It is not a secret that China is an incredibly valuable source market when it comes to tourism. The growing wealth of the country’s population makes Chinese people travel more. According to the information posted by the United National Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourists from China spent as much as US$258 billion in 2017. This is almost 20% of the total tourism spending in the world. China is also the international leader in terms of outbound travel. This is the reason why so many companies try to identify and analyze the demands and travel patterns of Chinese people.
So, what do Chinese travelers want? It turns out that culture travel is one of the top priorities for them. This is the fastest growing category according to the information posted in the ITB China Travel Trends Report. Chinese travel agents call this category the fastest growing, and it may add another 30% within just three years.
Chinese travelers are particularly interested in local scenery and experience programs. They want to understand each destination better by learning the culture and heritage of the place that they visit. In order to do that, they enjoy visiting local museums and cultural events. Immersive experiences incredibly attract the Chinese. Respondents also say they are ready to pay more to enjoy culture travel.
Stories of the place that they visit are also very important for Chinese travelers, so many of them get an idea about the next vacation from movies, books, and other experiences. When planning a route of the vacation, Chinese travelers remain traditional. They particularly want to visit museums and historic spots. However, the demands have become more diverse in recent years. For example, more Chinese are interesting in making wine tours in Europe and sampling the local cuisine.
Language barrier remains one of the biggest issues, especially for older travelers. That is why Chinese-speaking guides are always in demand. Seasonal travel also gaining popularity Chinese tourists are particularly interested in such seasonal events as art and music festivals, food and drinks events, and national holidays. No wonder why hotels in Salzburg and Munich hotels become filled with Chinese guests who come to attend the Mozart Week and Oktoberfest. The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, is another event that is increasingly popular with Chinese guests.