The future of China's international market

With China’s borders now re-opened to international travel, waves of outbound travel are expected to build in the market. After almost three years of restricted travel, Chinese travellers are back but their demands and expectations are not the same as before the pandemic. Chinese travellers have initially opted for ‘safe’ markets, including Hong Kong, Macau and select regional destinations. COVID-19 has also accelerated the swing away from large, organised tour groups and towards individual and small group travel with freer itineraries.

• As Chinese outbound travel continues to grow, what impact will it have on regional tourism and travel markets? What are the next big destinations for Chinese travellers?

• With China’s large state-owned airline resting both short-haul and long-haul connectivity, how will regional capacity and networks be affected?

• How are the priorities of the Chinese outbound travel market in the post pandemic period? How can air transport providers and destinations improve their attractiveness to the outbound market.