BEIJING: Chinese outbound tourist numbers are expected to exceed 130 million this year, up by half from last year. But outbound travel recovery is still lagging compared to pre-pandemic levels. As travel picks up again , many Chinese are abandoning Western destinations and heading instead to Middle Eastern countries - such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and Saudi Arabia - for their rich heritage, dedicated hospitality and exotic attractions.
TOURISM INVESTMENTS, BETTER CONNECTIVITY Between the first quarter of last year and the first quarter this year alone, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Middle East rose more than 50 per cent. The surge is due to various factors, including significant investments in tourism, and better air connectivity through more flight routes. Earlier this year, Chinese citizen Liang Xuemin visited iconic spots in Dubai in the UAE such as the artificially-formed island of Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
During her six days there, she was surprised by the Emiratis’ hospitality catered to the Chinese market. The 38-year-old and her family decided to spend their Spring Festival holidays - as Chinese New Year is referred to in China - there, after realising air tickets were two times cheaper than flights to China's tropical island province Hainan island. “During the Spring Festival, Hainan is a very popular destination in China.
So the round-trip air tickets at that time were around 5,000 to 6,000 yu.