Countries around the world are vying to attract more Chinese tourists and yet as arrival numbers grow so too does the challenge of accommodating large groups. But the real story is that Chinese tourism is a bright spot in the global industry and the countries which do the best job of hosting guests from China will continue to flourish. Those who don’t will be left behind and the stakes are quite high.
Fortunately for airlines and hotels across Asia and around the world, the Chinese have continued their torrid pace of travel in 2016 maintaining their status as the world’s most important travelers. And according to the travel agency Ctrip Chinese tourists show no signs of slowing down.
So where are they going? Thailand recorded the highest number of visa applications in the first half of the year. Singapore and South Korea ranked second and third respectively, while visa applications to Pakistan surged by 37 times proving that the Chinese are becoming more intrepid in their travels.
Ctrip data also showed that the number of visitors applying for multiple entry rose substantially, implying a trend of more frequent overseas travels by Chinese. As an example multiple visa applications to Malaysia doubled from the same period last year, and those to South Korea soared 76 percent.
