Germany makes tourism more sustainable

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May 3, 2023

DUBAI, 3 May 2023: The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) presented a campaign update for their vision of ‘Making Tourism More Sustainable’ to GCC travel professionals during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, held in Dubai this week.

Under the slogan, ‘Germany, simply inspiring’, GNTB is focusing on the sustainable related aspects across several tourism segments, which include:

Embrace German nature, highlighting natural landscapes and activity holidays; Historic Modern Germany, promoting cultural heritage and 51 UNESCO World Heritage sites, with a spotlight on traditions and customs of rural regions. And thirdly, their Feel Good – Sustainable Travel in Germany campaign emphasises how to enjoy an environmentally friendly holiday in Germany.

“We aim to make a meaningful contribution towards climate change mitigation, supporting Germany’s commitment to net zero, as well as driving increasing numbers of environmentally aware, inbound GCC tourists,” said German National Tourist GCC Office director Yamina Sofo.

“We want to present Germany as an all-year-round destination that is not only sustainable but diverse, accessible, inclusive, resilient and viable for the future,” she added.

The GCC region is now Germany’s top-performing inbound source market in Asia and Australasia, with 404,707 GCC guests generating almost 1.13 overnight stays during 2022, representing an increase of 117.6% compared with the same period in 2021.

“These figures confirm that Germany continues to be a preferred tourism destination for GCC visitors, and unspoilt nature and careful use of resources are clearly becoming increasingly important to them. We also want to encourage longer stays in order to reduce the carbon footprint per travel day,” said Sofo.

Germany boasts more than 350 spa and health resorts, and the GNTB is focusing on the sustainability-related aspects of health tourism. These include preserving traditional treatment methods, location-specific treatments and remedies as drivers of regional prosperity, and examples of sustainable energy management.

There is also growing interest in low-impact tourism supporting climate goals and making tourism more resilient. More than one-third of Germany’s land area is under special protection as a nature park or national park, it has around 200,000km of walking trails and 70,000km of long-distance cycle routes. There has also been a resurgence of interest in traditional lifestyles in rural regions, further bolstering Germany’s image as a sustainable travel destination.

In addition, Germany boasts 51 World Heritage sites, and over 6,000 museums, offering a wealth of interesting places of cultural and historical significance.

The GNTB’s focus on sustainability provides synergy with the official ATM 2023 theme – ‘Working Towards Net Zero’. In addition, Dubai will be the host for COP28 this year, and outbound tour operators and travel agents will no doubt have sustainable travel at the top of their agendas.

Participants at Germany’s stand this year included Baden-Baden Tourism Board, Düsseldorf Airport, Düsseldorf Tourism Board, Elinor Travel Germany, Frankfurt Airport VIP-Services, Frankfurt Tourism Board, Hommage Luxury Hotels Collection, Hotel Palace Berlin, Ingolstadt Village and Wertheim Village, International Office am Klinikum Solingen GmbH, The Wellem – part of the unbound collection by Hyatt, Wiesbaden Tourism and visitBerlin.

Vietjet boosts Australian flights

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TTR WEEKLY

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May 3, 2023

Ho Chi Minh City, 3 May 2023: Vietjet will increase flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Melbourne and Sydney from three weekly to four weekly return flights starting this September.

Flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Melbourne will increase to four weekly return flights per week from 17 September. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne operate every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday taking off at 1055 and landing at 2235 pm (local time). The return flights from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City, operating every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, take off at 1230 am and land at 0630 (local time).

The Ho Chi Minh City – Sydney route will also have four weekly return flights from 18 September. The flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will take off at 1930 and land at 0720 (local time). The flights from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday will take off at 1115 and land at 1630 (local time).

Customers can grab USD zero tickets on routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday until 25 October 2023. The first-ever direct flight connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Brisbane will also be launched in June 2023.

Tourism Malaysia returns to the ATM

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TTR WEEKLY

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May 3, 2023

DUBAI, 3 May 2023: Tourism Malaysia steps up promotional activities to attract visitors from the Middle East during its sale mission to the Arabian Travel Market this week.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan led the Malaysian delegation to participate again in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai from 1 to 4 May 2023 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

On 2 and 3 May 2023, the minister witnessed the signing of two Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) between Tourism Malaysia and Saudia Airlines and Tourism Malaysia with Air Arabia. This MOC will benefit the Malaysian economy and strengthen economic ties through the tourism industry between Malaysia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The four-day ATM offers Malaysia a platform to market and promote the latest attractions and destinations for shopping, family fun, eco-adventure, honeymoon, luxury holidays, and safe travel destinations.

ATM 2023 also marks the 29th anniversary of Malaysia’s participation in this event, which is a strong testimony to the country’s support of the event and its commitment to attracting more Middle Eastern tourists to Malaysia.

As in previous years, this annual event sees the participation of a Malaysian delegation from 76 organisations comprising hotels and resorts, travel agents, tourism products owners, and representatives from various state governments, including Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Penang Global Tourism, Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, Tourism Melaka, Tourism Pahang, and Tourism Johor.

The mission aims to reinstate and enhance the commitment to establishing good tourism cooperation, engaging in future collaborations, and cooperation with the travel and tourism industry in the region.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, commented during the launch: “We are confident that we will achieve our target to put Malaysia as the top destination for Muslim travellers”.

Throughout the event, the Malaysian delegation is scheduled to meet up with the top management of a few Middle Eastern airlines, such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Saudia Airlines, Air Arabia, Oman Air and Salam Air, to discuss future collaborations, having several interviews with the local media.

Since its full reopening of international borders, Malaysia has recorded 10,070,964 tourist arrivals and MYR28.2 billion (AED 23.5 billion) in tourist receipts in 2022, surpassing its initial target of 9.2 million international tourist arrivals. In 2023, Malaysia is targeting to welcome 16.1 million international tourist arrivals (300,000 tourists from West Asia) and generate MYR49.2 billion (AED 41.1 billion) in tourist receipts. In 2022, Malaysia recorded 88,534 tourist arrivals from the Middle East.

Passenger traffic improves in March

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TTR WEEKLY

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May 2, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 May 2023: International passenger demand remained solid during March 2023, driven by the robust recovery in leisure and business travel in Asia and globally, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ latest traffic data released last week.

The easing of travel restrictions and strong travel appetite led to a 494.6% year-on-year increase in the number of international passengers carried, which added up to 19.8 million altogether in March. As a percentage of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, demand averaged 61.0%. Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) for the month rose by 354.6% year-on-year, underscoring the relative strength of regional travel markets. A comparatively slower 190.9% expansion in available seat capacity led to a 29.7 percentage point jump in the international passenger load factor to 82.5% for the month, higher than pre-pandemic levels.

On the other hand, the prevailing weakness in global trade continued to dampen demand for air shipments. As a result, the region’s carriers recorded a 10.9% year-on-year decline in international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK). Offered freight capacity remained relatively stable, with a 0.2% year-on-year decline, supported by the ongoing restoration of belly-hold capacity on passenger flights. As a result, the average international freight load factor declined by 7.5 percentage points to an average of 63.2% for the month.

Commenting on the results, AAPA director general Subhas Menon said: “Asia Pacific airlines carried 54 million international passengers in the first quarter of 2023, well over six times the 8 million passengers recorded in the same period last year. Demand continues to be robust as travel restrictions are lifted across the region.

“However, air cargo markets declined by 13.1% during the same period, reflecting weakness in consumer demand amidst general inflationary pressures and rising economic uncertainty.”

Looking ahead, Menon commented: “Despite a more subdued global economic outlook, international passenger markets remain buoyant, as the rebuilding of travel confidence and return to face-to-face business meetings continue apace.

“Asia Pacific carriers expect to see strong revenue growth this year even though increasing cost pressures, led by persistently high fuel prices, would erode the earnings margins. Asia Pacific carriers continue to focus on cost efficiencies whilst restoring flights to destinations in a bid to improve profitability,” he concluded.

AIDA Cruises starts summer cruises

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May 2, 2023

SINGAPORE, 2 May 2023: AIDA Cruises has assigned three ships to make calls at the Baltic Sea’s Kiel Fjord, starting with AIDAluna, which arrived in Kiel in mid-April.

The three ships – AIDAluna, AIDAbella AIDAnova – are expected to call at the Kiel Fjord 64 times during the 2023 summer season. The last call of the season will be on 4 November 4 with AIDAnova, the largest ship visiting the seaport of Kiel this summer, starting with the season’s inaugural cruise on 29 April.

During the nearly seven-month season, guests can choose from different cruises departing from the Schleswig-Holstein state capital in Germany. AIDA’s Baltic Sea, Norway Fjords and the Arctic Circle cruises offer short breaks of three, four and five-day of sailing and exploration.

On the three-day cruises in May and September 2023, AIDAluna sails through the archipelago of Denmark with stops in Århus and Copenhagen. On the four-day short cruises to Norway and Denmark, guests experience Oslo and Copenhagen and Oslofjord and Holmenkollen with the oldest ski jump in the world.

From mid-May 2023, AIDAluna will set course for the “Highlights at the Arctic Circle”: Destinations such as the North Cape and the Orkney Islands. Three stops at Iceland and Norwegian ports, such as Tromsø and Hammerfest, feature on the programme on six different dates on the 17-day voyage. The highlight of this itinerary is Spitsbergen, a group of islands in the Arctic Ocean. Spitsbergen, a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole, is one of the northernmost destinations on Earth and impresses with its barren landscape of glaciers, mountains and fjords. Polar bears, reindeer and foxes live here in their natural environment. The capital, Longyearbyen, is known for its colourful wooden houses that contrast with the white surroundings.

The itineraries of AIDAbella include 14-day voyages “Norway with Lofoten and North Cape.” This route combines the most beautiful charms of Norway: starting in Kiel, guests sail on five dates via Haugesund to the North Cape and then to the Lofoten Islands. Further destinations are Bodø, Åndalsnes, Molde, Bergen and Århus – a north country adventure for each taste.

For the seven- or 14-day voyages with AIDAnova between 6 May and 21 October 2023, AIDA Cruises has developed routes to Norway and Denmark. In Norway, guests visit the capital Oslo with its innovative architecture and museums, and Kristiansand, with its old town of Posebyen. Numerous sights and urban lifestyles await guests in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen. In Skagen, on the other hand, visitors are attracted by endless beaches and the country’s largest shifting sand dune, from which only the tower of the silted-up parish church still peeks out.

This year’s Kiel Week is scheduled from 17 to 25 June 2023, and AIDA Cruises is the event sponsor for the world-renowned sailing and summer festival.

Centara celebrates ‘The Place to Be’

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May 2, 2023

Bangkok, 2 May 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator celebrating its 40^th anniversary in 2023, prides itself on making travel possible for all. Ever since it first introduced its unique style of international-standard, Thai-inspired hospitality to the world, this caring company has created a series of attractive concepts that cater for the needs of every traveller and budget, from luxury to affordable lifestyle.

Now, with a growing collection of 92 world-class hotels and resorts covering six distinct brands – Centara Reserve, Centara Grand, Centara, Centara Boutique Collection, Centra by Centara, and COSI Hotels – everyone can find their perfect “Place to Be” with Centara. Simply choose the ideal option for your next business trip, leisure break or family vacation.

Centara Reserve – Where Stories Are Written

Experience luxurious and personalised hospitality driven by the unique story of local culture and heritage. Centara Reserve, introduced to the world in 2021, is dedicated to crafting deeply personal moments and lasting memories in iconic destinations. From vibrant cities to tranquil beaches, every property evokes the spirit of its locale. Stays are underpinned by the services of a “Reserve Host” who can help guests to design truly bespoke journeys. The brand’s flagship property is Centara Reserve Samui.

Centara Grand – Enriched By Every Moment

Discover distinguished upper-upscale hospitality with Centara Grand, a captivating collection of hotels and resorts in some of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, the Maldives and soon, Osaka. Every experience is enriched by immersive activities and authentic Thai touches, including the group’s Spa Cenvaree wellness concept and signature dining venues, including Suan Bua, the elegant Thai restaurant brand, COAST Beach Club in resort properties, and some of the world’s best urban rooftop bars and sky-high dining experiences.

Families can plunge into a world of wonder at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya (pictured above), the Lost World-themed family resort and waterpark in Thailand with an amazing array of facilities and activities for all ages. Mirage is Centara’s signature themed family entertainment experience across selected Centara Grand and Centara resorts.

Centara – Delightful Pleasures

This popular upscale brand offers inviting spaces for every occasion, enhanced with warm, caring service to ensure that international travellers have everything they need for fun and fulfilling stays. These vibrant hotels and resorts can be found in key business and leisure hubs across Thailand and worldwide, including Dubai, Doha, Oman, the Maldives, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Visitors can enjoy a timeless blend of local culture, world-class facilities, and heartfelt Thai hospitality in each location.

Family-focused Centara Mirage resorts are also available in Dubai and Mui Ne, Vietnam, featuring spectacular themed water parks, family rooms and unique facilities such as Spa Candy, the colourful kids’ wellness concept.

Centara Boutique Collection – Inspiring Individuality

This original, individual and intimate hotel collection is designed to inspire the senses and evoke curiosity. Each distinctive property offers a unique guest experience brimming with surprises. Perfectly suited to cultural hubs or urban hotspots – currently including Chiang Mai, Khao Yai and Phuket – Centara Boutique Collection’s upscale and upper-upscale hotels let curious explorers discover a different side of their destination. The interior décor and cuisine will always reflect the authentic culture.

Centra by Centara – Elevating the Essentials for Refreshing & Relaxing Stays

Bright, fresh and contemporary, Centra by Centara is all about creating colourful experiences and helping travellers feel at ease. Not quite hitting the mark – its about elevating the essentials and providing fresh and flexible stays for all. Each upper midscale hotel is a breath of fresh air, with modern amenities that ease travel stress and put everything at guests’ fingertips. With convenient locations and complete connectivity, this brand is ideal for those who want to work, play or relax. Centra by Centara hotels can be found in urban and resort areas such as Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Krabi, Mae Sot and Muscat.

COSI Hotels – Smart, Social Hubs with Full Flexibility

Smart and stylish, COSI keeps travellers fully connected at all times. Situated in trendy neighbourhoods such as Krabi, Pattaya and Koh Samui, these affordable hotels provide a vibrant community where free-spirited people can come together and hang out. The journey is seamless, with online check-in, 24-7 services, upbeat social hubs and connected spaces where adventurers can work, chat or catch up on their social media. Free food credits will let visitors refuel around the clock with cool drinks and casual bites.

Centara’s “The Place to Be” offer, which spans all six of the company’s innovative brands, offers up to 30% off the hotel’s best available rate, plus free stays for up to two children and complimentary Wi-Fi. And that’s not all; CentaraThe1 members will enjoy an additional 15% discount. Not a member yet? Click here to join for free.

To learn more about Centara Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com.

(Source: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Study checks out Bali’s hotel performance

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May 2, 2023

DENPASAR, Bali, 2 May 2023: Bali continues to be one of the world’s most desired holiday destinations, but branded residences, both in the lead-up and after the global pandemic, lagged behind other key Southeast Asian leisure markets such as Thailand and Vietnam.

The observations are part of a new joint report with Horwath HTL titled Bali Hotel and Branded Residences 2023, released on 1 May that tracks the island’s resort real estate market since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

According to the report’s forecast, the 2023 outlook is positive as Bali continues to woo travellers with its picturesque landscapes and exotic culture.

“The hotel industry has been on a rollercoaster ride in the past couple of years, but the first two months of 2023 have brought a glimmer of hope, signalling a spectacular revival for the hospitality sector.

“Against all odds, Bali’s hotels have not only surpassed 2022 figures but also shattered the pre-pandemic benchmarks of 2019.

“With no travel restrictions (other than a lack of visitors from the PRC for a part of Q1 2023), the island has welcomed a wave of visitors, and the latest metrics paint a promising picture for the industry.

“Occupancy rates for Bali overall reached 62.8% YTD Feb 2023, which is only 1.8% point lower than the 2019 YTD Feb figure.”

ADR has seen a massive improvement, with an increase of 30% for the Rupiah and 20% for the USD compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. The marginal decrease in occupancy coupled with the significant increase in ADR has led to a record high RevPAR of USD84, surpassing 2019 and 2022 figures of USD72 USD and USD16, respectively.

“Among the different hotel categories, Upscale hotels have shown the most significant improvement, surpassing their 2019 metrics on all fronts. Sanur has made remarkable progress regarding hotel locations, emerging as a standout performer.”

C9 Hotelworks research for the remainder of 2023 and all of 2024 points to a significant restart of the branded residences market in Bali. Raffles Bali in Jimbaran is a banner villa project that will come up later this year. There are several larger shelved mixed-use projects currently in the planning and new greenfield ones in early-stage development,” the report concludes.

To read and download the full report CLICK

MATTA gets tough with fair fakers

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May 2, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 May 2023: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) issued an alert last week warning travel consumers that scammers are using fake MATTA Fair social media accounts to impersonate the organisation.

MATTA Fair is the country’s largest travel consumer fair. It has a massive following of travel consumers who keep in touch with holiday bargain offers through the fair’s official social media channels and in-person national and regional fair editions.

MATTA warned that the fake social media accounts illegally adopt the fair’s branding and may have a similar appearance evening using the association’s name and logo.

In its statement, MATTA advised travel consumers to contact the MATTA Fair through the official portal address mattafair.org.my or the association’s official Twitter account @MATTA_FAIR and Instagram account @mattafair.

They are accessible here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MATTA_FAIR;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattafair/.

MATTA’s official Facebook page address is https://www.facebook.com/mattafairkualalumpur, while MATTA’s official YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/@mattafair6474.

It concluded: “Anyone who has received or encountered fraudulent or dubious social media accounts – purportedly promoting or selling something said to be from us – to report fraudulent accounts to the respective social media platform immediately.”

MATTA Fair is a registered trademark, and the travel agency association said it would vigorously defend its intellectual property rights under the law in Malaysia, “including taking legal action against any party that misuses or damages the trademark branding of MATTA Fair.

MATTA encourages the public always check the authenticity of the social media account presenting offers purportedly from MATTA by going to the association’s website matta.org.my or mattafair.org.my to verify anything that may look suspicious.

Upcoming regional and national MATTA Fairs:

1) MATTA Fair Pahang Chapter (5-7 May 2023)

2) MATTA Fair Sabah Chapter (19-21 May 2023)

3) MATTA Fair Kedah Chapter (June 2023)

4) MATTA Fair Johor Chapter (Batu Pahat) (22-23 July 2023)

5) MATTA Fair Johor Chapter (Johor Bahru) (4-6 August 2023)

6) MATTA Fair Melaka Chapter (18-20 August 2023)

7) National MATTA Fair Kuala Lumpur (1-3 September 2023)

8) MATTA Fair Pahang Chapter (6-8 October 2023)

Jetstar Asia returns to Hainan Island

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May 2, 2023

SINGAPORE, 2 May 2023: Jetstar Asia resumed flights on Saturday from its Singapore home base to Haikou, a port city in China’s Hainan Island, marking the low-cost carrier’s return to China.

The inaugural flight departed from Singapore’s Changi Airport at 0725, with 152 passengers on board the Airbus A320. The return flight from Haikou to Singapore departed at 1200, arriving back in Singapore at 1530. Jetstar Asia is scheduled to operate four return services per week and is expected to carry up to 70,000 travellers annually between the two cities.

Jetstar Asia’s CEO Barathan Pasupathi said Jetstar Asia’s return to China was a significant milestone as the airline continues to rebuild its extensive network.

“China is a critical market for Singaporeans, and we’re excited to connect both countries, enhance tourism and travel and reunite family and friends,” he explained.

“Haikou was the first Chinese city Jetstar Asia flew to in 2009, and Hainan Island is one of the few Chinese destinations where most visitors can stay for up to 30 days without a visa, so we’re seeing strong demand for this service.

“And our timing couldn’t be better with the Chinese authorities lifting PCR testing, making it easier for travellers to visit this incredible city which is great news for our customers as well as tourism stakeholders and hospitality businesses.”

Chairman of the Hainan Federation in Singapore, Foo Jong Peng, agreed that Jetstar Asia’s restart of services to Haikou was timely.

The Hainanese community, known as strong business owners, particularly in the food and beverage industry, settled in Singapore more than 150 years ago. Many of them still maintain deep historical and cultural ties to Hainan Island.

The general manager of Hainan Dahua Tourism Service Company and Jetstar travel partner in China, Xie Jinhua, was delighted with Jetstar’s return to Hainan island.

“Southeast Asia has traditionally been a prominent outbound market for Hainan travellers, and Singapore is a popular destination due to its unique tourism and cultural attractions.”

Before the pandemic, Jetstar operated more than 80 weekly services to six destinations in Greater China, including Haikou, Shantou, Sanya, Xuzhou, Guiyang and Taipei.

Chinese play safe when booking travel

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TTR WEEKLY

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May 2, 2023

SINGAPORE, 2 May 2023: Chinese travellers have started to travel abroad but still prefer destinations within the Asia Pacific, says, ForwardKeys’ China Market Expert, Nan Dai, in the latest Q2 findings about China’s domestic and international travel patterns.

Compiled by ForwardKeys and partner Dragon Trail International, research showed Chinese travellers were keen to try local sights and gastronomy during the Labour Day holiday season, with Macau and Jakarta, Indonesia topping the list.

Labour Day Holiday in China

According to ForwardKey’s freshest air ticket data, bookings for international departures on 28 April reached 79% of 2019’s level, while domestic travel has increased by 233%.

Overall, issued flight bookings for Labour Day domestic travel are 10% ahead of 2019’s travel data. Chengdu and Chongqing, two urban cities located in Southwest China that also serve as the gateway to nature trails have experienced a notable rise in popularity with a 59% and 22% increase, respectively.

Meanwhile, Haikou and Sanya, two popular destinations known for their sun and sea and duty-free shopping, have also seen a surge in demand, with 50% and 26% growth, respectively.

Bookings for outbound travel are around 50% behind the pre-pandemic levels. When examining the most popular outbound destinations that have bounced back, Macau remains a favourite in Asia, leading the list with an 11% increase on 2019 levels. Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, which serves as the main gateway to the sun and sea in Bali, is currently 9% ahead of the 2019 Labour Day holiday bookings.

Male (Maldives) secures the fourth spot on the list with an 84% recovery. Phuket, another destination known for its beaches, is also on the top list with a 53% recovery. Sun and sea destinations are having mass appeal now, acting as a major drawcard for Chinese tourists.

Additionally, Chinese travellers can easily apply for a travel permit to Macau and Hong Kong. Other international destinations mentioned on the list are friendly to Chinese travellers, as they provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival options.

Outside Asia, Cairo and Dubai are particularly being more favoured. The United Arab Emirates and Egypt are part of the approved group tour destination list, and both provide visa-on-arrival options for Chinese travellers. Since the visa application process now takes longer than the pre-pandemic period, the visa waiver is a potentially significant change.

Consumer Sentiment Key Indicators

Dragon Trail International undertook a consumer research survey in April, and the survey highlighted a few actionable business decisions if the Chinese outbound market is an important audience for you.

Travel plans for 2023 are still largely undecided

Only three months into reopening, there is still a high degree of uncertainty and the opportunity for travel brands to influence consumers’ decisions. 26% say they hope to travel outbound but haven’t booked a trip yet, with 27% unsure whether they will travel outbound before the end of 2023. Addressing and appealing to these travellers could bring high rewards for the rest of the year and beyond.

Safety is the biggest concern holding back Chinese travellers

The biggest factor preventing Chinese travellers from leaving home is safety concern. Unlike limited time or money obstacles, tourism brands can address safety concerns directly. Safety, stability, and friendliness should be core consumer and trade marketing messages to assuage fears about venturing beyond mainland China.

Food, landmarks, and local experiences are the top reasons to travel

When asked about their purpose for travelling abroad, trying local food and visiting landmarks were the top priorities, with each chosen by 56% of survey respondents. 52% said they wanted to experience local life. Are you making your boutique tours and gastro experience known to the Chinese market?

Deep dive into accommodation preferences

This edition of Dragon Trail’s survey reveals that boutique hotels (32%), resorts (31%), and home-sharing accommodations such as Airbnb (29%) are all popular choices for outbound Chinese travellers. Both mid- and high-end hotels have appeal, with no major difference between three (26%), four (27%) and five-star (23%) hotels. But you are unlikely to find Chinese outbound travellers opting for anything two stars or below, with only 8% choosing this option.

Q2 China Outbound Outlook

As reported recently by ForwardKeys, the international seat capacity for Q2 stands at 42% of pre-pandemic levels. More destinations are looking to improve their flight connectivity with China.

The APAC region currently has the largest share at 81%, with a recovery rate of 43% in Q2. The Africa and Middle East region is expected to experience the largest growth, with a 75% increase in Q2, although it currently only accounts for 6% of total international capacity from China. The United Arab Emirates is the most well-connected destination in this region, holding a 44% share. At the same time, the number of seats between China and Kenya has doubled since 2019, and seats between China and Egypt have increased by 10% on 2019’s levels.

To learn more about ForwardKeys’ data solutions, visit www.forwardkeys.com

Germany makes tourism more sustainable

Vietjet boosts Australian flights

Tourism Malaysia returns to the ATM

Passenger traffic improves in March

AIDA Cruises starts summer cruises

Centara celebrates ‘The Place to Be’

Study checks out Bali’s hotel performance

MATTA gets tough with fair fakers

Jetstar Asia returns to Hainan Island

Chinese play safe when booking travel

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