10 Simple Tips to Target China (for Small Tourism Business)

If you already have a small tourism business or just enough ambitions with some fortune and desire to use those in a smart way for getting into, then this article is for you.

Why Chinese Tourists?  Because they are the Future of the Tourism industry 

• Chinese international tourist market will remain the most lucrative in the next 10 years
• If Chinese will like to experience with you, he will recommend you to much more of his friends than anyone else
• In the next 20 years, China will take the 4^th part of all international tourism

GOOD NEWS  for Small Tourism Businesses all over the World 

If previously Chinese traveled mainly in mass groups, mainly to the top destinations and/or in luxury, now the situation is changing for your benefit:

• Mass groups are still popular, but only among the elderly
• Chinese will prefer wild nature & fresh air over the popularity of the place
• Traveling experience now is more important than luxury

Further reading Report about Hospitality in China

 You want to target Chinese travelers: These Tips are the BASIC 

1. Before starting, create a good Chinese name for your business

Your prospective Chinese guests have a very different mindset and language. Every sound has some special meaning and pronunciation there. Make the name of your tourism business consonant, easy to remember, and sonorous to their world.

Make your clients find you in China

2. Create a Chinese website, and host it locally

 

Business with Chinese is Only in China and Only in the Chinese Language!

You need to make your potential clients find your traveling business on their mainland. The best way to make it is to create your own Chinese website with pictures of your traveling destinations, information about your traveling activities, and your contact details. To make your website work fast in China, you need to put it on Hong Kong or Singapore’s hosting. Your website has to be mobile-friendly, as the Chinese are using their mobile phones for any kind of search.

3. Make SEO on Baidu

The Baidu search engine is the only way to find your website in China. It is “Chinese Google” and all the searches are appearing there.  You need to make a Baidu Search Engine Optimization campaign for your website for the key search words that are most appropriate for your traveling business (for example “Kenya Safari”). The higher your ranking on Baidu, the more people are coming to your website.

4. Improve your e-Reputation

China is the most flooded county with fraud! Apart from counterfeits every year, thousands of fake and low-quality hospitals, surgery clinics, financial services, and tourist agencies appear and disappear. Chinese are very concerned about not being cheated. They will search on the internet, consider and reconsider a countless number of times before even buying a local tour ticket for the nearest weekends.

After your potential client will find your website through Baidu and carefully study it, he will start to search for any kind of information about your traveling business on the Chinese web. (Are you already there?) The more positive information, more good reviews, and more recommendations on Chinese forums he will get about your business – the greater chance that your potential client will call you. In China, the reputation of your business is your “everything”.

5. Open an Official account on Chinese Social Media

Social media platforms are the best way to introduce your tourism business to the Chinese. In China, there is no Instagram or Facebook, or Twitter. You need to use Chinese native social media platforms to reach Chinese travelers. Here are some of the most useful for your business:

Weibo is the second most popular social media platform in China. Chinese and foreign celebrities and domestic and international brands are using it for promotion and interaction with their followers.

Mafengwo is the most popular social media platform for tourism. There are Chinese and international travel companies, vloggers, bloggers, and travel forums for any topic. Many Chinese are looking for their traveling inspiration there.

CTrip is the most popular platform for booking tickets and accommodation. Travel forums and reviews are also there.

6. Work with Chinese Travel Influencers

Traveling influencers are popular Chinese traveling bloggers with a large number of followers. Chinese travelers are very appreciating their traveling experience and advice. Chinese tourists are looking for traveling inspiration from their favorite traveling bloggers.

7. Improve your visibility on the Chinese Web

If things are already going well with your Chinese guests, you can improve the visibility of your traveling business in China: open more official accounts on different social media platforms; create more exciting content for your travelling followers; make Baidu PPC and display advertising campaigns.

8. Create a Chinese cross-border payment account

Chinese are mostly using their native mobile payment platforms WeChat and Alipay for cashless payments. It is already proven in practice that the Chinese are ready to buy more products or services if they have a chance to use their native payment services when abroad or just order a trip from your website. It is not that difficult to make a cross-border payment accounts on your phone or use this service from 3rd party companies.

Improve your business locally

9. Add more food options

Let your guests try more authentic food from your destination. For them, experience in tasting local food is as important, as the travelling experience itself.  Always have Chinese food and chopsticks as an option: your guests like the feeling of being at home, especially when they’re with their children and on a long journey.

10. Provide service in the Chinese language

Learn key Chinese phases, as your guests like to be welcomed in their own language. But better hire qualified Chinese-speaking staff or tour guides: educational tours are on the rise in China, so with Chinese-speaking staff, you will have more clients.

Read also: Marketing to Chinese tourists travelers

Do you want to develop your Business? RIGHT?

So What’s the Next Step?

Why You MUST Contact us

• We have a Tourism expert that can guide you, (30min for free consulting)
• You can have access to a strategic report for China’s Outbound Tourism Market
• you can receive our Case studies in Tourism (more than 200 Clients)

Some Tourism Case studies

We hope these essentials will help you to understand what is needed to succeed in China!