How Lotte Duty Free Collaborates with Guangzhou and Qingdao Travel Agencies to Boost Chinese Group Tourism

Expanding Horizons: Lotte Duty Free’s Strategic Partnerships in China

The recent efforts by Lotte Duty Free to engage with Chinese travel agencies in Guangzhou and Qingdao aim to tap into the flourishing market of group travelers from China.

A delegation, headed by Namgung Pyo, Lotte Duty Free’s Head of Marketing, focused on forming cooperation agreements with over 30 travel agencies to attract more tour groups to South Korea.

Visa-free Policy and Its Role in Travel Growth

The company’s drive aligns well with South Korea’s newly introduced visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists, providing an ideal backdrop for tailored travel packages and exclusive offers. These initiatives are especially timely, aiming ahead of China’s significant National Day Golden Week, a peak travel season.

This public-private collaboration includes the Korea Tourism Organization’s China office, emphasizing joint efforts to strengthen tourism flows.

Partnerships Signed in Guangzhou and Qingdao

During the visit, Lotte Duty Free established memorandums of understanding with Guangzhou CITS Travel Agency and Qingdao Tourism Group. These agreements are designed to strengthen the network and capture more group travel demand from these regional cities.

Rise of Regional Group Tourists

Data from the first half of the year shows increasing purchases from group tourists originating from second and third-tier cities, including Qingdao, Hangzhou, and Chengdu. Their shopping interests prominently include cosmetics and fashion, with souvenirs and food products also gaining steady popularity.

In response, Lotte Duty Free has adopted new strategies like onboarding local agents, customizing product assortments, and regionalized marketing campaigns to meet varied preferences.

Wider Vision: Extending Outreach Across China

Starting with Guangzhou and Qingdao, Lotte Duty Free plans to widen this cooperation framework to central and western China, enhancing access to evolving markets.

Proactive marketing events such as a gathering of over 200 tour guides fluent in Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian languages highlight flagship stores and exclusive benefits, thereby nurturing stronger ties with travel partners and tourists alike.

Marketing Events and Seasonality

These gatherings, part of ongoing strategies since February, aim to leverage visa-free benefits during key seasons, including the National Day holiday and peak travel periods for Japanese and Southeast Asian visitors.

Leadership Outlook on Tourism Revival

Namgung Pyo sees the visa-free policy as a significant milestone for South Korea’s tourism and duty-free sectors. The focus on regional cities’ growth potential is coupled with delivering differentiated shopping experiences during crucial travel seasons, ultimately supporting the broader revitalization of Korean tourism.

Insights into Group Travel Trends from China

Chinese group travel predominates outbound tourism, with cities like Guangzhou and Qingdao playing pivotal roles. Group tourists often prefer shopping destinations rich in luxury goods, cosmetics, fashion, and local specialties—categories well served by duty-free retailers like Lotte.

Key Features of Chinese Group Travelers

• Source cities: Emerging from secondary cities beyond Beijing and Shanghai
• Shopping preferences: Heavy focus on cosmetics, fashion, souvenirs, and gourmet items
• Booking practices: Often utilize licensed travel agencies and organized group arrangements
• Seasonal peaks: Travel surges notably during major holidays such as the National Day Golden Week

The Impact on Taxi and Transfer Services

With group travel on the rise, especially from regional cities, the demand for reliable airport transfers, taxis, and group transportation services is also growing. Platforms like LocalsRide.com can cater perfectly to this by offering travelers the ability to book exact vehicle types tailored to their group size and preferences.

Transparency in vehicle details, driver ratings, and fixed fares makes the transfer experience smoother, which is crucial during peak travel times such as the National Day holiday.

Why Personal Experience Beats Reviews – Booking Smart with Verified Services

While reviews and feedback from others provide useful insights into the travel and shopping experience, nothing substitutes firsthand experience. On platforms like LocalsRide, users have access to cars with drivers from verified providers at reasonable prices, helping ensure peace of mind.

The mix of extensive vehicle options, affordable fares, and additional services under one roof allows travelers to make informed decisions without the risk of surprises or extra costs.

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Summary: Linking Group Travel Growth with Seamless Transfers

The surge in Chinese group tourism, especially from cities like Guangzhou and Qingdao, is creating exciting opportunities for travel retail and the broader tourism network. Lotte Duty Free’s active partnerships and tailored marketing strategies demonstrate how savvy collaboration can tap into emerging demands.

Travelers benefit from more personalized shopping options and exclusive deals, while transport needs grow in parallel. Reliable taxi and transfer services, offering exact vehicle choices and clear pricing, become key to a seamless trip.

LocalsRide.com perfectly embodies these modern travel demands. By enabling booking of private taxis and transfers worldwide with transparent fares, verified drivers, and vehicle details upfront, it stands out from traditional aggregators, providing unmatched convenience and peace of mind for every destination and travel type.

Whether it’s airport transfers, city tours, or group rides, LocalsRide offers a straightforward way to book and enjoy your journey—whether for business or leisure—helping you focus on the experience rather than the logistics.