Taiwan’s luxury market sees decline in Chinese travelers

Once a key luxury shopping destination for Chinese travelers, Taiwan is now seeing a mainland visitor slump that shows just how abruptly politics can alter the Chinese tourism market in Asia.

After Taiwan’s newly elected president Tsai Ing-wen entered office in May, mainland Chinese tourist numbers dropped 15 percent from May 20 to July 26, according to Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA). While mainland China’s Taiwan Affairs Office contends that this slump is due to “market demand” and not political reasons, it came as China suspended diplomatic relations with Taiwan because Tsai Ing-wen will not endorse the 1992 Consensus, which states that mainland China and Taiwan are part of “one China.” Taiwan’s media has reported that Chinese travel agents informed travel representatives in Taiwan that Chinese visitor numbers would be reduced by 30 percent between March 20 and June 30.

But Taiwan’s slump is only one example of how quickly Chinese tourists’ travel destination choices can change with the political tide in Asia. Japan, which has been seeing a massive Chinese tourism and shopping boom, not long ago saw Chinese tourist numbers plummet in the wake of China’s anti-Japanese riots and boycotts in 2012.

Anti-mainland Chinese sentiment can also take a toll at destinations, as this has been cited as one of the reasons for Hong Kong’s current mainland tourism decline. Vietnam, which has been trying to develop as a top gambling and beach destination, saw violent anti-China riots in 2014 that left more than 20 dead and led to the evacuation of all Chinese visitors.

A more stable market, however, may be the independent Chinese traveler segment that’s not swayed by the number of group tours being offered by an agency at a given time. Taiwan’s mainland tourism decline is mainly coming from group tours, according to NIA, which says that independent Chinese travelers have actually grown at 10 percent over the same time period. But even this market depends on easy access to permits, which could easily be cut off if the relationship sours further.

adapted from Jing Daily

Taipei 101 Shopping

The post Taiwan’s luxury market sees decline in Chinese travelers appeared first on CPP-LUXURY.

from CPP-LUXURY http://www.cpp-luxury.com/taiwans-luxury-market-sees-decline-in-chinese-travelers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=taiwans-luxury-market-sees-decline-in-chinese-travelers
via Your #1 Source to Finding Luxury & Designer Goods, Handbags & Clothes at or Below Wholesale: Click Here