AirAsia aims to prove doubters wrong
By Maggie Rauch, China TravelDaily
SHENZEN – Investment activity in the Chinese travel industry isn’t all going straight to the Web.
Earlier this year, the China National Tourism Administration projected that Chinese travellers would take 50 million outbound trips in 2009, and domestic tourism revenue would grow by eight percent.
One recent entrant to the Chinese market is low-cost Malaysian carrier Air Asia, which has been aggressively going after Chinese business for the last two years.
Kathleen Tan, regional head of commercial for Air Asia, speaking at the China Travel Distribution Summit, said, “When the economy is down, people still need to fly. China is an economic powerhouse and a lot of people want to fly.
“The big airlines told us that our model would not work here,†Tan said. “Because people don’t want to book online, and like to use cash.
“Elsewhere the key thing is the low fare. But of course we won’t change our model because the industry thinks it won’t work in China.â€
Today, Air Asia operates 200 weekly flights to nine Chinese cities.
Tan says the airline has succeeded by listening to what Chinese travellers want, and then promoting that. Getting employee buy-in has also helped.
“When we hired local staff, it was important to get them to buy into our culture and understand the value proposition,†Tan says.
She spoke of her own personal efforts to adapt to Chinese business culture, studying Mandarin and throwing back shots of baijiu at business dinners.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025