Interviews: Speakers for China – The Future of Travel

With less than one month to go before Dragon Trail’s inaugural summit, China – The Future of Travel, we caught up with a number of our featured speakers to give you a preview of who they are, their views on Chinese tourism, and their own travel experiences.

The summit, held in Beijing from May 19-21, 2019, will help attendees develop, grow and future-proof for the new kind of Chinese tourism that has emerged in this decade by bringing them up close and personal with real travel experts, influencers and travelers themselves.

For more information on event pricing, hotel and other details, and to apply for your place, please visit www.chinafutureoftravel.com

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Arlt, COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute

Please describe your work as it relates to travel.
I am the founder and director of COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute.

What makes you passionate about Chinese outbound tourism?
I have been working in this field for 40 years, and I am still fascinated by the speed of the development. When COTRI started 15 years ago, nobody believed that China would become a major outbound tourism source market. That obviously changed in the meantime.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?
I have been to about 80 different countries, so it is hard to say. With regard to the friendliness and hospitality of the people, I would say Nepal is my favorite place; for sentimental reasons, as I studied there, Hong Kong; and with regard to the most impressive buildings I ever saw, that would be the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Inside China, I like Chengdu a lot, as the mixture of progress and the a bit more relaxed attitude is very attractive for me.

George Cao, Dragon Trail Interactive

Please describe your work as it relates to travel.
I help international travel companies reach and connect with Chinese consumers using digital tools and platforms.

What makes you passionate about Chinese outbound tourism?
Traveling abroad in China is still a relatively new phenomenon – this is only 20-something years old. In my lifetime, when I was younger, it was completely impossible to do that. Now people have started to get the means, and the country opened up and encouraged people to go out and see the world. People are having these new experiences and learning about the world, and they’re also letting the world see who they are. Making this process as smooth as possible for the consumers and helping foreign businesses take advantage of the market makes my job exciting.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?
Two places – both in the US. One is Key West in Florida – that’s a place you can relax for a week or two on a small island without thinking about anything else. The other place is Monterrey, California. That’s also a very good family vacation place, with the Monterrey Aquarium, nice weather, and good food.

Sylvie Chen, HYT Travel Marketing

Please describe your work as it relates to travel.
“Selling” all those beautiful secret spots of the world.

What makes you passionate about Chinese outbound tourism?
Because I’m one of them. Plus, the Chinese market is much more interesting – you can create so many unbelievable arrangements, and the market accepts it. It’s like helping people to finish their dreams.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?
This is the most difficult question, actually. The whole world is too big and too different. If I really have to give an answer, it will be where I want to have long stay: the Dalmatian coastline of Croatia. It has great nature, warm weather, gourmet and healthy Mediterranean style of cuisine, long historical sites, and beautiful people.

Roy Graff, Dragon Trail Interactive

Please describe your work as it relates to travel.
My work at Dragon Trail involves bringing knowledge about China’s tourism industry to people all over the world (but mostly in the EMEA region) and helping destinations figure out how to attract and engage Chinese visitors.

What makes you passionate about Chinese outbound tourism?
I have followed Chinese tourism since the very beginnings of outbound travel in 1998 and am still impressed by the dynamism in the sector and fast pace of change. Being able to facilitate connections between China and the rest of the world and bring cultures closer is what I am mostly passionate about.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?
I have many favorites, mostly places that are off the beaten track with very few other tourists. However, some places that really took my breath away were Victoria Falls in Zambia, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Himalayas in Nepal, and Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, China.

Chris Li, Weibo Travel and Sina Travel

Please describe your work as it relates to travel.
To build a healthy and ecological environment for the travel industry on Sina Weibo, to keep Weibo accounts in the field of travel active, and help them to increase their influence through Weibo.

What makes you passionate about Chinese outbound tourism?
It is a high-potential and fast-growing market, full of opportunities and challenges.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?
Israel

Chenyu Zheng, author, artist, and speaker

Please describe your work as it relates to travel.
I’m a travel writer and a cultural bridge between China and the West. I discover and share unique food, coffee, Airbnbs, and healthy lifestyle with a Chinese audience. I also share Chinese food and culture with the Western world. In addition, I am a brand ambassador to help reach Chinese users.

What makes you passionate about Chinese outbound tourism?
Chinese travelers are eager to learn and see the world. It presents a great opportunity to lead by example and play a role in forming more responsible and conscious travelers with local immersion.

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled to?
Mexico City.

More information on all of our speakers’ backgrounds is available at www.chinafutureoftravel.com

Supporting organizations for China – The Future of Travel