Latest news with #VirginiaMessina
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Chinese set to spend record $1.26 trillion in local travel boom
The boom comes as China doubles down on expanding cultural and tourism events across the country to boost consumption. PHOTO: EPA-EFE BEIJING – Chinese travellers are expected to fork out a record US$968 billion (S$1.26 trillion) on mainland trips in 2025, making domestic tourism a bright spot amid concerns about lacklustre consumer spending. Local holidaymakers will splash out nearly 19 per cent more on mainland travel than in 2024, industry group the World Travel and Tourism Council, which conducts travel research, said in a forecast. Spending on international holidays is also poised to finally outpace pre-Covid-19 levels in 2025, the council said, after a slower-than-expected recovery in 2024 fell 11 per cent short of the 1.8 trillion yuan (S$323.6 billion) forecast. The boom comes as China doubles down on expanding cultural and tourism events across the country to boost consumption, as it grapples with slowing consumer spending and the impending threat of US tariffs on its economy. Less expensive trips closer to home are becoming increasingly popular, including road and train journeys. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism on April 29 announced a new plan that will run through 2026 and include concerts, exhibitions and patriotic 'red tourism.' Surveys of Chinese consumers also show continued interest in overseas tourism. Three out of four respondents polled in March by travel marketing company Dragon Trail International were either interested in travelling outbound in 2025 or had already made plans for a foreign trip. Most of those trips were in Asia, though interest in all other regions has grown, Dragon Trail said. 'China had a strong recovery in 2024 and the outlook is very good,' WTTC Executive Vice-President Virginia Messina told Bloomberg. 'Domestic travel is really strong, and Chinese travellers continue to be a huge powerhouse when it comes to outbound trips.' That's welcome news for major global travel markets, where Chinese tourists remain the biggest spenders by nationality and hold outsized sway. Chinese travellers were the biggest spenders on international tourism in 2023, laying out US$197 billion – ahead of American and German visitors – according to UN Tourism. On the flip side, China's own expansive efforts to attract foreign tourists with visa-free travel and relaxed entry for dozens of countries could pay off in 2025, too. Spending by international visitors is forecast to hit 1.04 trillion yuan, 13 per cent growth from 2019. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Chinese set to spend record US$1 trillion in local travel boom
[HONG KONG] Chinese travellers are expected to fork out a record US$968 billion on mainland trips this year, making domestic tourism a bright spot amid concerns about lacklustre consumer spending. Local holidaymakers will splash out nearly 19 per cent more on mainland travel than in 2024, industry group the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which conducts travel research, said in a forecast. Spending on international holidays is also poised to finally outpace pre-Covid-19 levels in 2025, the council said, after a slower-than-expected recovery last year fell 11 per cent short of the 1.8 trillion yuan (S$324 billion) forecast. The boom comes as China doubles down on expanding cultural and tourism events across the country to boost consumption, as it grapples with slowing consumer spending and the impending threat of US tariffs on its economy. Less expensive trips closer to home are becoming increasingly popular, including road and train journeys. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Tuesday (Apr 29) announced a new plan that will run till 2026 and include concerts, exhibitions and patriotic 'red tourism'. Surveys of Chinese consumers also show continued interest in overseas tourism. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Three out of four respondents polled in March by travel marketing company Dragon Trail International were either interested in travelling outbound this year or had already made plans for a foreign trip. Most of those trips were in Asia, though interest in all other regions has grown, Dragon Trail said. 'China had a strong recovery in 2024 and the outlook is very good,' WTTC executive vice-president Virginia Messina told Bloomberg. 'Domestic travel is really strong, and Chinese travellers continue to be a huge powerhouse when it comes to outbound trips.' That's welcome news for major global travel markets, where Chinese tourists remain the biggest spenders by nationality and hold outsized sway. Chinese travellers were the biggest spenders on international tourism in 2023, laying out US$197 billion – ahead of American and German visitors – according to UN Tourism. On the flip side, China's own expansive efforts to attract foreign tourists with visa-free travel and relaxed entry for dozens of countries could pay off this year, too. Spending by international visitors is forecast to hit 1.04 trillion yuan, a 13 per cent growth from 2019. BLOOMBERG
Tourism Breaking News
17-03-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company Partner with WTTC to Push Data-Driven Tourism Growth
Post Views: 111 Mabrian, part of The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group signed a strategic partnership with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to provide industry-led and reliable data-driven insights that support the sustainable growth of the travel industry as Knowledge Partner. As part of this collaboration agreement, in which The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group also takes part, both companies will give WTTC access to their comprehensive travel intelligence databases, offering in-depth data analysis and insights on key industry trends: air connectivity, traveller's sentiment and interests, demand profiling, accommodation supply, and event impact analysis, among others. Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Communications at WTTC, commented on the partnership, highlighting 'Data-driven insights are critical to the sustainable growth of the Travel and Tourism sector. We are delighted to welcome Mabrian as a Knowledge Partner and look forward to leveraging their expertise, as well as The Data Appeal Company's, to enhance our research and advocacy efforts.' 'Joining this partnership with WTTC is a significant step in our mission to empower the travel and tourism sector with data-driven insights,' says Mirko Lalli, CEO at The Data Appeal Company. 'It is also an opportunity to help industry leaders anticipate trends, optimise strategies, and drive more sustainable tourism development worldwide.' Under the agreement, signed by Mabrian with WTTC representatives in the most recent edition of ITB Berlin, WTTC's research team will have access to the travel intelligence databases from both Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group and Mabrian, and their experienced pool of in-house analysts and consultants. These insights will support WTTC's industry research initiatives, policy development, and thought leadership efforts, contributing to WTTC's mission of fostering informed decision-making within the global travel and tourism ecosystem. 'After 6 years as WTTC Associate, we are excited to strengthen the relationship with this partnership that reinforces our commitment to providing actionable, relevant, and dependable data intelligence for the travel and tourism industry', states Carlos Cendra, Partner and Director of Marketing and Communications at Mabrian. 'enhance decision-making and promote a more resilient and sustainable future for the sector.'
