Overseas travel agencies bullish on China's inbound tourism

Looking for partners

Rolf Blomkvist, a travel operator from Sweden, said he found potential partners for a future tourism business in China when he attended the Shanghai travel mart, and during an ensuing trip to Fujian province.

"So far, I have had very good experiences meeting new people who are open-minded," he said.

In the early 2000s, he ran a booming business sending Swedish travelers to China.

"It rapidly grew bigger and bigger and it was very successful," Blomkvist recalled.

Yet, things got problematic after 2008, due to geopolitical factors, and he gradually lost the business.

Since China has sent out signals to welcome inbound travelers, Blomkvist said it has rekindled his hope of resuming his tourism business.

"All the itineraries are there, and I just need to find reliable partners here," he said.

With the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for Swedish travelers, Blomkvist said he can work with tour operators to combine China travel experiences with other trips in Southeast Asia.

In addition to doing business, Prestegaard, the travel consultant from Denmark, ended up having a great time in China, when she visited Fujian province.

She was especially impressed by a bamboo-rafting journey along the Nine-Bend stream in Wuyi Mountain and the leisurely lifestyle at the picturesque site.

"I loved it, it was magnificent. The views of the mountains, I had never seen anything like that. It was like being in a dream," she said.