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DidaTravel’s data shows a significant increase in China’s inbound travel following the new visa-free policy for six countries.
SHENZHEN, CHINA – DidaTravel, a tech-driven global travel distribution company, shared data that reflects a positive impact for inbound travel to China following the recent visa exemption announcement.
China recently announced a new visa-free policy for passports holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. This policy took effect on December 1, 2023, and will last for one year. It applies to trips of up to 15 days for business travel, tourism, visiting relatives and friends and for transitioning within China. The aim of this policy is to create convenience for passport holders from these countries in order to stimulate inbound tourism.
Based on DidaTravel’s booking data, since the implementation of the recent visa-free policy, hotel bookings from the six countries named have grown by over 50% from 1 December to 7 December in comparison to the previous week. In fact, hotel bookings for travelers from Spain to China have jumped by more than 100% compared to the same period last week. Bookings from Italy and Malaysia to China saw an impressive increase of 50% and 67% week on week, respectively.
Meanwhile, although the wider Chinese inbound market has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels due in part to the fact that China’s borders only fully opened in early 2023, DidaTravel’s year-to-date inbound hotel sales to China have seen a remarkable 151% growth vs. the same period in 2019. This highlights DidaTravel’s ability to outpace wider market dynamics and capture significant new market share.
According to DidaTravel’s year-to-date total transaction value, Spain, Malaysia, and Italy have been among the top 20 source markets for inbound China travel in 2023. The most booked destinations in China are Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Suzhou, Langfang, Dongguan, and Wuhan.
Rikin Wu, Founder & CEO of DidaTravel, said, “We were really excited about the growth opportunity for China’s inbound tourism sector as result of this news and these initial figures are very encouraging. Thanks to proactive policies like this, that create a strong business environment for tourism, we are able to unlock the full potential of the demand that exists to experience China. As one of the pioneering B2B hotel distributors in China, we are committed to supporting our global partners with our expertise and leading portfolio of products in China – including not only hotels, but also tours, experiences and transfers. We look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the world and exploring new opportunities for collaboration within the country’s ever evolving tourism industry.”
As the number one B2B travel wholesaler in China, DidaTravel works with all types of hotels, from budget motels, downtown boutiques to 5-star luxury resorts, sourcing its inventory through direct contracts with hotels, chains and channel managers. The company is truly global with support for multiple currencies, languages, and payment methods.
DidaTravel has a portfolio of over 70,000 competitively sourced direct hotel contracts – as well as 1,000,000 hotel products from over 600 global suppliers. DidaTravel’s current customer base consists of over 30,000 B2B buyers – including Travel Agencies, Tour Operators, OTAs, TMCs and MICE. With this business model, the company consolidates its position as a leading technology solution provider, delivering unparalleled value to its partners.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
