Turespana, or Tour Spain, in Guangzhou is the first European NTO to partner COTRI (China Outbound Tourism Research Institute) in its Advantage: Tourism (A:T) programme to reboot business from China.
COTRI CEO, Wolfgang Georg Arlt, said: “With the progress of testing and vaccination, the easing of restrictions can be expected in the coming months. What is important is to prepare now for the new wave of Chinese outbound tourists to stay ahead of the competition.”
Spanish stakeholders participating in A:T include DMOs and NTOs that support tourism, food, and others, he added.
According to COTRI, only a trickle of Chinese living within the Schengen Area are crossing into Spain, but is predicting “a deluge once virus-related restrictions are lifted”. As for Greater China, Spain is already receiving visitors from Macau, Arlt noted.
China sent 700,000 visitors to Spain in 2019. That number dropped to 100,000 in 2020 – mostly in January and February – due to travel bans implemented amid the pandemic.
With the vaccine rollout globally, Spain is expecting 300,000 visitors from China this year. Most are expected to arrive in the second-half of the year, and will originate from first- and second-tier cities like before.
Arlt said content for Tour Spain’s pilot project focuses on gastronomy and shopping for local products, and is in line with the overall plans for tourism development in 2021 and steps for further digitalisation. Technology partners in A:T are Planet, Tencent Cloud International and TCI Research.
Meanwhile, another European partner will join the A:T programme this month and COTRI is in discussion with several other partners, including big attractions, international hospitality and transportation companies.
The aim of A:T, launched late last year, is to focus on delivering quality, bespoke products to different Chinese source market segments to create new demand in different parts of a destination at different times of the year; and to recommend management practices to promote sustainability.
The programme audits and analyses existing and possible new offers with stakeholders learning via online China Tourism Training and accessing a private-public sector partnership task force to match bespoke offers and source market segments.
A:T solutions, according to COTRI, are based on sustainable, long-term development approaches to benefit guests, the host community and those working in the industry to improve yield and market share, and to minimise the ecological footprint.
Qantas is set to operate a series of mystery flights for domestic travellers keen to satisfy their wanderlust amid international travel restrictions.
The national carrier last operated mystery flights in the 1990s when travellers would turn up at the airport and be allocated seats on a scheduled flight to any of the airline’s destinations where they spent a day at their leisure before flying home.
Building on that concept, Qantas will offer three mystery flights onboard Boeing 737 planes that will include not just the flight, but an entire day of activities in a mystery destination that will be outside major capital cities.
Qantas Group CCO, Stephanie Tully, said the mystery flights were about giving Australians memorable travel experiences and promoting domestic tourism.
“Our customers tell us that where they can and can’t travel within Australia has been a bit of a mystery lately,” she said.
“The vaccine rollout is bringing a lot more certainty and domestic border restrictions should soon be a thing of the past. In the meantime, these flights turn that mystery into a positive by creating a unique experience for the many people keen to start travelling again.
“As well as helping bring more of our people back to work, these mystery flights are another way to support tourism operators in regional areas especially, who have been hit particularly hard by several waves of travel restrictions.”
The airline’s mystery flight experience is the latest in its series of concept flights to boost domestic tourism amid the ongoing pandemic, following its flights to nowhere (when domestic border closures were at their peak) and flights to somewhere (when initial reopening began last year).
The mystery flights will depart from Sydney (April 18), Brisbane (March 27), and Melbourne (May 1) to a destination within approximately two hours. As part of creating a unique onboard experience, the flights will include some low-level scenic flybys of key landmarks en route.
Experiences on the ground could include anything from a winemaking course in a premier Australian wine region to a gourmet lunch with musical entertainment on the shores of one of Australia’s tropical island wonders.
For each mystery flight, the airline has provided clues for customers to pick their preferences and to assist with baggage packing.
Seats on the mystery flights go on sale on Qantas.com at midday today. The all-inclusive fares, which include meals and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage plus activities on the ground, are A$737 (US$574) for Economy and A$1,579 for Business. All three flights will operate with net zero emissions, with 100 per cent of emissions carbon offset.