GREATER CHINA 14
China domestic travel trends point to pent up demand China’s domestic travel was almost back to 2019 levels during the Ching Ming Festival in April and the pent-up demand to venture overseas once restrictions are relaxed remains intact, says Professor Wolfgang Arlt, CEO of the China Outbound Travel Research Institute (COTRI).
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ver the holiday, which coincided with and tired of having to stay home and especially in Easter, travel returned to 93 percent of China. The pandemic has been over since May last its prior levels, although spending only year for them. They’ve had very few cases, so for the Chinese they are not afraid reached 60 perto travel.” cent due to changing travel Before the pandemic, patterns and discounts. China’s outbound travel Arlt said there had The pandemic has market was tipped to reach been a lot of special offers been over since May last more than 200 million trips on accommodation, while by 2020. The segment is many Chinese had chosen year for them. They’ve the most important for the self-driving holidays, had very few cases, so integrated resorts that have which pushed the overall sprung up around Asia, spending down. for the Chinese they are offering luxury amenities Speaking in an Asia not afraid to travel. along with gambling. Gaming Brief Face-toHowever, over the past Face interview, Arlt said a year, Beijing has also stepped trickle of outbound travel up its rhetoric against capital is rapidly likely to become outflows and jurisdictions seeking to lure its nationals a flood once the gates are fully opened. “More than ever,” he said, referring to the demand to gambling resorts, raising concern as to where the for overseas travel. “Like everybody, people are sick Mainland tourist will venture once travel is possible.
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Asia Gaming Briefings | June 2021
