China’s customized travel market worth RMB 100 billion, more products needed

China’s online and offline customized travel market was worth RMB100 billion (US $14.56 billion) in 2018, up by 15.6% year on year, China Economic Net reported.

The figure was announced by the China Tourism Academy on July 10 when it released its 2019 annual report of China customized travel development.

Customized travel service has been around for a long time in China, but the segment really took off in 2016 with high demand for customization, the report said.

Customized travel is an unrivalled form of travel. It offers professional consultation on itinerary design, any unexpected situations can be resolved during the trip, and there is 24-hour service. Travelers can adjust their travel plans flexibly, and they can enjoy an immersive experience.

Wang Hui, vice president of Caissa Touristic (Group) AG. described customized travel as a most promising segment, which accounts for more than 70% of its outbound travel business and more than 90% of its inbound business. Customized travel is also an increasingly popular option for domestic travel.

Dai Bin, President of China Tourism Academy, said the key market players represented by Ctrip, Caissa and HH Travel have played an important role in improving the quality of customized travel in China.

“As Chinese people's living standard continues to improve and travelers have richer travel experience, the customized travel market is likely to be more segmented. The market will desire more itineraries and products from different providers,” Mr Dai added. (Translated by Juli)