Tuning in to Chinese visitor technology needs

On Saturday I covered the China – New Zealand Year of Tourism Launch for the NZ Herald. The last session at the event was a fascinating panel discussion about the need for tourist operators to understand the importance of technology to a Chinese visitor and how to work with their needs.

Some highlights from the panel session:

“Technology has a huge impact on their travel choices. From seeking information, making booking arrangements and paying. They do everything on their mobile phones.”

— Lisa Li managing director of China Travel Services New Zealand, talking about young Chinese millennial visitors to New Zealand

Paper missing in action

There’s research showing the overwhelming majority of that millennial group has not picked up a single piece of paper media in over a year. 

— Tourism New Zealand general manager Rebecca Ingram

“Just over two years ago we signed an agreement with Alibaba Group. 

“We wanted to get value from the Chinese market while also ensuring Chinese visitors had a good experience in the country. Part of that was us supporting a roll-out of Alipay. 

…only 13 percent of Chinese visitors have credit cards. If they weren’t able to transact in the way they are used to, we would be leaving money on the table and they’d have a poorer experience when they came. “

— Justin Watson, Christchurch Airport chief commercial officer.

“This is the first generation that has grown up with a smartphone since the age of ten. So everything they do revolves around their phones. 

“If you are in the tourism business and you’re not driving visitor experiences through that channel you are going to miss out.”

— Liverton CEO Justin de Lille.

“In China, there can be an app that doesn’t exist one day, it launches and three months later there are 100 million people onboard.”

— Tourism New Zealand general manager Rebecca Ingram.

Read the full version of Technology enhances the visitor experience at the NZ Herald.