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A young family enjoying a day at the beach in Hong Kong. Photo: Blue Jean Images/Corbis

Chinese holidaymakers heat up Asia-Pacific digital travel sales

New study forecasts mainland market to be worth US$121.98 billion next year, up from an estimated US$95.29 billion in 2016

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With China the region’s largest source of holidaymakers and business travellers, Asia-Pacific is predicted to surpass North America as the world’s largest digital travel market next year.

Analysts at New York-based research firm eMarketer said not even the economic uncertainty caused by Britain’s vote to exit the European Union will dampen rising digital travel sales on the mainland.

“The UK will certainly attract more Chinese tourists with a weaker pound in the next few months,” eMarketer vice-president Wang Haxia told the South China Morning Post.

“There are already signs of rising travel bookings to the UK from China.”

Data released by eMarketer on Wednesday showed that digital travel sales on the mainland are forecast to reach US$121.98 billion next year, up from an estimated US$95.29 billion this year.

That would help ratchet up overall Asia-Pacific digital travel sales next year to US$215.92 billion, from US$177.66 billion projected this year.

By comparison, North America digital travel sales are expected to top out next year at US$200.43 billion.

The Gili Islands in Indonesia.
Chris Bendtsen, forecasting analyst at eMarketer, pointed out that “consumers in China are now able to take advantage of the rising disposable income and simplified visa policies” that have progressed over the past few years.

“Online travel agencies, such as Ctrip, Qunar, Tuniu and Alitrip, are all fueling that growth,” Bendtsen said.

Shanghai-based Ctrip.com International, which is backed by Chinese online search giant Baidu, is the mainland’s largest digital travel service provider. Listed on Nasdaq, Ctrip owns the vast majority of Qunar’s shares.

Tuniu, in which e-commerce company JD.com is the largest shareholder, is strong in selling packaged tours.

Online travel service Alitrip is part of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group’s online-to-offline operations, which include daily deals venture Koubei. Alibaba owns the Post.

Bendtsen said growing smartphone adoption in mainland China has not only helped drive sales for the digital travel agencies, but also prompted mainland airlines and hotels to further invest in their own mobile apps.

Ctrip and Qunar have the two most downloaded travel apps on the mainland as of January, according to Chinese travel industry tracker CTCNN as cited by eMarketer.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: China to lead Asia surge in global digital travel market
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