Special Report 2020: Novel Corona Virus Impact on China Travel Industry

Measures and impact
China Government has halted all group tours both domestically and to other countries to contain the spread of a new coronavirus. Domestic travel group was halted on 24 Jan 2020 and International group travel halted on 27 Jan 2020. Globally increasing, but near 90% of cases is in Hubei.


Time Projection
No one can predict what is coming. However fear of coronavirus may dwarf its danger. Chinese are now returned to work, sign of progress by WHO with clinical trials for treatments and China cases is declining and lowest new cases. If recovery of COVID-19 follow a similar pattern to SARS, recovery projection is by June, Mid term in August and latest by year end(industry survey March 2020). Some travel fairs in China postponed: ITB, ITCM, COTTM. International fairs postponed includes: ITB Berlin, ATM Dubai among others.

H1N1 and SARS Lessons

H1N1 started in United States, killed 284,500 and infected 214 countries in year 2009-2010. SARS killed 774 and infected 29 countries. Post SARS in August, Industry bounced back with an increase of 34% in 2003 compare to year before. Even with SARS, in 2003 the industry grew with overall 22%. Chinese October National day alone recorded 90 million outbound traveler that year, increase of 11%.

Marketing Suggestion
Coronavirus most difficult time in China has past and now Chinese return to work. Top 5 Marketing Suggestions: Web Development, Video Marketing, Social Media, online course and listing in B2B portal.

Source: Travel Industry surveys in China updated in March, prepared by Welcome China and Content feed by Digital China.

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