Quality crucial in tourism growth
Updated: 2007-07-18 15:57
The author Xu Hailiang is chief expert in Victor Union Consultant Institution
The increasingly heated tourism market in China is not only creating enticing business opportunities for tourism-related entities, but also leaves questions about how to leverage resources to better serve more discerning travelers.
Travel, in China, is neither the fashion nor the luxury it was 10 or 20 years ago. It has become part of life.
The urban population, at whatever age, involved in whatever job, is passionate about traveling. It is not only about time, it is not only about money - it is about enjoying life.
In recent years, tourism in China has become another eye-catching sector in the nation's economy, also creating more jobs, with an annual growth rate in revenues of 7 percent.
In 2006 alone, China had 129 million outbound travelers and 1.3 billion inbound tourists that generated revenues of around 893.5 billion yuan and provided 10 million jobs.
In the next decade, the industry's annual growth rate is expected to reach 10.4 percent. Revenues from individual tourism is projected to enjoy an annual growth rate of 9.8 percent, with group tourism projected to grow 10.9 percent.
In 2010, the sector will make an even larger contribution to the nation's economy, making up 8 percent of its gross domestic product, compared to the current 5.44 percent. In 2020, China is expected to become the world's largest tourism destination and the fourth-largest source of travelers.
However, the seemingly enticing market will not necessarily translate into fat business figures for industry players if they cannot appropriately seize the opportunities.
Why? Higher requirements for the quality of products and services from Chinese travelers is making it more difficult for the sector - including hotels, travel agencies and scenic destination operators - to make clients happy.
As a way to relax or reward themselves after a period of hard work, Chinese are more frequently spending holidays or weekends at resorts or scenic spots. They have become smarter in telling good from bad and more reasoned in their choices.
|
|