Western Europe is the most popular destination among high-end Chinese travelers, and they are pursuing a more private, personalized and unique tour experience as a new trend, rather than highlighting the luxury and extravagance of the tour, travel agencies say.
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For these affluent tourists, the lure of Southeast Asia has shrunk significantly. Just 3 percent said they looked for a visit there, compared with 20 percent early this year, probably due to recent political instability in Thailand, anti-Chinese riots in Vietnam and Malaysia Airlines’ problems. Hawaii and the Maldives are the most popular beach resorts, while France, Japan and the US are the most favorable shopping destinations for the affluent, according to the survey. For cruise destinations, the high-end group prefers the Caribbean, eastern Mediterranean and polar areas, the survey revealed.
Karen Lo, who works for Visit USA (China), which promotes US tourism, said Chinese tourists now have a more rational and mature attitude towards luxury tours than they did five years ago, when the market was just emerging here. Now they pursue unique experiences instead of simply the most expensive and most luxurious, she said.
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Chinese tourists in the high-end market prefer natural scenery, she said. Senior-level management personnel and business people are major spenders in the market, she said.Â
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Western Europe is the most popular destination among high-end Chinese travelers, and they are pursuing a more private, personalized and unique tour experience as a new trend, rather than highlighting the luxury and extravagance of the tour, travel agencies say.
