As long as fresh air and clean water are free, the US has an opportunity for increasing service-based income from China that is not subject to tariffs or limits. (Hint: the Chinese name for America translates as “beautiful country”!) With a 600% increase in non-stop flights between China and the US over the past decade, there is continuing interest in travel to the US: for business, education, tourism and family visits.
Direct flights depart from 16 different Chinese cities (not including those in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau) and arrive at 15 different US cities. Las Vegas, Boston, San Jose and Seattle all receive non-stop Chinese travelers. Departure cities now include those as varied as Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Jinan, Changsha and Qingdao, as well as Beijing and Shanghai. WHO KNEW??!
Throngs of business travelers are complemented by a robust flow of students from China coming for full-time university and secondary school programs, and often their accompanying parents; by long- and short-term summer campers looking for educational enrichment; by millennials seeking unique and authentic experiences; by multi-generational family groups on annual vacation; by health-and-wellness tourists (though Korea still wins hands-down for cosmetic surgery!); by Chinese airline pilots receiving flight training….and the list goes on.
Each flight arrival represents an opportunity to provide goods and services to those guest-travelers. Understanding who they are, what they require, and how to reach them is a critical first step. China companies are investing in providing on-the-ground services to Chinese travelers in the US. HOWEVER… they cannot provide the “authentic US product” without partnering and cannot act as a “local host” since they are not actually “local”. This represents a strong advantage and opportunity for US residents to do international business, locally. Globalization is at home and is a chance to make money, as well as new friends. My advice is to think about what these flows of people mean, and figure out how you can engage.
For more information or a free phone consultation on how you might benefit, drop us a line at info@blueheron8.com. Good Luck!
