Varitrip Releases the First Chinese Tours & Activities GDS as China Inbound Tourism Rises

          Varitrip, a Beijing based travel technology company with 10 years of experience in providing inbound tours & activities and tour packages to travel distributors, has released China's first tours and activities' global distribution system (GDS) to cater to the travel industry's on-demand and live booking operations and needs. GDS provides a 24/7 service and products optimized for last-minute distribution.

          Despite the outflow of Chinese tourists to foreign destinations, there has been a notable growth in China inbound tourism market and technology. Thanks to the recent coverage from media outlets, China National Tourism Administration expects more than 137 million visitors to China in 2016. A 9.0% increase over 2015 for international arrival. Inbound tourism expenditure is estimated to increase by 6.5% and reach USD121 billion. According to Ctrip, the leading OTA in China, a 10.9% growth of foreign visitors was reported in the first quarter of 2016 alone.

          Dylan Zhang, CEO of Varitrip, stated that the company has seen double-digit sales growth this year. China is increasingly promoted as a travel destination as a result of the nation's remarkable growth and openness in recent years -- China visas have become easier to obtain, the valuation of Yuan is lowered and China is safe for travelers. He said the majority of the leisure and business travelers Varitrip served are seeking the unique cultural and historical experience that one comes to expect when visiting China.

          As traveler demographics shift, the industry craves more supply optimized for new demand. Many are expecting this shift to be the new growth point as China continues to improve its ability to accommodate the growth in inbound tourists by improving foreign language signs, maintenance of main attractions, fixing toilets, improving restaurant catering and tour selections. "Traditional operators haven't been able to keep up with the new demands," Dylan said. "Varitrip's technology connects and integrates with the distribution partners, operators and all possible resources to fulfill new growing demand."

          Varitrip's products are designed to meet the new needs for travel distributors through the GDS platform and enables opportunities for partners (airlines, cruises, lodging) who are interested in upsells.

          These products and upsells include unique and cultural experiences such as a picnic on the Great Wall, which was not easily accessible through other providers.