After a sensational National Day Golden Week holiday last October, hopes are mounting that 2021 will see Chinese leisure travelers going overseas as soon as February, making up for the interrupted Lunar New Year holiday they endured this year.
China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, better known as COTRI, has forecasted 100 million international trips by mainland Chinese in 2021, sealing China “as the number one international tourism source market again”, said COTRI CEO Wolfgang Georg Arlt. While many are forecasted to travel to neighboring countries, a massive 60 million people are expected to fly farther away. The UAE’s tourism-ready approach, reasonable quarantine requirements, safety and relaxed restrictions is likely to yet again make it a favorite with Chinese tourists. Its popularity will be further fueled by the previously observed deficiencies of neighboring destinations to deliver on expectations.
Another survey found that 85% of Chinese related the best memories of their lives to travelling, and 91% reported feeling deprived of these memories. This “travel memory deficit” is what has led to pent-up demand. Chinese New Year, expected to fall on February 12th, is deemed to represent a likely time for Chinese tourists to flock the UAE again. Given this foresight, brands in the UAE could begin establishing their presence in the mind of travelers using The MediaVantage’s expertise in the Chinese media landscape.
