iPinYou and CAD - A New Data Solution for Chinese Confirmed Traveller Targeting
iPinYou has partnered with Chinese Civil Aviation Data (CAD) to enhance confirmed Chinese traveler targeting for programmatic activation. Using Data from 700m flight purchases, historic and new ticket purchases, CAD allows brands to understand the time, destination, class and reason for travel when building audience segments.
Rather than targeting travellers within travel APPs and OTAs, CAD allows marketers to engage with Chinese travellers across China leading publishers through iPinYou's DSP Optimus Prime. The combination of targeting confirmed travellers across the most premium Chinese News, Video, Lifestyle and Super APPs makes CAD a unique solution for pre travel targeting.
CAD also has the unique ability to target users who have also historically travelled locations around the world, giving luxury, travel and tourism organisations the opportunity to engage with users with a high propensity to travel or users who have a close affinity to regional products and services.
Chinese Outbound Tourism Shows a Strong Interest in the Middle East in 2024: Opportunities and Developments
Data from the first half of 2024 indicates that Middle Eastern destinations, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, have become hotspots for Chinese outbound travelers. The UAE tourism agency revealed that 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited the UAE last year, and the number of tourists is "expected to increase significantly" this year.
During peak holiday seasons such as Chinese New Year and Labor Day, travel platforms like Ctrip have reported staggering increases in bookings to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with growth exceeding 800% and 60% respectively compared to 2019. Qunar's statistics highlight Dubai as the top-growing destination for outbound tourism, witnessing a tenfold increase from the previous year. Self-drive bookings in Dubai have increased, with a nearly 50-fold year-on-year increment.
The "2024 Labor Day Outbound Travel Consumption Report" by Tuniu places the UAE among the leading destinations for long-haul trips. Flight bookings to the UAE for the Labor Day period have more than doubled, indicating a sustained appetite for travel to the Middle East.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead to the second half of 2024, with the summer vacation and National Day holidays on the horizon, the Middle East is poised to be the first region to exhibit a full recovery in the Chinese outbound tourism market. The head of the Arab tourism market has expressed optimism, anticipating a doubling in the number of Chinese tourists compared to last year, particularly in the luxury travel segment.
Visa relaxation
The visa-free and visa-on-arrival (VOA) policies along with robust flight connections in popular countries and regions in the Middle East make it a more attractive option for Chinese tourists.
In a significant development, the Gulf Cooperation Council is set to introduce a unified visa this year, named the "GCC Grand Tourist Visa". Drawing parallels with the European Schengen visa, this initiative will allow visitors to explore all six member states – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait – with an expected cumulative stay of over 30 days. The UAE's Ministry of Tourism forecasts that the new visa could drive the total number of tourists in the GCC countries to a record 128.7 million by 2030.
As global travel dynamics continue to evolve, it is clear that the Middle East is setting a benchmark for recovery and innovation in the tourism sector. For brands seeking to capitalize on the burgeoning Middle Eastern tourism market that's rapidly attracting Chinese visitors, iPinYou offers a suite of mature CAD solutions designed to expand your reach within China. It's imperative to connect with one of the world's most dynamic consumer segments. Reach out to us and let's explore this burgeoning and booming market!
