Marketing your travel agency to China is not that easy for Receptive Travel Agencies, and dealing with Chinese Tour Operator or Chinese Travel Agencies has become more challenging than ever.
Chinese Tourists: 130 million Chinese travelled abroad
Chinese International tourism is expected to maintain its fast development during the next years.
Visa policies and increased direct flights are attracting Chinese Travellers to more destinations than before
Chinese made more than 71.3 million International Trips in the first half of 2018, (+ 15%)
China has become the biggest source of Tourists for Destination like Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Russia, Maldives, Indonesia, and South Africa
Due to the growth in the first half of the year, outbound Chinese travellers for the entire year would reach 160 million according to Tourism Expert and Chinese Tourism Academy.
You are a Travel Agencies, hotel, and Transportation Company and want to partner with Chinese Tourism players…
And you ask yourself these questions…
- How to Attract Chinese Tour Operators?
- How to deal with them?
- Make business Successful or Not?
Chinese Tour Operators & Travel Agencies
You have a lot of Chinese Tour operators in China and it is difficult to deal with them for International Tourism Players.
Chinese TO is interested to deal with Serious Companies, that have a good reputation and offer good conditions Price and Services.
How to Attract Chinese Tour Operators?
- Most Chinese do not speak English, and those that speak English prefer to Read Chinese.
- Most of them do not use emails and prefer to communicate on WeChat
- Google is blocked in China, so they search on Baidu
- Facebook, Instagram Twitter is blocked in China, so you have to use WeChat, Weibo LittleRedBook
- In China, everything is Different. If you want to do business you have to Adapt to Chinese Rules.
Basic Requirements to Deal With Chinese Tour Operators and Travel Agencies.
A Chinese Website
You have to get a Chinese Version of your Website for the Chinese Audience. Simplified Mandarin.
You can have a Simple Website, but have to be professional, and clear to find information.
Examples AigueMarine Paris.
Hosting in China
To have your website accessible in China, you have to host it in China, or Hong Kong. Many websites are blocked in China, due to the Great Fire Wall.
WeChat Account
You need to communicate with your Client via WeChat, better than Email.
WeChat Ebrochure
Most Chinese prefer Ebrochure over traditional PDFs.
What is an Ebrochure? It is an HTML5 Page, that introduces your Agency.
Have a look Here
Tactics to Attract Tour Operators Leads
How to attract Leads (askings) from Tour operators in China? That is a good question. You need to try to understand them first.
- The Search on Baidu when they want to find suppliers
- They use online Forums to find the best partner
- They want to be sure to deal with a serious partner, and your Reputation is Vital
- They do not like spammer, they expect personalized Messages in Chinese
Example: Travel Manager at Ctrip, a leading Online travel Player in China.
Baidu SEO: Rank on the Top Page of Baidu (Google is blocked in China )
To attract quality Leads, the best way is to appear in a B2B search on Baidu, like Local Tour Operator in {Your country]
Example: Search “Thailand Travel Agencies ” on Baidu
Baidu SEM or Advertising
Advertising on Baidu can be a good option to attract these Professionals. You can have a look at Baidu SEM in this article for further information.
Take care of your E-Reputation
Chinese Travel professionals will check the Reputation of your Agency, you have better have positive comments. If they find nothing they will just find another one. They do not like to take risks dealing with new players.
Communicate on Travel Forums can be a Good option
In China, a lot of Forums are powerful and have a lot of visitors among Chinese Professionals. They search for Tourism Guide, new attractions, and good recommendations for Hotel.
For this Resort, having a positive Review on Forums bring the attention of Tour Operators.
Who is the Main tour Operator in China?
With our experience, we know the main Tour Operators in China and Travel agencies. we have a list, with contact ( we do not send it for free)
We can keep our clients in touch with them, but we know without good Preparation, it does not bring results.
- CITS, Chinese Tours Holding Co., Ltd. (CYTS) is a subordinate company of the Chinese government.
- China SSS, alias Stringtour, they are a mass market low-cost Tour operator.
- Tuniu one of the leading online tour operator in China was founded in 2016 and its headquarter in Nanjing,
- Ly : aka Tongcheng the leading online tour operator in China was founded in 2004 and its head office is in Suzhou
- U-Tour One the leading Travel Agencies in China, was the first private-owned company (Based in Shenzhen )
- Caissa : it is a Travel Old player ( founded in 1993, head quarter in Beijing.)
- CITS the leading tour operator in South China, they rebrand “Nice tour”
- Ctrip : Ctrip alias Trip.com is a leading Booking Plateform, they also have Travel Agency.
- HHtravel : is a High End Travel Agency. They provide Tailormade travel for Wealth Client.
- Zanadu : they are a High End Tour Operator , and provide high quality Services
- Aoyou : they are a Mass Market Tour Operator in China
- Miutur : It is a online travel player, provide package for Chinese travellers
- LvMama : it is a Mass Market Travel plateform, also organize trip for their Users
Read also : How to convince a chinese travel agent to partner with your travel business ?
Want to deal with Chinese Tour Operators?
We are GMA (Gentlemen Marketing Agency) we are specialized in Tourism Marketing in China. We already helped more than 300 travel players to communicate in China, and develop their Businesses.
- Feel free to ask us for more information, or ask about our Case studies.
- We have cost-effective Solutions for All kinds of Ambition
- A Team of 50 Marketers at your Service
