中中中中中中中中中中中中中 TOURISM RESEARCH CENTRE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES 中中中中 中中中中 中中中中中中中 2 中 100836 中中 中 / : 传 86-010 - 68053991 Email:[email protected]
中国社会科学院旅游研究中心TOURISM RESEARCH CENTRE
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
博采众长 精益求精
北京月坛北小街 2 号 100836 电话/传真: 86-010 -68053991
Email:[email protected]
CHINA’S TOURISM POLICY CHINA’S TOURISM POLICY READJUSTMENT & READJUSTMENT &
OUTBOUND TOURISM OUTBOUND TOURISM DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT
Zhang GuangruiZhang GuangruiTourism Research CentreTourism Research Centre
Chinese Academy of Social SciencesChinese Academy of Social Sciences
BACKGROUNDERBACKGROUNDER
Facts & PoliciesFacts & Policies
IIChina’s Tourism in the China’s Tourism in the
Past DecadePast Decade
TOURISM IN GENERALTOURISM IN GENERAL
• In the first decade of the new century, China’s tourism has grown very fast against the unstable and changeable world political and economic situation.
• China has been one of the world top international tourism destinations, ranked around 4 or 3 according to UNWTO, and one of the top source countries as well.
• China’s rank has been upgraded from 71 in 2007 to 39 in 2011 in Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index prepared by WEF.
OUTBOUND TOURISM:SIZE & GROWTHOUTBOUND TOURISM:SIZE & GROWTH
YEAR DEPARTURES GROWTH (%)
2000 10,472,600 13.40
2001 12,000,000 11.50
2002 16,600,000 36.86
2003 20,220,000 21.80
2004 28,850,000 42.68
2005 31,000,000 7.50
2006 34,520,000 11.30
2007 40,950,000 18.60
2008 45,840,000 11.90
2009 47,500,000 3.60
2010 57,390,000 20.80
World attention to China’s tourism World attention to China’s tourism has turned gradually from has turned gradually from
““CHINA VISIT”CHINA VISIT”
to to
““CHNIESE VISITOR”CHNIESE VISITOR”
Major Reasons for Outbound Major Reasons for Outbound Travel GrowthTravel Growth
• Economic Reform----high economic growth leads to increasing income and foreign exchange reserves
• China’s Open policy----relaxing control of outbound travels
• Release of long-term accumulated tourism demand
• Improved world situation and bilateral diplomatic relationship
• Aggressive tourism promotions by the overseas tourist destinations
At the time of global financial At the time of global financial CrisisCrisis
• China’s economy keeps growing
• Chinese currency remains strong against the US dollar and other main currencies
• Active and successful promotions by foreign destinations towards Chinese market
• New and attractive products created for the market
IIIIRepositioning of Repositioning of
National Strategy & National Strategy & Market PriorityMarket Priority
Policy repositioning---- National Strategy
The central government has decided to turn tourism into a pillar industry with strategic importance to the national economy and a modern service industry that better meets the aspirations of the general public.
Readjustment of market priority order
–stress on the development of domestic tourism
–actively promote inbound tourism
–develop outbound tourism in an orderly way
Readjustment of public holiday arrangement
Long-holidays– Spring Festival & National Day
• Short breaks:– New Year’s Day /(Jan) / Qingming Festival
(April )– May Day / Duanwujie (Boating festival,
June)– Mid-Autumn Festival (moon festival, Sept.)
• Paid Holiday:– 5 days for people working 1-10 years / 10
days for people working 11-20 years / 15 days for people working over 20 years
• National & local tourism & leisure programs
OTHERE OUTBOUND TRAVEL-RELATED POLICIES
PASSPORT ISSUANCE
from tight control to free application
FOREIGN EXCHANGE ALLOWANCE
from tight control to free purchase
TRAVEL MODE
Group tours & independent travels
SOURCE REGIONS
From a number of large cities to more cities & regions in the country
PREFERABLE POLICIES
to some specific destinations such as HK, Macau & Taiwan
IIIIIIChina’s Outbound China’s Outbound
Tourism:Tourism:Major Changes & its Major Changes & its
FutureFuture
Destination SelectionDestination SelectionFrom the government guidance to self-
chosen by the residents
----Special permission to HK, Macau & Taiwan
----ADS agreement with specific countries
From short-haul destinations to long-haul ones
From mass market destinations to up-market ones
From multi-country tours to longer stays in one or two destinations.
Travel ModeTravel ModeGroup tours (with family or friends)
• More countries per trip to the long-haul destinations, and more cities to the short-haul destinations
• Cheap tours
Independent travels• Only one or two countries to the long-haul
destination, or one favorable place in a trip• DIY routes • Backpackers or self-driving tours
Travel TimeTravel Time• Long holidays
– week-long holidays known as “golden week” and vocations for special group of people such as students, especially after the annual university entrance exams
• Short breaks– special festivals for 3-day holidays
• Pre- or post- golden weeks– for consideration of travel budget and comforts
• Paid holidays– Extended public holidays
Main InterestsMain Interests
• Sightseeing is the most outstanding interest to prove that “I have been there”, therefore the more countries, places, attractions to visit, the more satisfied;
• Special interest, more people now would like to gain some specific experience of seeking knowledge, understanding, or leisure and health (event participants, honeymoons, shopping, medical & wellness tours, and etc.);
Something to considerSomething to considerExternal factors
Hot topic talked at the high-ranking government leaders’ overseas visits
visa issues
Hainan Island development
Mega events
Movie induced attractions
Right & interest protection
Public expenditure on travel restricted
Foreign or joint-venture operators
Tourist demand • Quality product or
cheap tours• Traditional products
or new products and themed products
• Up-market or mass market
• Shopping or no shopping
• ……
The FutureThe Future• UNWTO’s earlier forecast
– The world No.4 top generating country with 100mn outbound visitors up to 2020
• China’s forecast– 83 mn outbound visitors up to 2015
• USA’s forecast– In the next decade, Chinese visitors may
increase by over 150%
• PATA’s forecast
• …….
Chinese MarketChinese Market for Thailand for Thailand
Some Hints & Some Hints & RecommendationsRecommendations
IITo Understand the To Understand the
Country and People in Country and People in GeneralGeneral
China is a large country, with a long history, big population and vast area, and diversified cultures, therefore the Chinese people as tourists have their own features in tourism demand.
As a large country, residents are different from one region to another in terms of tourism demand and travel behavior due to the difference of
Natural environment (tropical & cold; plain & mountains; vast grassland and desert, etc)
Economic condition ( the east & west; coastal & inland; urban and rural;)
Cultural & ethnic background (various ethnic groups, religions, and traditions, languages and dialects)
As a large country, the Chinese more love to see something huge in size, known as the world’s tops, or something very unique– mountains and rivers
– temples, statues
– National Parks and theme parks
– Tall and large buildings and structures
– Local culture
As an ancient country, Chinese people love to see something very old and famous such as– World famous monuments
– World heritage sites
– Well-known palaces and other famed buildings, sites exposed or mentioned in the classic or modern movies, TV series, or best sellers, and something related to well-known celebrities or stars .
• As a developing country, the Chinese people love to see something very modern and fashionable that might be difficult to find at home.
• As a country with large population, the Chinese love something jolly and noisy, such as Disney-type theme parks, or bazaars, shopping streets or malls.
II
Chinese visitors Vs.
the Westerners
Chinese visitors are rather different from the Westerners in tourism behavior
----not veteran tourists, many are first timers having never been away from the home country;
----not independent, loving to be with their family members, friends or some people they know;
----conservative, for alien food and environment, not active to communicate with strangers or other Chinese living overseas;
----not adventurers, often followers rather than path-breakers;
----less culture-oriented, more like sightseeing than serious understanding;
---ill-informed, lack of information and knowledge of outside world;
IIIIIISome Hints and Some Hints and
RecommendationsRecommendations
Target Market SelectionTarget Market Selection• Target market should be clear
– Where• up-market----large cities (the national and
provincial capitals, and the eastern coastal regions)
• Mass market----second tier cities or middle and western cities, particular for the sea-related products
– Who• Youngsters, office ladies• Middle-aged• “Silver market”
Means for Information Distribution Means for Information Distribution
• Up-market– Internet, websites– Special journals, such as specific periodicals
for airline VIP lounges, clubs and gold cardholder newsletters
• Youth market– Internet, websites, blogs– Language: Chinese, English– Fashion journals and magazine
• Family market– Local newspapers ( reportage & ads)– TV commercials– “framedia” (in the community, lifts, corridors) – “mobile tv” on the transportation means
(public bus, metro, taxi)
• “Silver market”– Local newspapers (evening papers )– Home-distributing brochures or pamphlets– Community “framedia” & “mobile tv”
Product DevelopmentProduct Development
• General tours– Long holidays (week-long holidays), such
Spring Festival, National Day Holidays, and summer & winter school holidays
– Short city breaks (for 3 days), short holidays relating to traditional festivals
• Special products– Wedding cerebration tours (local traditional or
western wedding ceremonies, family gatherings, and other related services)
– Birthday or marriage anniversary celebrations for the aged
– foreign festival tours, such Xmas Day, Valentine's Day, Mother’s Day
– Medical & wellness tours– Island tours
• Special student exchange tours (with family)– University students and teachers– Secondary school students and family
Spring Festival in China 中国的春节
New considerationsNew considerations
• Price pitfalls– Shopping, wishful
or forced?– Self-paid
program: free choice of the tourists or that of tour guides?
• Security and safety– natural disasters– social disorder– Terrorism
New destinations and value for money
Tourism enterprises: going abroad
Recommendations• More tourism offices in China• VISA : free, valid longer, multiple entry,
aiming at independent & repeated visitors• More Information distribution channels• Quality products• Creative & themed tours (medical & wellness
tours, , wedding tours , for up-market)• Special products for Spring Festival (the
most important non-religious festival in the world
• Incentive tours for some companies
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
Collaboration and cooperation among government organizations, business operators and academics is always important for tourism development of the destination and source countries. It is believed that tourism growth between our two countries will remain constant, beneficial for both the country and people.
working together is the working together is the key to successkey to success
谢谢大家谢谢大家
中国社会科学院旅游研究中心 CASSTRC