China Looking to Invest in Tourism Across Latin America

La Bandera China flota sobre América Latina

In recent weeks, the Tourism Ministries of several Latin American and Caribbean countries have reportedly received visits from several Chinese delegations. All of their press releases highlight the intention of this Asian nation to invest in Tourism of the Americas.

Dominican Republic

Last Tuesday, April 9, the Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, Francisco Javier García, launched the First Forum of Negotiations between Chinese and Dominican investors and tour operators. This activity seeks to promote and increase business between both nations to achieve greater income of Chinese tourists to the country.

Li Baochum, Secretary General of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Francisco Javier García, Minister of  Tourism of the Dominican Republic, and Zhang Run, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China
Li Baochum, Secretary General of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Francisco Javier García, Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, and Zhang Run, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China. (Source: External.)

The official said he met with Chinese members of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), who carry out a series of activities focused on tourism trade and investment in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, and other destinations in the country. This delegation is headed by Li Baochum, General Secretary of the WTCF. The group also represents six Chinese investment companies, 10 of the top Chinese media outlets, 13 travel agency executives, and buyers from China.

Argentina

Meanwhile, another Chinese delegation headed by Pansy Ho,
prominent Chinese businesswoman and vice chairman of the Global Tourism Economy Forum, visited Argentina last week in search of investment opportunities. As part of an agenda coordinated by the National Tourism Bureau, Pansy Ho was received at the Casa Rosada by President Mauricio Macri. There she expressed her intention to make tourism investments in the country.

In addition to their tour through the City of Buenos Aires, the Chinese delegation also met with members of the Argentine Chamber of Tourism. They visited Puerto Iguazú, the waterfalls, as well as the provinces of Jujuy, Corrientes, Mendoza and Río Negro. They arranged different meetings during their trip to present tourist investment offers regarding lodging and ecotourism in Argentina.

Pansy Ho, vice chairman of the Global Tourism Economy Forum, heads a Chinese visiting the National Tourism Bureau in Argentina
Pansy Ho, vice chairman of the Global Tourism Economy Forum, heads a Chinese visiting the National Tourism Bureau in Argentina. (Source: External.)

The delegation that visited Argentina was integrated by Wang Ping, president of the China Chamber of Tourism; Wang Ze Zhong, deputy director of the Production and Development Department of the China Chamber of Tourism; Yuan Huihong, general manager of the Department of Business Culture and Tourism of Zhejiang Humanistic Gardens Co; Jenny Feng, vice president of Paradise Entertainment Limited; Guo Xing, of the China Women’s Chamber of Commerce; Jason Wang, operations director of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) and executive director of the Research Center for Global Tourism Economy; Rita Botelho dos Santos, general secretary of the Collaborative Forum for China-Lusophone-Latin America-Caribbean Development; and Bonnie Tang, associate director of Shun Tak Holdings Limited.

Panama

Similarly, at the end of March some 10 companies from the People’s Republic of China and 33 Panamanian tour operators participated in negotiation rounds in Panama, within the framework of an appraisal trip organized by the Tourism Authority and Delta Airlines.

The Office of Panamanian Tourism Promotion in China reported that the main objective of this meeting is to present a platform where each party (company and tour operator) can establish first contact, present their offerings, and then follow up.

Delta Airlines y la Oficina de Promoción Turística de Panamá reciben representantes de 10 empresas de la República Popular China durante un viaje de familiarización y negociaciones con touroperadores locales
Delta Airlines and the Toursim Authority of Panama gathered representatives from 10 Chinese companies with local tour operators (Foto: Fuente externa.)

The Chinese companies participating in the commercial exchange were: SZX MeiYa, SZXTEMPUS, BSJ BAOSHENG, DONGLI, UPIE, E-FLY, CTRIP, TUMEI INTERNATIONAL and DELTA AIRLINES.

The representatives of each of these companies arrived in Panama on Sunday, March 24. Throughout the week they toured different tourist sites in the country, such as Casco Antiguo, Miraflores Visitors Center, Pacific Riviera, Clara Water Locks, Emberá Quera Community and others.

All these initiatives from Chinese companies, investors and the government itself to Latin American and Caribbean countries show that Asian nation’s interest in expanding the tourism options of its citizens.