Travolution@ITT - Part 13 - Chinese opportunity

Tim Haynes, assistant editor of The Times, has been drafted in to replace Seema Desai, director of the Foreign Policy Centre, to talk about the emergence of China.

He warms up by poking fun at the previous day’s opener, Paco Underhill from Envirosell (“Paco Underhand” he laughs).

Some delegates chuckle; others squirm at the references to the length of time it took Underhill to complete his speech yesterday – this is unfortunate for Underhill, who is clearly not in the audience, as he has an obvious stutter.

Anyway, it’s a double act from The Times.

The paper’s travel editor Cath Urquhart talks about the implications for the travel industry in the world’s biggest country, while Haynes outlines the political and social circumstances that have led to its open-door policy for tourists.

There is also an interesting section on the influx of Chinese tourists to the UK as well. Some attractions will have to adapt to the siege mentality associated with coach loads of tourists, Urquhart says.

[Conference photos on Flickr]

Kevin May, editor, Travolution