Chinese tourists spend an average of US$3,000 per overseas trip,
a recent survey has found.
The total includes money for shopping sprees abroad, luxurious
accommodation and expenses prior to the trip.
The survey, conducted by the Nielsen Company and Pacific Asia
Travel Association, showed travelers to Europe to be the biggest
spenders, splashing out an average of $5,253 per trip.
In comparison, those holidaying in Asia spent about $1,900 per
person.
The exceptions were those traveling to Hong Kong and Macao - the
long-preferred shopping and entertainment destinations for Chinese
- whose average spend was US$2,185.
Grace Pan, head of travel and leisure research for the Nielsen
Company, China, said: "Asia remains the most popular destination
for Chinese travelers because of the proximity.
"However, trips to Europe and America are becoming increasingly
popular, particularly when you add in the number of business
travelers."
Affluent market
"We also found that while mass-market travelers focus on budget
travel, there is a fast-emerging affluent market segment prepared
to indulge in luxury travel," Pan said.
The survey found that more than one-third of Chinese overseas
travelers choose to stay in four-star hotels, with a further 10
percent opting for five-star accommodation.
Pan said consumers were also becoming more sophisticated and
better prepared when planning their trips, using all the
information available to them on the Internet.
The survey found that nearly seven in 10 leisure travelers
accessed destination websites, and about six in 10 used online
travel discussion forums to source information.
The Internet is the most popular source of information for
potential travelers, followed by travel agents and other media such
as newspapers and magazines.
While the majority of tourists still uses travel agents (61
percent), 29 percent prefer online travel services and 16 percent
go via hotel or transport operators' websites.
Holiday bookings made via the Internet are predicted to
increase.
PATA Strategic Intelligence Center director John Koldowski said:
"Last year, Chinese made 35 million overseas trips, and the figures
are expected to rise dramatically."
(China Daily October 30, 2007)