The Lunar New Year holds great significance for Chinese travelers, and despite the current uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, London’s West End is poised to see a significant uptick in spending from tourists. The New West End Company (NWEC) has projected that Chinese customers will contribute a £17 million increase in revenue to the West End for the Lunar New Year festivities.
Chinese shoppers have been identified as the top international spending group in the West End, frequenting high-end department stores, luxury brand flagships, and mainstream retail outlets. Their spending has shown a steady increase of 5% over the past year, partly attributed to the attractive prices in Britain resulting from the weakened pound. It is estimated that Chinese tourists will spend an average of £1,800 per transaction during their visit to the West End.
To accommodate the influx of Chinese visitors, businesses in the area have implemented specialized services tailored to their preferences. This includes accepting Chinese mobile payment solutions such as AliPay and WeChat Pay, employing Chinese-speaking staff in stores, and offering personalized hospitality services. London’s West End has even introduced a dedicated WeChat Mini Programme designed to assist Chinese visitors with navigation, store guides, historical information, travel tips, and payment options.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase of 179% in UK visitor visas issued in China, rising from 210,000 in 2012 to 583,000 in 2018. This growth has outpaced the Schengen growth rate of 123%, indicating a growing interest among Chinese tourists in visiting the UK. As a result, London’s West End is preparing to provide an enhanced and seamless shopping experience for Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
For further information on Chinese tourism in London, you can visit Visit London – Chinatown and Chinatown London.
