With China being a leading nation of tourists, countries all around the world are accommodating their services for the Chinese tourist offering a ‘Chinese friendly image’. Spain is the country that most Chinese tourists prefer followed by France. The WTO predicts that this year 100 million Chinese tourists will take outbound holidays.
Keeping the flow of Chinese tourists in mind there are some cautions that hoteliers hoping to welcome more Chinese tourists will have to keep in mind.
Avoid No. 4. Chinese are weary of this number as the sound that 4 make is similar to the sound of death in their language. So 4 is an absolute ‘NO’ for Chinese travellers.
They do not like physical contact.
Use both hands to present the hotel’s visiting card or menu.
Restaurant menu should be offered in Meridian.
Fruits have to be served in portions not whole.
Hot water should be served with meals especially when meat is on the platter.
Every room should have a kettle which will be used to boil noodles.
In restaurants waiters should serve the eldest and most educated first and no finger pointing only gesture with hands.
Word of mouth goes all the way back to China, so if you are able to please one Chinese guest be sure to find a whole lot of them following suit.
The best thing for waiters is to learn a few essential Meridian terms to make the guests feel more at home away from home.
Chinese haven’t picked up a reputation of being the most well behaved guests. They are rude, speak aloud and smoke in non-smoking areas. Many tourists particularly Germans cancel their trips to hotels when they learn that Chinese guests would be staying in the same hotel. Going by the reaction of the rest of the world and the poor reputation that Chinese tourists have earned, the government is already working on blacklisting those citizens who have brought shame to their country by behaving badly abroad. The quality of punishment that will be given to them is still undefined but the government is taking every step to curb antisocial behaviour, vandalism, gambling and any other offensive conduct.
