ঢাকা
শনিবার, জুন ২৭, ২০২৬
The GCC must deliver unique and tech-enabled experiences designed for free independent travelers (FITs) if it is to grow its market share among China’s outbound tourists, according to experts speaking at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019.
The overall number of outbound tourists from China is projected to hit 224 million by 2022, according to research conducted by Colliers. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) figures show that the GCC is on course to attract 2.9 million of these visitors.
Panelists speaking at the Arabia China Tourism Forum, which took place on the Global Stage at ATM 2019, explored how Gulf states can boost Chinese visitation further and cater to younger travelers arriving from the Far East.
Moderator Dr. Adam Wu, CEO of CBN Travel & MICE and World Travel Online, said: “The trend is moving away from group travel to FITs. Approximately 51 percent of Chinese travelers [come from this segment]. They are traveling in smaller groups but it’s also the age groups that are changing.”
Unique experiences represent a key component when it comes to convincing younger Chinese travelers to visit the GCC. In addition to comfortable accommodation and accessible amenities, panelists noted that China’s FITs are looking for attractions that are not available in other markets.
Terry von Bibra, GM Europe, Alibaba Group, said: “Smaller groups [of Chinese travelers] are going to new places to discover and have unique experiences – special experiences that they can share with friends on social media, which is very important.
“You cannot underestimate the importance of the ideas of discovery and uniqueness. In my job, I see this across all aspects of trade with China. [Customers] want to understand why things are unique and special. The more you can help them understand this, the better job you are doing.”
In addition to unique experiences, Xiuhuan Gao, Head of Asian Market – Overseas Promotions Department, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), said that small, personal touches are also helping the GCC’s hospitality sector to boost arrivals from China, such as Chinese condiments and in-room snacks.
Gulf countries are already taking steps to strengthen ties with China and appeal to the country’s international tourist base. Chinese passport holders can obtain 30-day visas on arrival in Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, and the launch of Saudi Arabia’s tourist visa is expected to lead to further increases.
Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), meanwhile, has partnered with China’s Tencent to promote the emirate as a preferred destination, and to bring the company’s WeChat and WeChat Pay platforms to the UAE. Panelists agreed that GCC hotels must also do more to facilitate a seamless visitor experience.
Rami Moukarzel, Vice President of Development and Acquisitions – the Middle East and North Africa, Louvre Hotels Group, said: “We are seeing an influx of Chinese travelers across all segments. As a hotel industry, we need to be ready for the influx that is coming.”
Moukarzel told attendees that in addition to establishing market-specific booking platforms and social media channels, China-owned Louvre Hotels Group has also partnered with relevant mobile payment systems to ensure that Chinese travelers enjoy a seamless experience when visiting its Middle East properties.
According to figures released by the UNWTO, Chinese visitors are the highest spending overseas travelers on the planet, shelling out USD 258 billion in 2017. Attracting more of these individuals would benefit national economies across the GCC.
As Gulf destinations account for approximately one percent of China’s outbound tourist market at present, the panel agreed that there remains significant room for growth – as long as the hospitality professionals create China-specific offerings and content that appeal to the country’s shifting market demographics.
Designed to enable travel, tourism, and hospitality professionals to explore potential opportunities, the Arabia China Tourism Forum is one of several events that will be hosted on ATM 2019’s Global Stage this week. Other topics to be placed under the microscope include the Saudi Arabian market, halal tourism, and industry innovations.
Running until Wednesday, 1 May, ATM 2019 will see more than 2,500 exhibitors showcase their products and services to visitors at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Viewed by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) tourism sector, last year’s edition of ATM welcomed 39,000 people, representing the largest exhibition in the history of the show.
For full details of the ATM 2019 event programme, visit https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com/en/events/Events-programme.For more information about ATM 2019, visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.
About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)
Arabian Travel Market is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre. Arabian Travel Market 2019 will take place in Dubai from Sunday, 28 April to Wednesday, 1 May 2019. To find out more, please visit www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.
About Arabian Travel Week
Arabian Travel Week is an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including Arabian Travel Market and ILTM Arabia, as well as CONNECT Middle East, India, and Africa – a new route development forum launching this year and ATM’s first ever consumer event ATM Holiday Shopper. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector – under one roof over the course of one week – the inaugural Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from Saturday 27 April to Wednesday 1 May 2019. For more information visit: arabiantravelweek.com.
About CONNECT
CONNECT Route Development Forum delivers a total networking experience, bringing together airports, airlines and aviation suppliers in a format that offers formal one-to-one pre-arranged meetings, engaging industry seminars together with social opportunities to cement relationships with existing clients and engage with new ones. Created and organized by The Airport Agency-France, CONNECT is now in its 16th year and set to attract more 650 participants in June 2019 at its flagship event taking place in Cagliari, Sardinia. For more information, visit www.connect-aviation.com.
The inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India, and Africa event will be the brand’s first and only networking forum in the Middle East. Ideally located in Dubai to address the booming aviation market of the Middle East, it will bring together the aviation and the tourism industries, which are the backbone and catalyst of economic development. For more information, visit www.connect-aviation.com/2019-meia/.
About ATM Holiday Shopper
ATM Holiday Shopper is the brand-new travel event for consumers offering the very best travel and tourism discounts and deals, plus the chance to learn about a range of emerging and unexplored destinations and activities from destinations around the world. The inaugural event will take place in Hall 1 of the Dubai World Trade Centre on Saturday, 27 April 2019 from 12:00 – 20:00. For more information, visit www.atmholidayshopper.com.
About ILTM Arabia
International Luxury Travel Market Arabia is an exclusive event for those looking to attract HNW travelers from the Middle East to their destination. Returning for its third year, ILTM will allow international luxury suppliers and key luxury buyers to connect via one-to-one pre-scheduled appointments and networking opportunities. ILTM will take place on Sunday 28th April and Monday 29th April 2019. For more information, visit www.iltm.com/arabia/.
About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face to face through data and digital tools at over 500 events a year, in more than 30 countries, attracting more than seven million participants.
About Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism events organizer with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether it is global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa, and ski travel. We have over 35 years’ experience in organizing world-leading travel exhibitions.
About World Travel Market
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises six leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than USD 7 billion of industry deals. These events include:
WTM London, a must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers, and international media visit ExCeL in London every November, generating about GBP 3.4 billion of travel industry contracts. The next edition will take place on 4-6 November 2019. For more information, visit http://london.wtm.com/.
Travel Forward, a new travel technology event co-located with WTM London and part of the WTM portfolio of events. The inaugural Travel Forward conference, exhibition and buyer programme will take place from 4-6 November 2019 at ExCeL London, showcasing next-generation technology for travel and hospitality. For more information, visit http://travelforward.wtm.com/.
WTM Latin America, an exhibition that attracts about 9,000 senior executives and generates about USD 374 million of new business. Taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this show attracts a global audience to meet and shape the direction of the travel industry. More than 8,000 unique visitors attend the event to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry news. The next edition will take place in 2020.
