Chinese spend more money on outbound tourism than anyone else on the planet. According to the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), China generated US$129 billion in travel-related expenditures last year, up 26 percent from 2012 (the year China surpassed Germany and the US to claim the number one spot).
Online chauffeur-booking service Blacklane is hoping to capitalize on China’s lucrative outbound tourism market through a recently-announced partnership with the country’s largest travel search engine: Baidu-owned Qunar. As of Monday, Chinese travelers can now hire a professionally-driven car, van, or SUV directly through the Qunar portal, which the company says attracts nearly 45 million monthly visitors. The integrated service, available in 50 countries, displays flat rates for transfers between airports and hotels (including fees, gratuity, and tolls) in RMB directly on Qunar’s site.
Qunar likely chose Blacklane over Uber, which is available in more Chinese cities and is more well-known around the world, because Blacklane’s emphasis on pre-booking is more appealing to travelers setting up their travel itinerary in advance.
Dr. Jens Wohltorf
Berlin-based Blacklane has been active within China since August last year, when the startup entered Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzhen. It also entered Shanghai in March. The Blacklane app is currently available in English and German, but will be offered in Mandarin from mid-January 2015. Those who use the service through Qunar can already book in Mandarin.
“We have been very pleased with our growth so far, seeing our Chinese business grow much faster than the overall business,” Blacklane co-founder and CEO Dr. Jens Wohltorf tells Tech in Asia. “We see a tremendous opportunity by offering the service in Mandarin through Qunar.”
As for pursuing similar partnerships elsewhere in Asia, Wohltof adds:
We are moving forward on partnerships in Asia and around the world. To be a global company and brand, you need partners where travelers usually book and manage all of their own travel – this makes international, end-to-end travel easier and more accessible for everyone. The size of the Chinese travel market, and of Qunar in the country, is certainly unique and strategic, but our goal is to build a global company with global service, and that requires travel distribution partners and driver partners around the world.
Elsewhere in Asia, Blacklane also operates in Tokyo, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Taipei.
See: After a year in Japan, Blacklane chauffeur service picks up ‘millions’ from Recruit
This post Chinese spend more on travel than anyone else. Blacklane hopes they want chauffeurs abroad appeared first on Tech in Asia.
Chinese spend more on travel than anyone else. Blacklane hopes they want chauffeurs abroad
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