Suppliers of travel services worldwide are noticing growth in FIT business travel among Chinese travellers – over 65% of China’s outbound travellers last year were independent travellers, according to the China Tourism Academy. However, this trend is not yet being seen in South Africa, where group travel out of China continues to dominate.

Bradley Brouwer, President of South African Tourism: Asia Pacific, said the Southern Africa region was still an emerging market in China and, therefore, Chinese travellers still preferred group travel to FIT travel.

Terry Fenton-Wells, Director at SA Magic Travel, agrees. She said an increase in FIT travel to South Africa had not been seen as it was more expensive. There was also a language barrier, said Fenton-Wells, as most travellers from mainland China did not speak any English. “South African public transport is not good enough for overseas visitors,” she added.   

It was difficult to determine whether the FIT trend was playing out in South Africa as many Chinese outbound tour operators did not promote group travel to the country to the inbound Chinese market due to the risk and cost involved in obtaining visas, said Frank Glettenberg, CEO Southern Africa Private Safaris Destination Management.

However, Glettenberg says he is starting to see an increased share of FIT travel to other destinations in 2015 from China. “At the moment the share is around 15% on passenger volume and 35% on turnover volume as very upmarket services like hotels, lodges, privately guided transfers and private air charters are booked.” In 2014, the Chinese FIT share had been approximately 6%, said Glettenberg.

Currently 50 countries worldwide offer visa-free entry or visas on arrival to Chinese travellers, while another 19 destinations accept online visa application.