KL Beats Seoul As The Preferred Destination For China Tourists
Chinese tourists are travelling more and spending more.
By Sadho Ram — 19 Jul 2017, 06:16 PM
For the first time in six years, Kuala Lumpur has been listed as among the 10 most popular destinations to visit in APAC for young Chinese travellers who are looking to spend more
This, according to a recent research by Hotels.com which stated in its sixth annual Chinese International Travel Monitor report, that Chinese travellers, now more educated and increasingly sophisticated in their tastes and expectations, "want more of everything – more time travelling, more locations and more exotic experiences."
In fact, the Malaysian capital, which is known for its shopping, dining and cultural offerings, appeals so strongly to the new generation of Chinese travellers that it has been placed above other popular destinations like Bali and Seoul
Overall, the report said that the ranking also puts Kuala Lumpur as the third most popular city for Chinese travellers in Southeast Asia, after Singapore and Bangkok.
The top 10 cities in Asia Pacific that Chinese travellers have shown the desire to visit in the next 12 months, according to the CITM report:
1. Singapore
2. Sydney
3. Tokyo
3. Hong Kong
3. Bangkok
3. Gold Coast
7. Maldives
7. Hokkaido
7. Kuala Lumpur
10. Seoul
Chinese travellers are spending a whopping 28% of their income on average on international travel, with 90s millennials being the biggest spenders. The report calls it "the rise of the Chinese 'more generation'."
The report also reveals how Malaysian hotels are luring these tourists, by making some adaptions to accommodate
The gap between what Chinese tourists want versus what the local hotels are providing has shrunk as hotels in Penang and KL eye the huge potential the market has to offer.
According to the report, in 2016, more than 60% of Malaysian hoteliers witnessed an increase in the number of Chinese guests compared to 42% in other countries.
In fact, responding to the positive growth in the volume of Chinese travellers, over 30% local hoteliers are now offering services tailored towards their Chinese guests.
They are hiring Mandarin speaking staff, which 73% Chinese guests often request. Others are offering Chinese language training to their staff, offering Wi-Fi, etc.
Almost 50% of Malaysian hoteliers believe that the relaxing of visa requirements for Chinese travellers by the Government will significantly affect their business.
Malaysian hotels offer excellent value for money
The CITM report has revealed that Malaysian hotels offered among the best values in the world, with Chinese travellers paying the least for hotel rooms in 2016 in Penang.
Furthermore, Kuala Lumpur was ranked third in this list, behind Hanoi.
File photo of tourists looking at the exhibited art craft along Armenian Street during the Georgetown Festival.
Image via K.E. Ooi/MMOWhile there are signs that the Chinese economy is slowing down, the travel expenses of Chinese tourists have increased across all age brackets, with Chinese travellers spending an average of RM15,490 in the last 12 months
And it's not just APAC destinations that they want to travel, long-haul trips to Europe and America have increased in popularity among Chinese tourists.
The new generation of Chinese travellers are not just showing the desire to spend more, they are also interested in travelling even further than before, with countries such as France, the USA, Canada and Germany leaping in popularity.