According to Chinese International Travel Monitor (CITM) 2015—an annual report from Hotels.com—the number of Chinese international travelers has continued to grow, which represents economic opportunity for the global tourism and hospitality industries.
The fourth edition of CITM is based on data aggregated from more than 3,000 Chinese international travelers, 1,500 global Hotels.com accommodation partners, and other third-party sources.
“The latest Hotels.com report reveals several themes emerging, not least the expanding influence of Chinese Millennial travelers, an increasingly more affluent Chinese traveler, and the explosion in the use of technology—the mobile platform in particular—as part of the accommodation research and booking process,” says Abhiram Chowdhry, vice president and managing director, Asia Pacific for Hotels.com. “Many hoteliers have already recognized the benefits of free wifi and Chinese-language information and booking websites.”
There has been a 20 percent increase in outbound Mainland Chinese travelers to approximately 107 million last year. For hoteliers, this translates to an increased need for amenities and programs designed to cater to the needs of Chinese travelers, such as a Chinese-speaking staff and Chinese-language websites. In the past year, more than 80 percent of Chinese travelers used an online device to book their trip—a 27 percent increase from last year.
The CITM also highlights the growing influence of Millennial-aged Chinese travelers, as noted by more than 59 percent of surveyed hoteliers.
Chinese travelers are spending more money as well, with the average person spending approximately $536 per day, the top 10 percent spending approximately $2,225 per day, and the top 5 percent spending approximately $3,368 per day. All calculations take the daily cost of lodging into account.
