China allows their citizens to go to 20 countries including Malaysia from 6th February onward .
More than 155 millions trips worldwide have been recorded by China tourist in 2019 and Malaysia only received 3.1 millions in 2019 .
It’s a huge market for inbound tour operators .
Recently , our Tourism Minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing has targeted 5 millions Chinese tourist to visit Malaysia this year .
If you are interested in this huge market , below are some tips before you start to promote in China market.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand the characteristics of Chinese tourists.
Chinese tourists are hyperconnected, mostly don’t speak any other languages than Mandarin (or Cantonese for the Southern Chinese), and they often travel in groups.
By keeping these characteristics in mind, you can tailor your approach to better reach and attract Chinese tourists to your tours. One effective way to attract Chinese tourists is through digital marketing.
This includes advertising through search engines like Baidu, Inc., which has nearly 80% market share in China.
Additionally, you can optimize your website for SEO on Baidu, as well as create engaging content on WeChat and 抖音 (TikTok) to attract Chinese tourists.
Using payment gateway like WeChat Pay and Alipay will also make it easier for the tourists to make transactions.
The Chinese characters might seem daunting at first, but the cross-language translations apps are getting better.
One other key strategy is to offer free wifi in your place of business or tour location. This is especially important because Chinese tourists are known for being heavily reliant on their mobile devices for information and communication.
By offering free wifi, you’re providing them with a valuable service that will make them more likely to choose your tour or business over others. This can be helpful in the event that Google Translate is necessary for your guide to communicate with the guests (this is still one of the best tools to bridge cross lingual communications)
While language is one big barrier, you can make the guests feel like they’re at home by providing amenities that are considered essential by “normal” Chinese tour companies
This can be in the form of disposable slippers, hot water, loose Chinese tea, and (yes!) instant cup noodles. Make sure these are advertised as “included” services.
Finally, it’s worth noting that as Chinese tourists travel further and more frequently, destinations that truly understand and cater to their needs will be the most successful in attracting them.
This means not only offering a great tour or service, but also understanding the key dates of the Chinese holiday calendar and preparing in advance (Spring Festival and Golden Week comes immediately to mind).
This can be in the form of your ad spending, as well as making sure you have enough logistics to cope with the demand.
In conclusion, attracting Chinese tourists to your tours without speaking Mandarin may seem like a daunting task, but by understanding their characteristics, offering familiar amenities, localizing your business and using digital marketing strategies, you can tap into this valuable market and attract more Chinese tourists to your tours.
As a business owner or inbound tour operator, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve and explore new ways to attract Chinese tourists. With the right approach, you can capitalize on the growing number of Chinese outbound tourists and bring new business to your destination.
Here are some strategies for attracting Chinese tourists even if you are just starting out and don’t speak Mandarin:
- Partner with a Chinese tour operator or travel agency: Partnering with a local Chinese tour operator or travel agency can help you reach Chinese tourists and provide them with the necessary language and cultural support. Let me know if you are interested to know Chinese tour operators .
- Use social media platforms popular in China: Platforms like WeChat and Douyin (TikTok) are popular in China and can be used to reach Chinese tourists. Create engaging content and optimize your social media accounts for SEO in Mandarin.
- Use a Chinese-language website or mobile app: Chinese tourists may prefer to book tours or services through a website or app that is available in Mandarin.
- Offer Chinese-language customer service: If possible, provide Chinese-language customer service through live chat or a customer service hotline.
- Offer Chinese-language guides or brochures: Chinese tourists may prefer to have information about your tours or services in Mandarin.
- Offer Chinese-style amenities: Offer Chinese-style amenities such as disposable slippers, hot water, and instant cup noodles.
- Accept Chinese mobile payments: Chinese tourists may prefer to use mobile payment methods such as WeChat Pay and Alipay, so make sure to accept these payment methods.
- Offer Chinese-style tour packages: Offer Chinese-style tour packages that cater to Chinese tourists’ preferences and interests.
- Understand Chinese holidays and peak travel times: Chinese tourists often travel during Chinese holidays such as Spring Festival and Golden Week, so it’s important to be prepared for the increased demand during these times.
By implementing these strategies, you can increase your chances of attracting Chinese tourists even if you don’t speak Mandarin.
For step by step in these strategies , I will be sharing at https://tourismgamechanger.com/nets
Insyallah , I will be also organising few roadshows in China this year. Do join the roadshow for you to understand better the requirement of the Chinese tourists
Let’s create good experiences for Chinese Tourists and aim for 5 millions Chinese tourist arrivals in Malaysia.