As more Chinese travelers pack up their bags to explore more places, tourism professionals urged western merchants to respect Chinese culture and proclivities. In turn, Chinese travelers need to respect the local customs and culture of the places they visit.
Statistics show that in 2014 alone, Chinese tourists made 100 million trips overseas, making China the third-ranking source of outbound visitors.
As more Chinese travelers gain experience from their trips, it is only natural for them to start expecting better services as well as respect, according to Garry Crockett, the global executive chairman of China Ready & Accredited.
"A Chinese saying goes that harmony creates wealth. Goodwill, appreciation of different cultures and harmony will translate into wealth on different levels," said Crockett.
"For example, many Chinese are thought to be too noisy. Westerners need to understand that speaking loud is the Chinese cultural norm, not a sign of aggression or rudeness, but a sign of warmth, energy and passion," added Crockett.
Chinese travelers should also be mindful of the culture of the country they are visiting if they want to earn the respect they demand and earn better travel experience.
Various accounts have surfaced online of how Chinese tourists behave in their trips abroad, an image that needs to be rehabilitated since it affects the way the world perceives China.
Chinese travelers are also becoming important players in the global shopping market. In a report by the World Tourism Cities Federation, Chinese travelers have spent a total of $165 dollars on overseas trips. This reflects 11 percent of the total revenue earned from international tourism in the previous year. The organization also predicts that the number of overseas visitors will continue to grow in the coming years.
If western companies want to economically benefit from the influx of Chinese travelers, they need to start accommodating their interests.
"Western companies cannot benefit without putting something back. They need to invest in training and become China-ready," Crockett shared.