Where are good Tiongkok Tourist and ATB Commando?

[k1976]

MIRAGE OF CHINA’S REVENGE TRAVELLERS​

It may appear, wishfully, that China is finally unleashing its revenge travellers in full force. But China’s economic troubles are too big to ignore.

The slow return of outbound travel was largely attributed to China’s disappointing economic restart coming out of the pandemic. As of September 2023, Chinese outbound tourism expenditure was still down 18 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Economic forecasts for 2024 have only gotten worse, with various experts projecting China’s GDP growth to slow from 5.2 per cent in 2023 to between 4 and 4.6 per cent in 2024.

The country cannot conceivably get out of its litany of economic troubles any time soon: A serious deflation spiral, record drops in salaries, a property market crisis, high youth unemployment rates - and the list goes on.

 

[k1976]

THE RISE OF THE PRUDENT TRAVELLER​

In this climate, perhaps the foremost question is not where, but how the Chinese would be travelling in 2024.

Already emerging is a picture of the prudent Chinese traveller, mediating economic anxieties while they vacation - whether by planning their academic journey overseas, or hitting multiple destinations to stretch the flight buck.

In recent weeks, the spectre of overtourism re-emerged in an unforeseen domain in Singapore: Universities.

Almost like something out of a fever dream, camera-toting tourists swarmed the country’s top tertiary institutions, holding up canteen lines and crowding buses - to the point that the National Technological University (NTU) has put in place measures such as an approval process for visitors or tour agencies, pre-registration for scheduled slots and an entry fee.

The secretary-general of Bossa Cossa, a Chinese association of study abroad agencies, Mr Chenxing Sang, shared with me that ranking-conscious Chinese are typically drawn to Singapore’s top universities or private colleges that deliver British or Australian degrees.

Now, cost-sensitivity is driving an influx of Chinese scoping out the best academic opportunities in Singapore, instead of pricier prestige programmes in the United States and United Kingdom.

Mr Jon Santangelo, an association spokesperson, explained that more students are increasingly opting to stay within Asia due not only to the proximity but also perceived value and lower tuition costs.

 

[k1976]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singapore-china-visa-waiver-tourist-attractions-4111601

 

[jw5]

Bestest is chiobu ATB going commando.

 

[congo9]

They are here to look for job.

 

[laksaboy]

Many of them in the Civic District now. Some of them taking selfies with the rainbow-color building in the background. I saw one stand on the road divider. Confirm and guaranteed to be Tiongs.