said their customers are still booking travel packages in earnest and the weak Chinese yuan, which has fallen four per cent against the greenback since August, is having minimal impact on outbound business.
Shanghai-based outbound specialist, Alex Zhang, regional manager for Thailand and South Asia department at Spring Tour, said: “My company has seen a year-on-year increase in bookings to popular destinations such as Thailand, India and Sri Lanka. These destinations are inexpensive for the Chinese.”
He added: “Sri Lanka, India and Nepal have also risen in popularity among smaller groups (of eight to 10 people) without a tour leader. Such groups comprise friends and family members who are keen on exploring different cultures together.”
Also observing a pick up in Chinese demand for Sri Lanka is Romeo Luo, FIT specialist with Spring Airlines Chongqing business office & Chongqing International Travel Service.
“The demand is up especially from honeymooners who are drawn to beach resorts (which Sri Lanka has aplenty),” Luo said.
Travel trade from South-east Asia also revealed that Chinese demand is holding strong.
Ronald Poe, managing director of Yangon-based Asia Global Travels & Tour, said the Chinese are drawn to Myanmar as it is a “newly opened destination”.
Hui Seila, deputy director of marketing & promotion department, Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, told the TTG Asia e-Daily that “Chinese arrivals to Cambodia are still strong due to the close proximity (of the countries).”
Read more in TTG-PATA Travel Mart 2015 Show Daily.
Additional reporting from Mimi Hudoyo and Paige Lee Pei Qi
