China is widely recognized by convention bureaus around the region as the visitor source market with the biggest potential. Home to almost 20 percent of the world’s population, statistics from the China Tourism Academy showed that the number of outbound travel trips increased 18 percent in 2013 to just under 100 million – a figure the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) suggested wouldn’t be reached until 2020.
This wasn’t simply leisure travel, either. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) suggested that by 2015, China will surpass the United States as the leading global source market for business tourism with spending on the sector increasing by as much as 35 percent by the end of that year.
With more than 40 Destination Management Companies based in the UAE specializing in the Chinese inbound market, the United Arab Emirates is well placed to take advantage of both the increased mobility and spending power of the Chinese visitor.
Meeting the Buyers
The 2014 Chinese Visitor Summit is a two-day networking event designed to connect hotels, resorts, conference facilities and destination management companies from the MENA region with Chinese travel buyers and decision makers. A familiarization trip will also help promote the unique offerings of Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the Chinese outbound tour specialists.
Held at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal from September 2 to 3, 2013, the second annual summit was organized by Nicholas Publishing International (NPI) in collaboration with Shanghai-based i2i Group and supported by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
