Exotic locations lure the nation's wealthy tourists

By Shi Jing (China Daily) Updated: 2014-07-02 07:11

Thomas Lee of Hong Kong, a guide with 30 years' experience, is one of the two escorts selected for the luxurious trip. Though some might be envious, he said the job is not easy.

"We are nervous every day, worrying about hotels, flights, food and even luggage. Unlike with Hong Kong tourists, mainland travelers tend to have more requirements that we sometimes find a challenge to meet," Lee said.

Exotic locations lure the nation's wealthy tourists

Top 10 overseas travel destinations for Chinese riches

Top 10 overseas destinations for mainland tourists

Still, Lee is proud of and passionate about his job, for the trip avails his clients an unrivaled opportunity to experience the globe's least-visited areas.

"Travelers could never do this on their own without a team of support to back them," he said.

As Lee sees it, China is the perfect market for such a product.

"A trip that costs 1.25 million yuan is definitely a lot. But I am sure there are millions of Chinese people out there who can afford it," he said.

Entrepreneurs, investors and real estate developers make up the most of the takers. Lee's customers average about 50 years of age, with children old enough to carry on the family business.

Lee's comments about his customers are in line with the findings of the Hurun Report, which publishes annual rich lists, and Diadema, a Chinese outbound luxury travel agency.

According to the Chinese Luxury Traveler 2014 report co-published by the two organizations, the 203 people surveyed said they had spent $25,000 on a trip in the past three years and visited 40 countries on average. The luxury travelers who had been to 40 countries or more said they spent 36 days abroad last year, half of which was for leisure travel. They are high-net-worth individuals averaging a personal wealth of 66 million yuan and 44 years of age.

Chen Tongming, 62, had his own package printing business in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. After handing it over to his daughter and son-in-law to run several years ago, he and his wife have been living in Canada with a son who is studying there. After reading about the 80-day trip in March 2012, the pair decided to go for it. They set out on Feb 4.