TI’ME expands horizons to tap into China

UAE based hotel group TI’ME is looking to grow inbound Chinese visitor numbers as the country’s economy is forecasted to reach 84 million travellers by 2015. The hotel’s Management in a effort to tap into the potential market will meet key travel buyers at forthcoming Chinese Visitor Summit

The growth in inbound visitor numbers from China to the UAE has prompted TIME Hotels Management to augment its strategic marketing efforts in order to target this increasingly influential sector as the number of Chinese travelling overseas is forecast to hit 84 million by 2015, and 100 million by 2020.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) say around 70 million Chinese travelled overseas in 2011, up by over 38% on 2010 figures, of which an estimated 300,000 Chinese tourists visited the UAE last year spending US$334 million according to Mastercard research.

“Officials have released data that shows outbound tourism from China has grown 20% in the first five months of 2012, which is consistent with our experience and that of the Dubai market overall. We too have seen a significant increase of inbound Chinese business to our Dubai properties with the TIME Grand Plaza in Al Qusais reporting an 86% rise in room nights year-to-date from leisure visitors, and our Al Barsha property witnessing a rise in Chinese corporate business, especially long-staying guests,” said Mohamed Awadalla, area vice president, TIME Hotels Management.

Per capita spending by Chinese visitors is also reportedly the highest, at AED4,092 compared with AED3,477 per average British tourist and AED3,996 per average Kuwaiti tourist. But this pales almost into insignificance once compared with global spending figures of US$72 billion last year, ranking third highest spenders behind the Germans and Americans at US$84 billion and US$79 billion respectively.