Online Travel Companies in China Don’t Have Level Playing Field
Eye For Travel reports that overseas Internet travel companies wanting to do business in Chinaa do not have a level playing field in China.
Like elsewhere, a segment of the travel market in China uses the Internet to research travel plans.
Even less actually book online with the majority choosing rather to rely on travel agents for booking and payment.
No mystery there, it is still a bit intimidating to me to make all my travel arrangements online. I’d much rather talk to a person.
Consumers in China want a travel agent to do the research, provide all the details on the itinerary – hotel facilities, rent-a-car and such, and they want it NOW, because they know the travel agent has online access.
Consumers everywhere want that, but…my dad used to say, "people in hell want ice water, too."
Consolidator bookings in China are still less than 3% according to William Bao Bean, VP of China technology, Deutshce Bank.
Ctrip holds the lion share of consolidator booking at 74%, followed by eLong’s 12 percent.
For a new company to come in to China and make headway into the travel industry, the new company will have to partner up with a Chinese firm first.
Then, and only then, can it start chipping away at the other 97%.
What do you think?
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