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When reminiscing of her travels, Wang Yuanwang thinks back fondly to a 10-day kayaking trip she took in Russia with several classmates when she studied there in 2004.
“We fished, picked mushrooms and wild fruit to feed ourselves. As we paddled we had a great view of the northern European landscape,” said Wang, now a stewardess for Hong Kong Airlines. “At night, we’d make camp on one of the many thousands of islands in the area, light a bonfire and watch meteors streak across the sky. The 10-day trip was like living in a fairy tale,” she said.
It’s safe to say that Wang has the “travel bug.” Since 1997, she has set foot in 12 countries, including the United States, North Korea, Singapore, Japan and England. She is just a small drop in the torrent of outbound Chinese tourists, who made 70.25 million trips abroad in 2011, a 22.4-percent year-onyear increase from 2010, according to the Annual Report of China Outbound Tourism Development 2012 compiled by the China Tourism Academy.
“China has witnessed a surge in outbound travel,” said Shao Qiwei, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration.
In 2012, China’s overseas tourism will have more opportunities as the year marks China-Russia Tourism Year, the 40th an- niversary for the normalization of diplomatic relationship between China and Japan and 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea. China is anticipated to become the world’s fourth biggest source of outbound travelers by 2015, said Shao.
In 2001, when China gained admission to the WTO, the number of outbound tourists was only 12.13 million and only 17 countries and regions granted tourist visas to Chinese nationals. With mainland outbound tourists surging to 70.25 million and 140 countries and regions that agree to grant tourist visas to Chinese nationals in 2011, the country has become the largest outbound tourism source in Asia and the fastest developing outbound travel market in the world.
In Shanghai, at least 64,344 people traveled abroad during the Spring Festival rush from January 15 to 28 this year, up 11.59 percent year on year, according to the city’s tourism bureau.
While traditional destinations, such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and European countries remained popular this year, new destinations including Sri Lanka, Hawaii, New Zealand and Maldives are also drawing Chinese crowds.
Behind the prosperity
Several factors have contributed to the outbound travel boom, including China’s surging economy, the relaxation of visa application procedures, the new concept for travel, increasing support from the Chinese Government, and the appreciation of the Chinese currency.
Most importantly, more Chinese chose to spend their spare time traveling abroad because they have more money in hand.
“When the per-capita GDP in a country ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, the country will enter a phase of leap-forward development in expenditures on casual activities,”said Mao Peiqi, a professor at Renmin University of China. “The per-capita GDP in China has surpassed $4,000, making traveling a more important component for people’s daily life. With more money and 115 days off each year, more Chinese people are bound to go abroad to see the outside world.”
“The number of Chinese tourists for U.S. tours soared in 2011,” said Zou Xiang, a tour guide for the U.S. line at Beijing UTour International Travel Service Co. Ltd.“Compared with previous years when most travelers to the United States were mainly rich businessmen, more and more ordinary people have joined the club.”
Earlier, it cost 30,000 yuan to 40,000 yuan($4,746 to $6,328) for a half-month tour in the United States, but the price has been reduced to about 20,000 yuan ($3,164) now. It’s more affordable. More elderly people, sponsored by their children or with their lifetime savings, are going to the United States for sightseeing, said Zou.
The United States is currently the fourth most popular foreign country for mainland tourists, thanks to the Approved Destination Status agreement signed between the two countries in 2007. Under the agreement, mainland tourists can visit the United States after completing a tourist-friendly visa processes.
The concept that travel should be an indispensable part of people’s daily life is more and more prevalent among Chinese.
“Travel has become a habit for me,” said Wang. “It’s always more interesting to live my life when I go to a new place to feel how other people live their lives and then come back to my own life. It’s also so good to live in an era that I can go freely to anywhere in the world.”
“I enjoyed the whole process of my journey,” said Wang Bin, a staff member of the library at Peking University. “I traveled to Nepal in 2010, I deeply enjoyed the natural and cultural landscapes, beauty of different ethnic groups and its exotic food.”
Except for taking trips for sightseeing or leisure, Chinese tourists are renowned for their high purchasing power. Shopping tours, especially duty-free shopping and crossborder shopping, became another bright spot.
Chinese tourists spent nearly $44 billion outside the country in 2010, putting them behind only Germany, the United States and the UK in terms of international spending, said a report released by the World Tourism Organization.
According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in 2011, 79,531 Chinese tourists visited Hawaii, and the number is predicted to reach 116,000 in 2013 and 167,000 in 2015.
Appeals
In an effort to have a more convenient and enjoyable journey abroad, tourists are calling for more favorable visa policies for Chinese nationals. More services in Chinese should be provided in foreign countries as Chinese flock to foreign shores.
Chinese travelers and travel agencies long for a more simplified visa process and a larger quota in order to match the ever-increasing demands of Chinese travelers.
“It’s been pretty difficult for us to travel because of the visa process as Chinese citizens,” said Wang Yuanwang.
“Mainland tourists still have to wait for a visa interview, sometimes two months ahead of the departure. One of my friends wanted to go to Argentina. It took her two months and 8,000 yuan ($1,266) to apply for the visa. Ordinary people can hardly afford this. I hope the government can step in and get things done to make this whole process easier for us.”
“In many U.S. hotels, restaurants and shopping areas, Chinese language services are provided to facilitate mainland visitors,” said Wang Ye, a staff member with the outbound tourism business of Beijing Tourism Group’s International Travel & Tours.
“A lot more has to be done to make travel for Chinese tourists easier and more welcoming,” said Zou of Beijing Utour International.“After realizing the enormous potential of Chinese tourists, foreign countries should take bigger steps to make it more convenient for us to travel.”
“We fished, picked mushrooms and wild fruit to feed ourselves. As we paddled we had a great view of the northern European landscape,” said Wang, now a stewardess for Hong Kong Airlines. “At night, we’d make camp on one of the many thousands of islands in the area, light a bonfire and watch meteors streak across the sky. The 10-day trip was like living in a fairy tale,” she said.
It’s safe to say that Wang has the “travel bug.” Since 1997, she has set foot in 12 countries, including the United States, North Korea, Singapore, Japan and England. She is just a small drop in the torrent of outbound Chinese tourists, who made 70.25 million trips abroad in 2011, a 22.4-percent year-onyear increase from 2010, according to the Annual Report of China Outbound Tourism Development 2012 compiled by the China Tourism Academy.
“China has witnessed a surge in outbound travel,” said Shao Qiwei, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration.
In 2012, China’s overseas tourism will have more opportunities as the year marks China-Russia Tourism Year, the 40th an- niversary for the normalization of diplomatic relationship between China and Japan and 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea. China is anticipated to become the world’s fourth biggest source of outbound travelers by 2015, said Shao.
In 2001, when China gained admission to the WTO, the number of outbound tourists was only 12.13 million and only 17 countries and regions granted tourist visas to Chinese nationals. With mainland outbound tourists surging to 70.25 million and 140 countries and regions that agree to grant tourist visas to Chinese nationals in 2011, the country has become the largest outbound tourism source in Asia and the fastest developing outbound travel market in the world.
In Shanghai, at least 64,344 people traveled abroad during the Spring Festival rush from January 15 to 28 this year, up 11.59 percent year on year, according to the city’s tourism bureau.
While traditional destinations, such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and European countries remained popular this year, new destinations including Sri Lanka, Hawaii, New Zealand and Maldives are also drawing Chinese crowds.
Behind the prosperity
Several factors have contributed to the outbound travel boom, including China’s surging economy, the relaxation of visa application procedures, the new concept for travel, increasing support from the Chinese Government, and the appreciation of the Chinese currency.
Most importantly, more Chinese chose to spend their spare time traveling abroad because they have more money in hand.
“When the per-capita GDP in a country ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, the country will enter a phase of leap-forward development in expenditures on casual activities,”said Mao Peiqi, a professor at Renmin University of China. “The per-capita GDP in China has surpassed $4,000, making traveling a more important component for people’s daily life. With more money and 115 days off each year, more Chinese people are bound to go abroad to see the outside world.”
“The number of Chinese tourists for U.S. tours soared in 2011,” said Zou Xiang, a tour guide for the U.S. line at Beijing UTour International Travel Service Co. Ltd.“Compared with previous years when most travelers to the United States were mainly rich businessmen, more and more ordinary people have joined the club.”
Earlier, it cost 30,000 yuan to 40,000 yuan($4,746 to $6,328) for a half-month tour in the United States, but the price has been reduced to about 20,000 yuan ($3,164) now. It’s more affordable. More elderly people, sponsored by their children or with their lifetime savings, are going to the United States for sightseeing, said Zou.
The United States is currently the fourth most popular foreign country for mainland tourists, thanks to the Approved Destination Status agreement signed between the two countries in 2007. Under the agreement, mainland tourists can visit the United States after completing a tourist-friendly visa processes.
The concept that travel should be an indispensable part of people’s daily life is more and more prevalent among Chinese.
“Travel has become a habit for me,” said Wang. “It’s always more interesting to live my life when I go to a new place to feel how other people live their lives and then come back to my own life. It’s also so good to live in an era that I can go freely to anywhere in the world.”
“I enjoyed the whole process of my journey,” said Wang Bin, a staff member of the library at Peking University. “I traveled to Nepal in 2010, I deeply enjoyed the natural and cultural landscapes, beauty of different ethnic groups and its exotic food.”
Except for taking trips for sightseeing or leisure, Chinese tourists are renowned for their high purchasing power. Shopping tours, especially duty-free shopping and crossborder shopping, became another bright spot.
Chinese tourists spent nearly $44 billion outside the country in 2010, putting them behind only Germany, the United States and the UK in terms of international spending, said a report released by the World Tourism Organization.
According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in 2011, 79,531 Chinese tourists visited Hawaii, and the number is predicted to reach 116,000 in 2013 and 167,000 in 2015.
Appeals
In an effort to have a more convenient and enjoyable journey abroad, tourists are calling for more favorable visa policies for Chinese nationals. More services in Chinese should be provided in foreign countries as Chinese flock to foreign shores.
Chinese travelers and travel agencies long for a more simplified visa process and a larger quota in order to match the ever-increasing demands of Chinese travelers.
“It’s been pretty difficult for us to travel because of the visa process as Chinese citizens,” said Wang Yuanwang.
“Mainland tourists still have to wait for a visa interview, sometimes two months ahead of the departure. One of my friends wanted to go to Argentina. It took her two months and 8,000 yuan ($1,266) to apply for the visa. Ordinary people can hardly afford this. I hope the government can step in and get things done to make this whole process easier for us.”
“In many U.S. hotels, restaurants and shopping areas, Chinese language services are provided to facilitate mainland visitors,” said Wang Ye, a staff member with the outbound tourism business of Beijing Tourism Group’s International Travel & Tours.
“A lot more has to be done to make travel for Chinese tourists easier and more welcoming,” said Zou of Beijing Utour International.“After realizing the enormous potential of Chinese tourists, foreign countries should take bigger steps to make it more convenient for us to travel.”