What's Driving the Resurgence in European Travel: Costs, Connectivity, and Chinese Tourism?

CGTN Europe

Anita Mendiratta, Aviation and Leadership expert spoke to CGTN Europe. The resilience in European international travel is driven by lower costs and increased connectivity, with a significant rise in Chinese airlines flying to Europe and a focus on sustainable aviation. This, coupled with China's reopening and an increase in Chinese outbound tourism, has led to a positive impact on the global economy. Overall, the outlook for 2026 is uncertain, with a need for leaders in the tourism industry to adapt to changing circumstances.

Transcript

00:00Anita Mandriati is an aviation and leadership expert.

00:03Welcome to the program, good to see you.

00:05Europe's seeing this 3.3 rise in international travels.

00:09What do you think is driving this resilience?

00:13There are two drivers that are coming behind this resilience

00:15that are very important to the recovery of travel in Europe and internationally.

00:20Firstly, it's costs, and second, it's connectivity,

00:23because ultimately we're seeing a significant increase in the capacity of airlines

00:28in terms of seat availabilities for Europe

00:30and the number of airlines now driving people to Europe

00:33as many travel choices change, especially away from the U.S.

00:37Now, we're not supposed to be flying, as you know, because it's bad for the planet,

00:41but long-haul flights to Europe from the United States and China, rebounding.

00:47Why?

00:49The rebound is covered by two reasons.

00:52Firstly, there's a significant increase in the number of Chinese airlines flying into Europe.

00:56So we're looking at between 25% and 40% growth compared to last year, which is fantastic.

01:02So it's not just the existing airlines, it's new airlines coming in.

01:06And importantly, we're seeing significant increases in terms of aircraft that are being applied

01:10that are focused more on sustainable aviation.

01:13So they're better in terms of cutting emissions, much more managing in terms of fuel,

01:18and that's increasing the affordability for flying, very much for travellers,

01:22which goes right into the booking increase that we're seeing for Europe.

01:25Now, we know we've got flat growth in so many economies throughout the world.

01:29We're all feeling a bit broke, the cost of living crisis and the rest of it.

01:33Chinese outboard tourism appears to be picking up in 2025.

01:38Why do you think that is?

01:40The recovery of China is very much based on the fact that for almost three years,

01:45the Chinese borders and skies were locked because of the pandemic,

01:48and there was concern about people flying out and into China.

01:51Now that we have the world open up again to the Chinese travellers,

01:55who have always been the largest number of travellers and the greatest spenders in travels,

02:00we're seeing the economy across the world increasing.

02:03And Chinese travellers increasingly are wanting to come to Europe, which is brilliant.

02:07And it's not only because of the cultural opportunity, the nature-based destinations,

02:12the desire for increasingly rail travel around Europe,

02:15it's also the spirit of welcome.

02:17Chinese are feeling much more welcome in Europe than other parts of the world,

02:21and that goes back to traveller confidence anywhere,

02:24where people want to know that it's easy to get a visa,

02:27they're welcome in the places that they're going to,

02:29and they feel very much connected to those communities that they're visiting.

02:33So it's a real ecosystem of choice-making, and the choice is coming to Europe.

02:38Welcomes are cheap, of course.

02:40Confidence is rather harder to find.

02:42What is your outlook for 2026?

02:45The world does still seem rather uncertain, at least economically, doesn't it?

02:50It does indeed, and also climatically.

02:53And this is where, when it comes to looking forward,

02:55leaders in the tourism industry are very much recognising

02:58they can no longer depend on traditional travellers.

03:02Again, we're seeing a decrease in terms of travel into the US and out of the US.

03:06And also, we're looking very much at closing of people's minds

03:11to the traditional summer season.

03:13So going to the shoulders, May and June travel August-September,

03:17rather than the peak time of end of June into the middle of August.

03:21Anita, good to see you.

03:22Thanks so much for coming on the programme.

03:23Anita Mendrati, the aviation and leadership expert.

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