Chinese Tourist Numbers on the Rise in the Emirates and Kingdom

Chinese tourists flocked to tourist sites across Asia during the Lunar New Year holiday, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels of tourist numbers and spending in destinations such as Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.

According to a research note by HSBC Bank, “Despite headwinds for the overall economy, we believe that Chinese citizens are still willing to spend on travel.”

The Middle East saw an increase in Chinese tourists during the holiday, with more than nine times the number of Chinese tourists visiting Saudi Arabia compared to 2019 levels, according to the website “Trip.com.”

They also noted that bookings for the UAE increased by 60%.

The influx of Chinese tourists into Southeast Asian countries without visas enhances travel movement and indicates a strong resurgence in travel since Beijing lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in early 2023 that had closed China’s borders for almost three years.

Reservations jumped to Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia combined by more than 30 percent in the period from February 10 to 17 compared to 2019, according to “Trip.com” travel site, with an increase in Chinese visitors to Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, and South Korea as well.

The Thai Tourism Authority reported that the number of Chinese tourists arriving during the holiday reached about 244,000 tourists, exceeding expectations and more than six times the number in 2023. Spending reached approximately 8.6 billion baht ($239 million) compared to 1.3 billion baht in 2023. (Reuters)