Hanover/Shanghai, 9 May 2017

TUI Group targeting growth in China

  • Group CEO Fritz Joussen holding keynote at 1st ITB China in Shanghai
  • Bringing the world’s leading travel brand to the largest travel market
  • TUI digital: new digital technology to support market entry in Asia
  • TUI global leader for sustainable tourism

Mr. Fritz Joussen, Chief Executive Officer of Germany based TUI Group, will be holding a keynote at the first ITB China tourism fair. The ITB is the world’s largest international tourism fair and is based in the German capital Berlin. The fair now is expanding into China – the world’s largest travel market, and for the first time takes place in Shanghai this year.

In his morning address on May 10, 2017, the CEO of the world’s leading tourism business will speak on growth and innovation in the global travel market and how China and Europe are coming closer together in this segment. His speech will also revolve around tapping into potential markets in Asia, in particular China, where TUI sees great potential to build a new base by means of its own strong brand, state-of-the-art digital technology and sustainable holiday products Made in Germany for Chinese and Asian customers.

With 67,000 employees globally TUI Group generates annual revenues of more than 17 billion euros. The Group operates in 180 destinations worldwide and offers its 20 million customers comprehensive services from a single source. It covers the entire touristic value chain under one roof, including more than 300 owned hotels with premium brands such as RIU, Robinson and TUIblue, 1,600 travel agencies, six airlines with around 150 aircraft and three growing cruise companies with currently 14 premium, luxury and expedition vessels.

Apart from growing further in its traditional European markets, the Group has recently launched its “TUI 2022” program. Within the next five years, the company wants to win an additional one million customers and generating an additional billion euros in annual revenue. To achieve this, TUI is seeking to gain a larger foothold and gain market share in South America and Asia using in particular its renowned international brand as well as state-of-the-art digital technology to tap into new markets within these regions.

Fritz Joussen: “Developing our presence in China offers enormous opportunities for us as a Quality holiday brand with global reach.” The Government of China predicts that in the coming five years Chinese tourists will make 700 million overseas visits. TUI already has a 120-employee strong team at TUI China and the Group is also building on the successful and long-standing partnership with CTS. CTS owns the largest travel agency network in China – with approximately 350 outlets. Joussen: “The Chinese travel market is far more digitally driven than the German market in comparison. In Germany alone, TUI owns 450 retail stores and has about 10,000 travel agencies selling our products and services – including China holidays to our European customers. Besides TUI China, TUI Group’s German quality operator Gebeco has a long standing history in bringing German holiday makers to China. In China, customers more and more use their smartphone to book their holidays. This underlines our ambition to tap into China as a potential market using our brand and digital technology and develop state of the art travel solutions with our Chinese partners. China is not only the largest tourism market in the world – it is also the most dynamic one. Innovation Made in China will be a key driver for our industry and we are keen to bring together our touristic strength and expertise with the excellent position of our partners here.”

TUI sees further opportunities to position its internationally strong brand in China through co-operations such as the partnership with Alibaba subsidiary Fliggy. The Group seeks to inspire Chinese travellers to book holidays in TUI across the globe with a focus on South East Asia and our new hotels on the Maldives, in Thailand or Vietnam. Joussen: “Some of our hotels are being marketed internationally, for example our first Robinson Club on the Maldives. There, the majority of guests are already today from China, Japan and Korea. The club features special Asian cuisine which is also enjoyed by our German guests.“

Developing sustainable tourism and to protect the environment is core to TUI’s corporate culture. TUI has an active environmental reporting and corporate sustainbaility management in place since 1996 and is a global industry leader. Holiday makers enjoy the intact nature as important part of their travel experience. Sustainable tourism can help to implement harmony between man and nature and between man and society across the world.

About the TUI Group

TUI Group is the world’s number one integrated tourism group operating in around 180 destinations worldwide. The company is domiciled in Germany. TUI Group’s share is listed in the FTSE 100 index, the leading index of the London Stock Exchange and in the German open market. In financial year 2015/16, TUI Group recorded turnover of €17.2bn and an operating result of €1.001bn. The Group employs 67,000 people in more than 100 countries. TUI offers its 20 million customers comprehensive services from a single source. It covers the entire touristic value chain under one roof. This comprises leading tour operator brands and 1,600 travel agencies in Europe, five European airlines with around 150 modern medium and long-haul aircraft, more than 300 Group-owned hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU and Robinson. With cruise ships ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 luxury class vessels to the “Mein Schiff” fleet of TUI Cruises and the vessels of Thomson Cruises in the UK, TUI is also strongly positioned in the growing cruise sector. Global responsibility for sustainable economic, ecological and social activity is a key feature of our corporate culture. TUI has joined the UN Global Compact and, as the only tourism group, it is listed in the renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World.

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