Chinese venturers to Pacific Small Island Developing States: Travel and lifestyle

Abstract

This study emphasizes the necessity to understand the needs of the growing Chinese market, while also assessing how ready Small Island Developing States of the South Pacific are for these new visitors. Through a mixed method approach, combining individual visitor surveys and focus groups, this study investigates the lifestyle characteristics of outbound Chinese tourists to the Cook Islands and the motivation and travel behavior of these travelers. We refine a model for the travel lifestyle of Chinese tourists that has applicability to Small Island Developing States elsewhere around the world.