How to Attract Chinese Tourists in Tanzania ?
Chinese Tourists in Tanzania: Key Data, Emerging Trends, and Digital Strategies to Attract Them
Tanzania’s allure, from the majestic Serengeti to the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro and pristine Zanzibar beaches, has increasingly captivated Chinese travelers. As the global tourism landscape evolves, understanding the preferences and behaviors of Chinese tourists is essential for destinations like Tanzania aiming to enhance their appeal.
Key Data on Chinese Tourists in Tanzania
- Pre-Pandemic Figures: In 2018, Tanzania welcomed approximately 32,000 Chinese tourists. apnews.com+3chinaafricasps.org+3dragontrail.com+3
- Post-Pandemic Surge: By 2023, this number rose to 44,038, indicating a significant resurgence in Chinese tourist arrivals. chinaafricasps.org
- Recent Growth: Between January and September 2024, Tanzania received about 54,444 Chinese tourists, surpassing the total arrivals for the entire year of 2023. capmad.com
Five Trends Among Chinese Travelers
- Spontaneous Travel Planning: A notable 73.1% of Chinese travelers are booking trips less than a month in advance, especially among younger generations seeking adventure and flexibility. skift.com
- Diverse Interests: There’s a growing inclination towards outdoor activities, road trips, and major sporting events, leading to diversified travel expenditures. costar.com
- Preference for Unique Experiences: Chinese tourists are gravitating towards niche, unique, and in-depth local experiences, moving away from traditional sightseeing to more immersive cultural engagements. dragontrail.com
- Increased Travel Budgets: Post-pandemic, 82% of Chinese travelers plan to boost their travel budgets compared to 2019, emphasizing better accommodations, cuisine, and local experiences. dragontrail.com
- Rising Interest in Africa: Chinese tourists are increasingly exploring African destinations, with flight bookings from China to Africa rising by 1.2 times year-on-year in 2024. jingdaily.com+1atta.travel+1
Best Ways to Attract Chinese Tourists
To effectively appeal to Chinese tourists, Tanzanian travel businesses should adopt the following digital marketing strategies:
1. Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) Marketing
- Platform Overview: Xiaohongshu is a popular social media and e-commerce platform where users share travel experiences, reviews, and recommendations.
- Strategies:
- User-Generated Content: Encourage satisfied Chinese tourists to share their Tanzanian experiences, enhancing authenticity and trust.
- Influencer Collaborations: Partner with Chinese travel influencers to showcase Tanzania’s attractions, reaching a broader audience.
- Localized Content: Share posts in Mandarin, highlighting unique Tanzanian experiences, cultural insights, and travel tips.
2. Douyin (TikTok) Engagement
- Platform Overview: Douyin is China’s version of TikTok, renowned for short-form video content.
- Strategies:
- Captivating Visuals: Produce short, engaging videos showcasing Tanzania’s landscapes, wildlife, and cultural festivals.
- Challenges and Hashtags: Initiate travel-related challenges or trending hashtags to boost user interaction and content sharing.
- Live Streaming: Offer live virtual tours of popular sites, allowing potential tourists to experience Tanzania in real-time.
3. Website Optimization and Baidu SEO
- Platform Overview: Baidu is China’s leading search engine, making it crucial for online visibility.
- Strategies:
- Chinese-Language Website: Develop a Mandarin version of your website to cater to Chinese users.
- Baidu SEO: Optimize website content for Baidu, focusing on relevant keywords and local SEO practices.
- Mobile Compatibility: Ensure the website is mobile-friendly, considering the high mobile internet usage in China.
4. E-Reputation Management
- Importance: Chinese travelers heavily rely on online reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations.
- Strategies:
- Monitor Reviews: Regularly check reviews on platforms like Mafengwo and Qyer, addressing concerns promptly.
- Engage with Feedback: Respond to both positive and negative feedback, showcasing commitment to customer satisfaction.
- Highlight Testimonials: Feature positive reviews and testimonials on official channels to build credibility.
5. WeChat Marketing
- Platform Overview: WeChat is a multifaceted app integrating messaging, social media, and payment services.
- Strategies:
- Official Account: Set up a WeChat Official Account to share updates, promotions, and travel guides.
- Mini Programs: Develop mini-programs for booking services, virtual tours, or loyalty programs within WeChat.
- WeChat Pay Integration: Enable WeChat Pay for seamless transactions, catering to Chinese tourists’ payment preferences.
Conclusion
Tanzania’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty position it well to attract the growing segment of Chinese tourists. By understanding their evolving preferences and implementing targeted digital marketing strategies, Tanzanian travel businesses can enhance their appeal, ensuring memorable experiences for Chinese travelers and fostering sustained growth in this burgeoning market.
Tanzania is a beautiful country with plenty tourist attractions. Practically, 38% of the country is set aside in protected areas for conservation. There are 16 national parks, 29 game reserves, 40 controlled conservation areas and marine parks. Tanzania is also home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa.
Tanzania has the most famous national parks in Africa and the spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the Serengeti.
Safari : Chinese Are searching for Adventure
Nice advertising of Jumbo Tanzania
Most Chinese tourists find themselves visiting Dar es Salaam and heading out on safaris and various wildlife viewing adventures. For those who want to take a break and spend some time tanning on the sun, and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar. Morever, Mafia and Pemba islands are also a fabulous natural wonder, one most appreciated by the scuba divers and snorkelers who come here from around the world to experience the coral gardens, colorful fish, and crystal clear waters.
Moreover, Mafia and Pemba islands are also a fabulous natural wonder, one most appreciated by the scuba divers and snorkelers who come here from around the world to experience the coral gardens, colorful fish, and crystal clear waters.
The most frequented attractions in Tanzania are: Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is home to Africa’s highest mountain, peak, following by Serengeti National Park, Zanzibar Beaches, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park and Mafia Island.
Chinese tourists are seeking more and more adventures, so they decide to travel to Africa. Tanzania is a part of the most popular country visited by Chinese.
Chinese tourists are looking for new destinations and adventures.This is the right timing for another destination for Chinese tourists since many are tired the neighboring tourist destinations
So there were challenges to be addressed which would help boost the number of Chinese tourists to Tanzania, the big one being lack of a direct flight between Dar es Salaam and Beijing. While the number of tourists is increasing the shortage of flights to Africa safari destinations such as Tanzania makes travel difficult and cuts the number down.
The deputy director general encouraged Tanzania to do more marketing and promotion of Tanzania in China. for many Chinese tourists, East Africa and especially Tanzania is a new tourist destination that they want to visit.
Tanzania envisages increasing the number of Chinese tourists to 100,000 and 300,000 by next year and 2025
Tanzania Tourism Board, Officer Irene Mville said the leaders of Tanzania Tourism Market are America, Britain, and Germany but China is the newly emerging market, with potentials for fast growth.
China has a special relationship with Tanzania. Many tourists would prefer visiting national parks and game reserves to see live wild animals. Here in China, they are used to seeing the wild animals in museums.
The Premier suggested launching direct flights between China to Tanzania to boost tourism. He also encouraged the construction of hotels in Tanzania to increase accommodation when the tourists start visiting in large numbers.
Tanzania has encouraged Chinese investors to invest in the country, as there are many opportunities in the tourism industry.
The two parties agreed to work together and prepare a Memorandum of Understanding which will be signed in the near future as a way to maintain the good relationship between China and Tanzania as the old days of the former first presidents Julius Nyerere and Mao Zedong.
How to attract Chinese Tourists in Tanzania ?
China has promised to promote destination Tanzania in China as the way to increase the number of Chinese tourist arrivals in the country.
do you want to attract more Chinese Tourists?
first step: Leads Generation
Leads Generation is the marketing process of stimulating and capturing interest in a product or service you’re offering.
Lead generation uses digital channels with the rise of new online and social techniques.
The marketing process has changed, and company needs to find new ways to reach consumers. Instead of finding customers with mass advertising and email blasts, companies must now focus on being found and learn to build continuous relationships with consumers.
Chinese Website (because Chinese do not search in English)
More than 750 million internet users in mainland China only makes it the most connected countries in the world. Chinese netizens spend 40% of their dailylife on Internet; it means a Chinese website is the best way to reach these people.
Once created, the website must follow a kind of protocol in order to be easily found by Chinese people doing a research on your company’s services.
Another important thing is to have a customer’s service available for your Chinese visitors at any time.
Baidu SEO (Because they do not use Google)
a website without traffic is a waste
Companies in Tanzania have to invest on SEO on Baidu (http://baidu.com/ ) generate more traffic. Our team of experts optimizes websites for Baidu and the content to deliver results : Top Position on Baidu.
This is the largest Chinese search engine with 82% of the market. The digital marketing approach is different in China, different skills and techniques are required when compared to western search engines like Google. Smart SEO strategy focuses not only on improving the ranking of your website but also creating rich content for potential customers. Companies that understand this will have a big advantage because they will build up a better online image and reputation. This not only improves visibility but also leads to the Chinese having a strong level of trust in your company, this leads to results.
E-Reputation in China is important
Why Chinese travellers should trust an agency in Tanzania ?
Because this agency has a good reputation and do not cheat tourists!
The internet is full of many storytellings and news that affects brands in one way or the other. The Chinese’s consumers are looking for company that have a good reputation and more visibility; they often create social buzz and forums to gauge the reputation of company. A tourism agency that wants to keep the Chinese as active consumers has to promote its image on the right online portals to engage Chinese interest. Social media platforms like Weibo, Wechat, Sina can be used by press campaign marketers to utilize Chinese bloggers, key opinion leaders and influencers.
Social Media in China is different
. In China, we know how to start, how to facilitate and develop these conversations among Chinese citizens. We combine Online Public Relations, Design and Viral Marketing with attractive communication methods on every Chinese platform:
Our Agency’s target:
– being renowned as a dedicated Chinese social media channel to support our clients in this field,
– To educate and explain digital works in China and demonstrate how well we know our industry.
We are on your side
- we are a digital marketing specialist with seven years experience in China
- We know how to make it work for your tourism company in China.
- We are developing social media projects in China every day.
- We guarantee you will improve your online visibility:
- Increase your WeChat fans and Red followers using our high-quality social media campaigns and strategies in China.
Read also:
- Chinese tourists in Japan – Market Analysis
- Stop searching for Chinese travel agencies .. let them Find You!
Dear Sir / Madam,
FOR BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP
My name is AMANI ISMAEL, the senior director of OKAPI SAFARI LIMITED, P.O Box from Arusha – Tanzania,
I’m dealing with tourism in East and Central Africa. I have an experience of more than ten (10) years in tourism as a professional tour guide speaking foreign languages including fluent Chinese, French, English, and Spanish. I also speak several African native languages from different countries.
I’m kindly asking to be your business partner in the tourism activities. I need marketing for tourism in your country so that I can be receiving visitors/clients from you.
I and my company promise to work together with you faithfully, effectively and efficiently if you give me/us a chance. We are ready to work with any business partner whether a private person, an institute, an industry or a company.
We really appreciate and respect our clients. We mostly rely on the quality of services to our clients so that they can feel comfortable, cared and most important to us. I promise you that you won’t regret to work with us. Thanks in advance.
Yours sincerely,
Amani Ismael Kaninga
Office contacts: +255 759 739 961(We Chat & WhatsApp), +255 673 333 139
Email: info@okapisafari.com & amanikaninga@gmail.com
Website: http://www.okapisafaris.com
Please send me your details, we are tour operators in USA. My email:nagy@stylishtours.com
Imboru Tours Ltd is tourist company operating from Arusha City the hub of tourism in northern Tanzania. Attractions include Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti Hemingway historical routes and others. We would like to link with tour operators from the Americas both North and South America and China.
Hello
I work for a tourist analytics company that’s based in LATAM
truth is we’ve seen an increment in Chinese tourists traveling to more xotic destinations and it shows.
Hello
Wow tanzania is such a beautiful country
after reading this im gonna definetly look into traveling over there.
Hello
Its great to see how chinese tourism has impacted positively in the world
even in places like Tanzania.
Hii
We are a restaurant looking to boost the reach to the chinese market
we are located in niagara falls on the Canadian side.
Hey there,
PR campaigns on forums and specialized websites could be a starter for you.
Contact-us here tourism@marketingtochina.com and let’s talk about it
Hello
Tourism in Tanzania has risen in the las years and we been very happy with the results
we offer a lot to tourists , thank you for spotlighting our beautiful country.
Hello
I was wondering how can we promote pieces like this for my countries tourism dept
Im from Chile.
Hello
Countries like India and Indonesia could adapt and use many of the techniques applied
by the African countries to attract more tourists.
Hello
its so interesting how many Chinese tourists are traveling to exotic places each year,
lets see what happens after the pandemic to see how these economies flourish.
Greetings
Do you have articles about similar destinations
to travel from China, if so I would appreciate it so much!!
Hello
I work for a small hotel in Morocco and we would like to promote our place
to the Chinese market..
Greetings
I work for a small hotel in Medellin Colombia
and would like to promote our site with you guys!
Great to hear from you Mr. Kaninga. you can reach us here anytime and we shall be able to handle the Chinese business together.
Country like Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC Congo will attract Chinese due to the mountain gorillas in the place. you can contact us here in case of any business
Question:
How do travel agencies cater to the preferences of Chinese tourists?
Situation:
A travel agency offers a package tour that includes shopping stops at luxury boutiques and Chinese-speaking guides.
Comment:
Agencies often tailor tours to include shopping, photo opportunities at famous landmarks, and Chinese meals, as these are highly valued by Chinese travelers.
As Pamoja safaris this will be one of the major events in the country. The county like Tanzania has been one of the few countries in the world that have been able to host the biggest member of tourists in the world. I would ordered that it shouldn’t be only Tanzania but only other country within east Africa.
We will contact you. Sure. 😉