Saturday, August 24, 2024 The official Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespana) is implementing a series of initiatives to better understand and cater to the Chinese outbound tourism market, which Spain considers strategically important. The focus is on leveraging the digital ecosystem to respond to the evolving preferences of Chinese travelers. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Ana Lafuente, the tourism counselor at the Tourist Office of Spain in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, emphasized the importance of understanding the cultural connections and preferences of Chinese tourists.
Lafuente highlighted the need for Spanish travel service providers to be attuned to the unique experiences sought by Chinese visitors and to adapt to their basic travel needs, such as preferred payment methods and cultural expectations. Lafuente stated that the goal is for Spanish destinations and tourism service providers to engage with Chinese tourists at every point along the value chain, using technology to bridge language barriers and enhance communication. A recent Turespana study identified significant growth potential in tourism from distant locations like China, with direct flights between the two countries playing a key role in facilitating this trend.
One of the critical strategies involves tapping into the Chinese digital ecosystem, which Lafuente describes as “different from ours and omnipresent in the lives of Chinese tourists.” She noted that platforms such as WeChat Channels, which.