2023-02-09

Global Tourism to Boost in 2023: Reasons and Key Trends

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) president and CEO Julia Simpson told Xinhua Net in a recent video interview, that she’s optimistic about the recovery of global tourism from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mainly thanks to a boost from Chinese outbound travelers and foreign visitors to China, the sector expects exponential growth over the next decade.

CHINA BOOM

Globaltrender CEO, Jenny Southan, said that the #1 trend for the year 2023 is "China Boom", supporting Simpson’s opinion on the other side. "In 2019, spending from Chinese travelers amounted to US$255 billion - more than any other nation. (In second place was spending from the US, which totaled US$132 billion,)" said Jenny. "This promises to be very positive for the global tourism economy."

Shanghai, Image by 4045 on Freepik

REVENGE TRAVEL

Earlier on Jan 8th, the Civil Aviation Administration of China relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions on international passenger flights, making more and more people want to go out for travel again. Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Cambodia, showed their great enthusiasm to welcome Chinese travelers. The Thai officials even get to the airport to welcome the first Chinese passengers on the spot.

Chinese isn’t the only one to go back to international travel. Chilean.cn also reported that many Chilean travelers still choose to explore more places around the world despite the rise in airfares.

Simpson considered this phenomenon as "revenge travel", meaning traveling to make up for the lost three years during the pandemic. But it’s expected to lift tourism and boost business.

TOP DESTINATIONS

Simpson said for travelers from China, Maldives and Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and the U.S. are on the buckle list. But actually, "Chinese visitors are now everywhere," she added.

The Maldives, Image by David Mark from Pixabay

While for foreign travelers to China, their favorite attractions may include the Great Wall, and cities like Chengdu and Guilin because people like to do mountain walking and understand the culture of China.

The Great Wall

11 KEY TRENDS FOR TRAVEL IN 2023

Traveltrender revealed the 11 key trends to be: "China Boom", "Sovereign Power", "Low Cost, Low Season", "Rebel Spending", "Long-Term Planning", "Indigenous Appreciation", "Meta Destinations", "Life-Hacking Retreats", "Modern Family Travel", "Dry-Cations" and "Carbon Anxiety".

Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner, forecasts an 8% increase in hotel occupancy globally this year, due to China’s relaxing travel restrictions and the ongoing return of group and corporate travel.

Andy Washington, general manager of EMEA for Trip.com, believed that short-haul city breaks will be returning. People will book fewer trips, but the length of and spend on those trips will be growing. He also added, “Destinations that were traditionally more popular in the summer months or school holidays are effectively losing their shoulder and down seasons.”

Freelance journalist Damien Gabét agreed the idea of low-season travel is getting more and more attractive. “Lower prices are a major draw for remote workers – or digital nomads – like me, too. Why stay in drizzly, cost-of-living Brexitannia? You can do 90 days in Europe without a visa and if you want to stay longer, new digital nomad visas are making it all relatively straightforward,” said Damien.

Norway, Image by Patrik Houštecký from Pixabay

OPPORTUNITIES BEHIND

Hotel owners, as well as other business people in the hospitality industry, can consider the travel trends such as short trips, low-cost travel, and travel planning, to enhance travelers’ experience by using related products, services, and implementation of technologies. For design service providers and product suppliers in the tourism industry, a design or product focusing more on experience and cost control may not be a bad idea.

On the other hand, for global project owners and developers who failed to visit manufacturers or factories in China due to the pandemic and quarantine policies, it’s high time to resume business visits now.

Source: 1. Xinhuanet 2.Thaizhonghua 3. Globaltrender

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