Chinese travellers want three Es in 2025: events like the history-making Taylor Swift Eras tour, eco-tourism and a helping hand for elderly tourists.
The destinations that get the recipe right can expect to enjoy a surge in visitors from the country, said Jane Sun, chief executive of Trip.com, one of the world's biggest travel companies. Its parent company also owns Skyscanner.
She spoke to The National at the World Economic Forum in Davos about what she expects to happen in the travel sector this year and beyond. Despite fears of stagnant growth in China and a cost of living pinch, Chinese outbound travel is likely to exceed 130 million passengers in 2025. Some estimates say it could reach or exceed the high of 155 million, recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We're very excited to see the new trends, which we call the three Es: the first E is events plus travel - young people are very interested in a Taylor Swift concert, F1, Olympic Games - we call this plus-travel," Ms Sun said. "The second is eco-friendly – people are very interested to join those with green travel initiatives."
These include the availability of electric cars, now the norm in China, and hotels with low emissions and green credentials. The third E is elderly friendly travel, which global destinations need to understand better, Ms Sun said.
"In China, the retirement age is quite low - anywhere between 50 and 60. And this is the generation that made very good money," she added. "Now they are healthy, they are energetic, they are ready to travel around the world. Any company that offers a good package that is elderly friendly will benefit."
Lure of the Middle East
Destinations in the Middle East are among the most appealing for Chinese travellers, owing to low crime rates and visas that are simple to obtain. Staff at hotels from Egypt and Jordan to the Emirates who have Mandarin language skills do much to make visitors feel at ease.
Despite the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, the region remains a strong draw for the world's largest travelling public. Flights from Beijing to Dubai cost as little as $380 and are often far cheaper than domestic trips in China, including to the tropical island of Hainan. More than 450,000 Chinese visited Dubai in the first nine months of 2024.
"The Middle East is very interesting for lots of people in China. They offer free visas or visa upon arrival - and Middle East airlines are doing very well," Ms Sun said. "The airports are beautifully built, it offers great history and very friendly people, so we bring lots of customers to the Middle East."
Destinations such as Dubai, the seventh most visited city in the world in 2024 due to the arrival of 18.2 million tourists, Abu Dhabi and Doha have surpassed European cities when it comes to visa access. "Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it's very easy to access these cities," Ms Sun said. "Doha is also very easy and Saudi Arabia is also opening up. And Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand also offer free visas."
Easy visas
Ms Sun added that some countries that do not offer free visas have benefitted from shortening the application process, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Switzerland. She noted that the EU continues to "take too long ... to apply for visa".
At a time of conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the threat of a trade war with China from Donald Trump's new administration in the US, travel remains the strongest way to break down barriers, Ms Sun added.
"I would like to see people use travel as a bridge to enhance international exchange and promote global peace," she said. "Our mission is that when we send people far away, we are bringing the world closer."
Davos 2025: in pictures
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sweet%20Tooth
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
RESULTS
ATP China Open
G Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt R Bautista Agut (ESP x5)
7-6, 4-6, 6-2
R Nadal (ESP x1) bt J Isner (USA x6)
6-4, 7-6
WTA China Open
S Halep (ROU x2) bt D Kasatkina (RUS)
6-2, 6-1
J Ostapenko (LAT x9) bt S Cirstea (ROU)
6-4, 6-4
ATP Japan Open
D Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt S Johnson (USA)
6-0, 7-5
D Goffin (BEL x4) bt R Gasquet (FRA)
7-5, 6-2
M Cilic (CRO x1) bt R Harrison (USA)
6-2, 6-0
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Notable cricketers and political careers
- India: Kirti Azad, Navjot Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir (rumoured)
- Pakistan: Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (rumoured)
- Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan (rumoured)
- Bangladesh (Mashrafe Mortaza)
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
'Will%20of%20the%20People'
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
