The United Arab Emirates recently hosted the largest-ever assembly of Chinese travel industry professionals outside of China, with the China Visitors Summit (CVS) taking place across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
Close to 160 top Chinese travel buyers – spanning travel agencies, luxury wholesalers, tour operators, MICE planners, and corporate travel managers – visited the UAE to engage directly with the country’s leading tourism providers, including hotels, attractions, destinations, shopping malls, museums, and inbound operators.
During two highly focused days of one-to-one meetings at the Rotana Hotel and Conference Centre in Al Ain, more than 3,000 business appointments were arranged between Chinese delegates and UAE suppliers. Together, these buyers accounted for nearly $1 billion in outbound travel business in the past year, representing over 1.5 million international travellers, with a growing emphasis on the GCC region and the UAE in particular.
China has cemented its position as the world’s largest source market for international tourism, with around 200 million passport holders and nearly the same number of global trips taken annually. Chinese tourists now spend approximately $300 billion worldwide each year, making them a crucial audience for destinations across the globe.
At the CVS, UAE-based tourism businesses selected their preferred Chinese buyers, allowing them to tailor schedules to focus on high-value sectors, from luxury FIT leisure travel to corporate MICE opportunities.
“The China Visitors Summit is not just about meetings – it’s about building long-term partnerships between the UAE and China’s most powerful travel industry leaders,” said Alexander Glos, CEO of the China i2i Group, organiser of the event. “Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE are now firmly positioned as must-visit destinations for Chinese travellers, and the CVS provides the direct access, insights, and opportunities that suppliers need to succeed in this market.”