The 2nd International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism was held
in Beijing on November 20-21, aiming to provide a wider platform
for international and local industry professionals to discuss
further the rapid development of Chinese travel and the needs of
the global industry.
Per Setterberg, CEO of the Global Refund Group, a leading
supplier of international financial services, attended the forum
and said the money Chinese tourists spend on overseas shopping has
reached US$235 million per month, ranking first in the world.
According to Tuesday's Beijing Youth Daily, an
investigation done jointly by ACNielsen and Tax Free World
Association found that Chinese tourists spent an average of US$987
each on overseas shopping.
Setterberg said this was because most Chinese people have fewer
opportunities to go abroad, but when they do they buy goods with
famous foreign brands so they can show them to their colleagues and
friends when they return.
Beijing Youth Daily said Chinese people often take much
more money than they need when they travel in case of unexpected
consumption, and end up spending more of it. They also think that
buying foreign commodities in their perceived place of origin
assures quality, and their prices can be cheaper than inside
China.
The report said Chinese tourists' behavior overseas is different
from other people's, which tends to focus more on enjoying the
scenery and cultures of places visited. Chinese people are less
likely to really appreciate other cultures, it said, and more
likely to focus on shopping opportunities.
Paolo Zegna, CEO of the Zegna Group, which own Italian designer
brand Ermenegildo Zegna, said he had been surprised by Chinese
tourists' consumption capacity.
A professor from Paris' Ecole Superieure de Commerce said global
luxury brands agree that China will have an important influence on
the future development of their businesses.
(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, November 27, 2005)