A reader sent us a link by e-mail on Thursday. And it's very good news indeed, especially for those who make a living from the tourism sector; Chinarealtime at the Wall Street Journal reports:
From nerdy TV shows like “Big Bang Theory” to ancient poetry, there are plenty of factors influencing whether Chinese tourists end up eating cheesecake in Pasadena or, say, admiring a willow tree in Cambridge.
So much for the whims of Chinese tourists. But just how happy are they when they finally arrive in their actual destinations of choice?
A new report from a Chinese think-tank has some answers. According to the China Tourism Academy, among 22 destinations studied, the most satisfying destinations for tourists from the Middle Kingdom in this year’s first quarter were New Zealand, the U.S. and Canada. At the bottom were Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Rounding out the middle of the pack were countries such as France (No. 9), this year’s hot-spot destination of Japan (No. 12) and Russia (No. 15). (See list below for full rankings.) The think-tank is affiliated with the China National Tourism Administration, a government body.
China is an emerging economic powerhouse, with a rapidly growing middle class with money to spend. The numbers alone make China incredibly important to a small tourism market such as New Zealand.
And those numbers are set to grow further as more and more Chinese travel overseas:
Given the levels of smog and crowds that await tourists across China, it’s perhaps no surprise that more Chinese tourists are choosing to pack their passports and holiday overseas. CTA said that the level of satisfaction among domestic tourists is the lowest it’s been since 2009, with their analysis citing air quality as one driving factor.
Winston Peters may have a strong dislike and distrust of the Chinese. But the money that they bring with them is very welcome in the tourism sector, and in the wider New Zealand economy. Here's hoping that Chinese tourists continue to enjoy their New Zealand experience.
