Chinese travel trends revealed

The 2019 Chinese Outbound Travel Consumption Report is by bank card company UnionPay International (UPI) and online travel agency Ctrip. It draws on payment data from UPI and statistics of travel products booking from Ctrip.

According to the report, China has a burgeoning appetite for tourism, and the key demographics seeking to satiate this hunger are varied. Indeed, in 2019, there were 10-per-cent more female outbound travellers than male. When it comes to expenditure, the average expenditure per person is higher for male travellers. Regarding age, the post-80s and 60-plus age bracket made up the highest spending, while those born in the 2000s are following the ‘solo traveller’ trend.

Global travel spend by Chinese travellers in the first half of 2019 was found to have hit US$127.5 billion. In terms of favourite destinations, those in Europe, the US and Australia are top of the list, while countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese Government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries) are witnessing an uptick in popularity. These include Belarus, Myanmar, Georgia and Nepal.

The report also found that Chinese travellers care about hospitality, dining and booking in advance of arrival to their destinations. For example, 80 per cent stay in high-end (five-star) hotels, and there has also been substantial growth in online bookings for entertainment and attractions.