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Without a doubt, COVID-19 brought unprecedented harm to the global economy, especially in the travel and tourism industry this year.

That’s why it is essential for the industry to start recapturing the market by ensuring good communication and cooperation. Given the situation, Travel Link Marketing has organized the China Aviation and Tourism Webinar to take a closer look at how the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC) work together to develop healthy routes and stimulate tourism after COVID-19 with Mr. Wilco Sweijen, Director Route & Business Development of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Mr. Eddie Yang, Asia Director of Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions, followed by a panel discussion.

 China’s Master Plan for Hainan Free Trade Port and Airlines Promotion

New policy and products are being observed to adapt to the fast-changing market in China in which domestic travel flourishes. Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council have jointly planned to position Hainan free trade port as a globally-influential high-level free trade port, a pilot zone for cruise tourism and an international aviation hub to promote tourism development and entice local spending on the island. In order to resonate the policy, Hainan Airlines (HNA) launched “Fly Freely to Free Trade Port” flight pass which allows passengers to take unlimited flights of its 12 airlines under HNA group from or to any 3 ports of Hainan to boost the sales and visitor numbers. Although HNA limited the supply to 10,000 sets, each set come with CNY2,880 (US$410) vouchers of Hainan Duty Free Shop with conditions applied. Some partnered airlines are even offering extra 10kg free luggage to tempt the growing numbers Chinese middle-class tourists to spend more.

Understand and Provide Chinese Market Needs

It is important to have a better understanding of how different markets look at holiday sentiment.  Passengers’ preferences are always crucial to marketing plans and decisions.  Because of this, a holiday sentiment survey was conducted by NBTC and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It indicated that the Chinese market is interested in visiting the Netherlands and would like to avoid crowded tourist spots during their next holiday, which aligns with the NBTCs’ policies. Wilco also shared that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the first WeChat Official Flagship Smart Airport in the world offering flight checking, duty-free online pre-ordering, and tax refunds. By using WeChat, it could cater to the Chinese market needs of having touchless payment.

 Partnership are Key to Success

Both Wilco and Eddie thought it is significant to work hand in hand with trade partners.  Wilco revealed that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol keeps close relationships with Chinese airlines, airports, and the Netherlands Board of Tourism to promote the Chinese market. For example, the Schiphol Summit was held in 2019 in Beijing in order to have a closer relationship with Chinese aviation representatives. Eddie expressed that the top aim of the airline representation is to help Amsterdam Airport Schiphol build up its route to Chinese cities as well as to make the bigger transportation and capacity between Netherland and China. With the collaborations with NBTC, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol could update trade connections and Chinese marketing news for strategic planning and promotion.

Synergy to Rebuild Tourism Sector

Eddie and Wilco stated that NBTC and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol had worked together for a decade. Eddie reveals, their strategic alignment is not just about destination marketing but a higher level of strategic decisions.  For example, one of the strategic moves is to open the China office, which is supported and partly initiated by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Wilco expected more airline collaborations and possibly more flights between China and Europe, once the borders open up again in the near future. For example, the Joint Destination Support Package with China Southern Airlines not only lets tourists fly to Schiphol for connecting to other points in Europe but also for visiting the Netherlands.

Travel Link

Founded in 2005 as a professional marketing agency, Travel Link has been providing tailor-made marketing and sales services to tourism partners for 15 years.

Travel Link specializes in the tourism industry, with different clients from destinations, airline companies, airports, hotel groups, etc. As a thought leader in the industry, Travel Link is always concentrating on providing clients innovative ideas, professional services, and values resulting in a strong client base, excellent client retention, and a solid return to clients’ investment.

AT@CHINA

China Aviation and Tourism Forum organized by Travel Link, is a first for China, having the opportunity to bring key international personnel from airlines, airports and tourism boards together; with the key goal of discussing the China phenomenon, aims to communicate the key benefits in looking to work with the outbound Chinese market, as well as understand how we need to be SMARTER in the way we manage the approach. The link to Smarter Travel – understanding and planning for sustained success.

 

Source: Travel Link Daily