東南亞主要旅游目的地的中國游客顯著減少,這在一定程度上不止是因為一起空難和地緣政治緊張的結(jié)果。對于全球很多地方,接待出境游的中國人是一個成長型行業(yè)。作為旅游目的地國家和航空公司都應以更加細膩的戰(zhàn)略方式對待中國游客市場。
測試中可能遇到的詞匯和知識:
geopolitical 地緣政治
swamp 淹沒
coup 政變
aviation 航空
reluctance 勉強
By Ben Bland
Key Southeast Asian markets have seen a marked drop in Chinese tourists,a growth sector across much of the globe,as air crashes and geopolitical tensions take their toll.
While China spends more on outbound travel than any other nation,up 28 per cent to $165bn last year,the reversal of fortunes for some of Southeast Asia's main tourism destinations underlines the risks that countries face as they look to China for growth.
The trend is particularly concerning for countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia that were banking on Chinese tourists to help boost their slowing economies.
“These Asian markets have been the early recipients of the largest Chinese outbound flows and have quickly adapted to a recognition that the China market will progressively swamp all others,” said Will Horton,an analyst at the Centre for Aviation,a research company,in Hong Kong.
“Chinese media and shifts in political winds can abruptly — but often temporarily — turn off traffic flows. Excessive reliance on any one tourism source inevitably creates this problem.”
Excluding Thailand,which has seen a rebound in Chinese tourist numbers since another military coup last year,the number of Chinese visitors to Southeast Asia fell in the first three months of this year to 1.5m,from 1.9m a year earlier,according to the Centre for Aviation.
That signals a continuing trend,with Chinese arrivals in Southeast Asia,excluding Thailand,falling to 6.2m last year from 6.4m in 2013.
By contrast,Japan,helped by its weakening currency,and the rest of North Asia have seen a jump in Chinese tourists,up 38 per cent to 3.3m in the first quarter of this year,compared to a year earlier.
Michael Beer,an aviation analyst at Citigroup in Hong Kong,said that the deadly crashes last year involving Malaysia Airlines' flights MH370 and MH17 and AirAsia Indonesia's QZ8501 have shaken Chinese tourists' confidence in travelling to the region.
Malaysia's much-criticised handling of the loss of MH370,which disappeared mysteriously en route to Beijing with 152 Chinese among the 239 people on board,has added to the reluctance to travel there.
Vietnam and the Philippines have suffered because of rising political tensions connected to their maritime disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.
Analysts say that while the most Chinese tourists would not feel any direct impact,the political climate,and its reporting in the sometimes nationalistic state-controlled media,affects their travel decisions.
Joey,a 28-year-old from Shanghai,was recently persuaded by her friends to drop plans to visit Vietnam because they were still concerned about a small outbreak of anti-Chinese rioting last year.
“I think even though the incident was a long time ago,the concept of Vietnam as a disorderly place hasn't changed,” she said.
Mr Horton of the Centre for Aviation argues that countries and airlines need to take a more nuanced approach to the lucrative Chinese market.
“There is little doubt that in the long term Chinese tourists will change the face of global tourism,” he said. “But managing the short and medium term blips will be a big part of a China tourism strategy.”
1.Which of the following is not mentioned as the reason of Chinese tourist spurning SE Asia holidays?
A.Air crashes
B.Geopolitical tensions
C.An increase in the number of direct flights
D.The influence of state-controlled media
[1] 答案
2.Which of the following countries has seen a jump in Chinese tourists?
A.Japan
B.Malaysia
C.Indonesia
D.Vietnam
[2] 答案
3.What's the author's attitude towards Chinese tourists spurning SE Asia holidays?
A.Satisfied
B.Objective
C.Reluctant
D.Discontent
[3] 答案
4.Which of the following countries suffered decline of Chinese tourists because of maritime disputes?
A.Philippines
B.Russia
C.USA
D.Korea
[4] 答案
[1]答案:C.An increase in the number of direct flights
解釋:文章第一段最后和倒數(shù)第五段分別提到東南亞旅游目的地國家客流受影響的原因包括之前的空難和地緣政治緊張以及中國的媒體風向。
[2]答案:A.Japan
解釋:文章中作者在第八段提到日本得益于日元疲軟,見證了前往該國中國游客數(shù)量的跳躍式上升。
[3]答案:B.Objective
解釋:文章中作者以第三者角度列舉了東南亞旅游國家目前中國游客減少的現(xiàn)狀和其背后的原因,其中并沒有加入過多個人情感色彩,整體態(tài)度是客觀地陳述事實。
[4]答案:A.Philippines
解釋:文中倒數(shù)第五段提到越南和菲律賓受到與中國南海爭端的影響導致吸引游客數(shù)量下滑。