Data from Chinese online travel agencies including Seatrip, Tong Chang and Zuzuchi has revealed a significant rise in the number of Chinese tourists coming to the UAE, according to tourism website Skift.
Sienna Paroles-Kok, director of marketing and communications (Dragon Trail), said: “The UAE visa waiver policy for Chinese visitors, coupled with strong flight links, contributes to its attractiveness.”
Last year, Chinese actress Liu Yifei was appointed as Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Ambassador, and the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi released a promotional video featuring the Chinese actress, which garnered 7.9 million views and was shared 32,000 times in one week.
Oxford Economics research predicted that the Middle East will lead the global recovery in inbound tourism from China this year, with Froward Keys data showing that the number of Chinese arrivals to the Middle East has increased beyond 2019 levels.
Southeast Asian countries are racing to attract Chinese tourists through visa waivers.
Source: Al-Bayan