MILAN, Aug 7 (Class Editori) - Citrip pushes Chinese tourism to Sicily. Asia's largest online travel agency yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Sicindustria and Confcommercio Sicilia, to bring Chinese travelers to the Italian island.
With over 300 million users in China, Ctrip is committed to draw on its online platforms and media connections to promote tourist destinations and local Sicilian experiences for high-profile customers. The agreement involves seaside resorts and thermal centers, food and wine tours, art and history itineraries.
“In 2017, Chinese tourists contributed with $258 billion to the global economy and 150 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad in 2018,” explained Ctrip's marketing manager Bo Su. “From restaurants to local artisans, all the areas of the Sicilian economy will benefit from being part of this huge operation. With the approach of 2020, the year of tourism and culture between Italy and China, there will be plenty of opportunities.”
“It is a good thing because it serves to create a coherent system. Following Xi Jinping's visit to Palermo, interest in Sicily has increased exponentially, with a 500% increase in the tourist flow,” explained the Undersecretary for Economic Development Michele Geraci, present at the signing together with the Sicilian Region, represented by Gaetano Armao, regional councilor for the economy and vice-president of the region, and by Manlio Messina, regional councilor for tourism, sport and entertainment.
“Italy is already one of the most popular destinations for the Chinese outbound tourism market, which is increasingly growing,” added Bo Sun.
According to a survey by the CNA study center, in 2019 Chinese tourism in Italy is destined to rise, breaking the wall of 6 million presences, compared to 5 million in 2018 and 2017 and 4.5 million in 2016, the year in which the opening of eleven consular visa centers has facilitated the entrance into our country. In relative terms, the growth in in visitors numbers has been of 20% in one year and of 33% in three years. And this massive tourism wave coming from the Far East should generate an economic movement for 1.5 billion euros.
On average, Chinese tourists are those who spend the most among non-Europeans. The analysis of tax-free purchases shows a per capita receipt of more than 1,000 euros - yet, obviously, these statistics take into account only the expenditures of those who submit the reimbursement request before leaving the country. It is an important sum, which also takes into account another trend: that of purchases through a third party, which are becoming increasingly common among Chinese people visiting Italy - who privately import products purchased on behalf of third parties, sometimes ordering them through dedicated digital platforms.
The appeal of Italian clothing brands in particular, as well as of food & wine and of design, favors a stronger presence of women among Chinese tourists (60% of the total), as well as a predominance of the youth: 65% is between 20 and 45 years old.
(Source:Class Editori)
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