Online bookings in China reach RMB 18 billion

A combination of advances in technology and changes in consumer behaviour has led to huge strides in the travel industry in China. Online travel agents, airlines and hotels have benefited from increased online bookings, increasing from RMB 442 million in 2002, to an astonishing RMB 18.2 billion in 2007.

Inbound visitors to China, who tend to be Internet savvy, have been the major stimulus for China-based travel operators to put new technologies in place.

The Intercontinental Hotels Group recently introduced access to real-time hotel bookings and online payments for Chinese guests who don’t carry foreign bank cards. Wyndham is now allowing users to book rooms in their native language, a more secure option in a country seeing a high level of credit card fraud.

Both of these innovations represent technological advancements that are helping facilitate change in consumer buyer habits within China.

The airline industry is also experiencing a boom, fuelled by a strong economy and increasingly mobile middle class in China. Airlines currently account for 28% of China’s total travel market, which is up from a 21% share in 2002. This is the fasting growing segment in China’s travel industry.

The outlook for the travel industry in China will be the focus of this September’s Travel Distribution and Sales conference, to be held in Beijing.

www.ichotelsgroup.com