Chinese tourists are back! Flights between China and Singapore will continue to increase!
Civil Aviation Resource Network News on July 28, 2023: According to the New Zealand Chinese Herald, Chinese tourists have begun to return to New Zealand, and air cargo between New Zealand and China is now stronger than before.
On the eve of the epidemic, China was New Zealand's second largest tourist market, accounting for 11% of the total number of tourists. Chinese tourists spend $1.7 billion a year, or 15 per cent of total visitor spending.
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Figures from Statistics New Zealand show that for the full year to the end of May, arrivals were 51,845 (in the five months since January), down from 421,707 in the 12-month period before the pandemic. Many of the people who first came here were to visit relatives and friends—the so-called VFR (Visit friends and relatives) market.
Lisa Li, general manager of China Travel Service, said the strong return of these VFR passengers was expected and mirrored what happened when travel between other countries resumed.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Rebecca Ingram said the speed at which Chinese tourists were returning was not surprising, especially since they had only been traveling since January and air flights were being resumed. The industry has been looking forward to a phased recovery. "What we're hearing from travelers is that the market is definitely picking up, especially 'independent travelers' (solo travelers, families and couples). There will be an increase in arrivals related to the Lunar New Year in February. We look forward to welcoming them and celebrating with them."
At present, the operating rate of air traffic between mainland China and Auckland is more than 80% of the pre-epidemic level, and it is expected to increase to 93% by the end of this year.
With the return of airlines, China is now New Zealand's fifth-largest tourist market, with data for May showing a 42% recovery in two-way visits between the two countries.
The airport's chief customer officer, Scott Tasker, said the initial arrivals were to visit family and friends. But the data shows that travel demand is increasingly skewed towards leisure and business. Currently, half of Chinese inbound tourists are on vacation (50% in the May quarter), more than those visiting family and friends (29%).
“As the economic recovery is well underway, we are seeing Chinese tourists adopt a deliberate approach to their travel choices, looking for destinations where they can escape and relax. There is an increasing trend away from major global tourist attractions to offer nature tours and destinations for the great outdoors and New Zealand tourism clearly has something to offer."
Tasker said the flights between New Zealand and China not only provided passenger flow for family, leisure and business travel between the two countries, but the flights also carried connecting flights through Chinese airport hubs to destinations across Asia as well as the UK and Europe. Very important for global connectivity.