Visa exemption spurs inbound China bookings: DidaTravel data

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

DidaTravel, a technology-driven global travel distribution company, has released data indicating a positive impact on inbound travel and tourism to China following a recent announcement about visa exemptions.

China recently introduced a new visa-free policy for passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. This policy became effective on December 1, 2023, and is valid for one year. It allows travelers from these countries to stay in China for up to 15 days for purposes such as business travel, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transiting within the country. The goal of this policy is to enhance convenience for passport holders from these nations and stimulate inbound tourism.

Based on DidaTravel’s booking data, since the implementation of this visa-free policy, hotel bookings from the mentioned six countries have surged by more than 50% from December 1 to December 7 compared to the previous week. Notably, hotel bookings from Spain to China have witnessed an impressive increase of over 100% during the same period. Italy and Malaysia also experienced substantial week-on-week growth in hotel bookings, with increases of 50% and 67%, respectively.

While the broader Chinese inbound tourism market has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, partly due to China’s borders only fully reopening in early 2023, DidaTravel has achieved remarkable year-to-date growth in inbound hotel sales to China, with a 151% increase compared to the same period in 2019. This demonstrates DidaTravel’s ability to outperform wider market trends and capture significant new market share.

According to DidaTravel’s year-to-date total transaction value, Spain, Malaysia, and Italy have consistently ranked among the top 20 source markets for inbound travel to China in 2023. The most frequently booked destinations in China include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Suzhou, Langfang, Dongguan, and Wuhan.

Rikin Wu, Founder & CEO of DidaTravel, expressed enthusiasm about the growth potential for China’s inbound tourism sector following this news, and these initial figures are seen as very encouraging. He credited proactive policies like these for creating a robust business environment for tourism, allowing them to tap into the demand for experiencing China fully. As a pioneering B2B hotel distributor in China, DidaTravel is committed to supporting its global partners by offering expertise and an extensive portfolio of products in China, including hotels, tours, experiences, and transfers. They eagerly anticipate welcoming visitors from around the world and exploring new collaboration opportunities within China’s ever-evolving tourism industry.

DidaTravel, as the leading B2B travel wholesaler in China, collaborates with various types of hotels, ranging from budget accommodations to downtown boutiques and luxurious 5-star resorts. They source their inventory through direct contracts with hotels, chains, and channel managers. The company operates globally, offering support for multiple currencies, languages, and payment methods.

DidaTravel boasts a portfolio of over 70,000 competitively sourced direct hotel contracts, in addition to 1,000,000 hotel products from more than 600 global suppliers. Their customer base comprises over 30,000 B2B buyers, including Travel Agencies, Tour Operators, OTAs, TMCs, and MICE. With this business model, the company solidifies its position as a leading technology solution provider, delivering unparalleled value to its partners.

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