Welcome Chinese at COTTM 2014

by silvia.spessato

categories Activities Activities Report Travel Shows

More than 100 talks each day – mostly with tour operators and travel agents – were the very positive results from the Welcome Chinese program’s participation in COTTM 2014, the only B2B fair focused on Chinese outbound tourism, held in Beijing from the 9th to the 11th of April. During every business meeting that took place, Welcome Chinese Certified hotels were actively promoted as top destinations for Chinese travelers. They are classified as Bronze, Silver and Gold on the basis of the number and the quality of the services provided to Chinese visitors. The higher the level, the higher the visibility: brochures and info sheets provided by Gold level certified hotels – if already translated into Chinese – were distributed in order to foster direct contacts between tourism businesses and Mandarin-speaking travelers. For the occasion, the company was actively supported by China Tourism Academy (CTA), the governmental partner that guarantees the brand’s uniqueness in the market. All the logos of the Welcome Chinese partner hotels were prominently displayed for maximum visibility. Jacopo Sertoli, the company’s CEO, noted that “Transportation hubs like airports and train stations, museums, restaurants and shops: any tourism business willing to host Chinese travelers can join the Program.” The government in Beijing officially recognizes the development of outbound tourism as a key, mid-term strategy. “Less restrictive national laws, growing connections and a middle class that keeps on expanding: all of these are preconditions that are present right now and point towards a crucial momentum for the business,” Sertoli stated. ”It is not that hard for hotels to adapt, but it requires a kind of cultural effort to offer new services tailored to Chinese visitors.” The key factor in this development is represented by individually planned trips and a growing sector fueled by a younger generation of more open and wealthier Chinese. This element is at the basis of the forecast of 200 million of Chinese travelers worldwide by 2020. In other words, both mass tourism and high-end Chinese tourism are growing by leaps and bounds. “This is a totally new market,” remarked Sertoli. “The travel sector in China is evolving as quickly as Chinese society is; habits and desires are becoming increasingly focused thanks also to easier access to information. The Welcome Chinese Certification is encouraging the development of the FIT market, allowing travelers the necessary tools and certainties when abroad.”