5.1 percent increase in Chinese arrivals to Europe in 2018, more influx expected this year

Thursday, June 27, 2019

In 2019 more Chinese visitors are expected to visit Europe due to more direct flights between China and Europe and other tailor-made services.

There was a year-on-year increase of 5.1 percent in Chinese arrivals during the EU-China Tourism Year 2018 (ECTY 2018) as per the European Travel Commission.

Due to the increasingly interconnected Eurasia and further alignment of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the development strategies of European countries there is a tourism boom.

China’s International Airport  data revealed that there were 30 new air routes between China and Europe opened in 2018 and this momentum continued in 2019.

A new direct flight linking the Italian capital Rome with Hangzhou, capital city of east China’s Zhejiang Province was inaugurated at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci airport on June 12.

Fausto Palombelli, chief commercial officer of Aeroporti di Roma (a company that runs the airport) said the Rome believes in the potential of tourist arrivals from China and  adding that the new direct route is part of the airport’s plan to tap Chinese market.

A new direct flight between Shanghai and Hungary’s capital city Budapest was open by China Eastern Airlines on June 7 and is scheduled to run three times a week.

Deputy CEO for Marketing and Sales at the Hungarian Tourism Agency Anna Nemeth said that China is one of the most important markets for inbound tourism for Hungary. The direct flights between Budapest and Shanghai will not just expand the scale of the business development plans and trade but will also increase the number of visitors in China and Hungary as well.

Many Chinese tourists prefer Norway and China’s Hainan Airlines on May 15 began a direct flight service between Beijing and Norway’s capital city Oslo, which is the first non-stop flight service between the two countries.

Tourism cooperation and development of both he countries  are impacted by the direct air links.

Fan Heyun, Air China chief executive officer in Athens said that Air China opened the Beijing-Athens direct flight route on September 30, 2017, and after one year the number of Chinese tourists through the air route visiting Greece has increased threefold.

To better cater to the needs of the Chinese travellers European countries are improving their services.

Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Airport, the aviation hub of Spain, decided to offer a “complete experience” to an ever-increasing number of Chinese tourists two months ago.

The airport’s commercial director Ana Paniagua stated that they put up signs in Chinese so that Chinese tourists have no problems in finding the correct check-in or confirming the time of their flight.

Further, the airport has also decided to employ specialized personnel to help Chinese travelers pass through the airport security checks.

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• U.S. saw 5.7% dip in Chinese arrivals last year