The document discusses the shift from Chinese group travel to independent travel (FIT) and how destinations and companies can market to Chinese FIT travelers. Some key points:
- Chinese outbound travel is growing rapidly, expected to reach 200-315 million annual trips by 2020, with more travelers going independently rather than in groups.
- To appeal to Chinese FITs, destinations and companies need to provide a more personalized experience, build trust, understand Chinese priorities like culture, food and loyalty, and engage travelers at all stages of the trip through multiple online and offline channels.
- Relationships and understanding Chinese communication and business styles are essential to success in this important emerging market.
TDS Asia Singapore 2014, The shift from Groups to FIT in China: How to market to China's rising numbers of independent travellers
1. Travel Distribution Summit
Asia 2014
The shift from Groups to FIT in China
How to market to China's rising numbers of
independent travellers
Roy Graff – Managing Director, ChinaContact
@chinacontact
roy@chinacontact.org
2. The China outbound tourism market is already impacting
nearly every international destination. Every single tourism
organisation and company needs to formulate a China
market strategy and prepare the ground work now.
• Over 18 years of hospitality, e-commerce and tourism
industry experience in China
• Launched independent travel business division in China
on behalf of Gulliver’s Travel Associates
• Fluent Mandarin Chinese speaker and student of
Chinese philosophy, literature and poetry
• Managing Director of ChinaContact, working with travel
businesses on strategies and implementation
of China market access
4. China FIT – why now?
• Group travel competition is about price
• 16 years of outbound leisure travel started producing
experienced travellers
• High pressure tactics of group tours is off-putting
• Increasingly, destinations offer Chinese friendly services
• Global prevalence of Chinese operators and service
providers
• Rise of the middle class and high-income earners
• Seeking status through travel experiences and individual
control
9. China’s new Tourism Law
• Effective from 1 October 2013
• Aims to protect consumers
• Ignores independent travel
• Cannot advertise shopping tours
• Guide cannot go into store with group
• Tour leader must be a full time employee
– But…shopping tours are back!
• More on http://chinacontact.org/blog/chinas-new-tourism-law
10. • What are the sources for research and information?
• Where should you engage them?
• What are their priorities when travelling?
Influencing Travel and Spending
Decisions
Overcome their instinctive distrust.
Engage at a personal level.
Learn to see beyond the clichés.
11. Source of information for travel
research and inspiration
• Friends and Family recommendations
• Online travel forums
• Review sites
• Mobile content apps
• Travel agents
• Official Destination websites
12. Where and when should you engage
them?
• Inspiration stage
• Planning stage
• Booking stage
• Pre-travel
• On the road
• Post-travel
14. How to better engage with Chinese FIT?
• Speak to operators and wholesalers
• Work with media
• Engage with the Chinese business
• Have a multi-channel strategy
• Localise wisely
• Have a clear focus of your target market
15. Social media
• Cover PC and Mobile
• Branding, engagement, service
• Fragmented market
• Time on social media
• Your own web presence
• Avoid piracy and copying
• Mobile web and apps
16.
17. Relationships – GuanXi
• Nothing replaces direct face to face meeting and relationship
building
• Market visit
• Client orientation
• Gift giving
• Negotiation techniques
18. Contact us
Twitter: @chinacontact
Email: info@chinacontact.org
Tel: UK +44 20 8123 9528
TW +886 911301404
www.ChinaContact.org
We Support Strategic PartnersMedia Partners
Editor's Notes
Effective from 1 October 2013
Aims to protect consumers from unethical practices in group tourism
Ignores independent travel
Cannot advertise tours with shopping in itinerary
Guide cannot go into store with group
Tour leader must be a full time employee
No promoting of excursions and optionals during the trip
Opportunity to promote independent and self organised tours
More on http://chinacontact.org/blog/chinas-new-tourism-law
90% of surveyed online by Skyscanner said that Visa application regulations affect their travel destination decision.
Cultural sensitivity will win you more spending and enthusiastic recommendations. Free wifi will give you these in real-time!
Knowing they want chinese food and making them comfortable will win dividends.
Inspiration stage:
Travel stories and celebrity endorsements, friends & family
Planning stage:
Visa regulations, logistics, itinerary
Booking stage:
OTAs, Comparison sites, travel forums, review sites
Pre-travel:
Real-time information, downloading content
On the road:
Mobile apps, real-time sharing, hotel and store service
Post-travel:
Travel blog, picture sharing, recommendations
Trust:
Anecdote: taking pictures of products in-store to sell more to their friends in China, not to rip-off copyright.
Overcome the traditional mistrust of sales people
Loyalty
Stress brand heritage, history, human story
Build loyalty with VIP benefits and personal engagement
Focus on next generation consumers with small gifts or affordable ‘souvenir’ items
Culture
Avoiding stereotypes when it comes to HNW Chinese – they do not like to be considered part of the mass tourism outflow from China.
Individual attention showing some understanding, appreciation and respect for Chinese culture and customs will be appreciated. HKG, China and Taiwan are quite different though all share a Chinese culture.
Still lack of basic understanding of Chinese tourists – hot water in the room, slippers, toiletries, separate twin beds, smoking rooms or areas
Food
holds particular social importance to Chinese, How the food is served and eaten is as important as what it is
Attention to origin of client can help determine what they would like to eat (aside from Chinese food) – sweet, spicy, salty etc.
Even the more sophisticated appreciate Zhou (rice porridge) or noodles, chilli or black bean sauce etc.
Speak to the operators, wholesalers who are bringing Chinese to UK/Europe
Work with media that Chinese like to read before and during their stay
Engage with the Chinese business, professional and student communities
Have a multi-channel strategy and marketing plan to push demand while ensuring appropriate distribution.
Localise wisely with bespoke content, not simply translation – protect your brand well.
Have a clear focus of your target market, as China is too big and complex to cover it all.
Social media straddles PC and mobile
Branding to engagement and service
Fragmented market reinforcing need to belong
Spend more time on social media
Your own web presence and domain in China crucial for authorised information
Avoid piracy and copying
Mobile friendly web and mobile apps are key to reach these ultra-mobile customers from research to purchase to after-sales.