Manchester Airport Follows Up Launch of Direct Flights to China with the Introduction of New Chinese Social Media Profiles

On the back of the successful launch of Hainan Airlines’ non-stop service between Manchester and Beijing in June this year – which has already served 40,000 passengers over the past 4 months – Manchester Airport has followed in the footsteps of London’s Heathrow Airport by unveiling its own accounts on Chinese social media platforms WeChat and Weibo.

The online Chinese-language channels will provide Manchester Airport’s growing numbers of Chinese passengers with useful information related both to the airport itself, as well as tourism opportunities in Manchester and beyond. The new WeChat service, which is supported by free Wi-Fi access within terminal buildings, provides users with features such as language-assistance and information regarding tax refund options.

Furthermore, in addition to including video endorsements of local Chinese students to help draw more visitors from China to Manchester and the wider region, the airport’s new social media accounts are looking to target potential Chinese customers already living in the UK.

Manchester Airport’s new flight route and corresponding social media services come at an opportune time for the British tourism industry, as Chinese shoppers are leading the way among overseas visitors looking to take advantage of the weakening of the pound sterling in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. With trips having become as much as 20 percent cheaper than last year, August saw a year-on-year increase of 35% in Chinese tourist expenditure in the UK.

COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute provides expert insights into the worldwide developments of China’s outbound tourism market. As Chinese outbound tourists are travelling to a large range of destinations, our publications cover a number of regions, providing detailed insights and analysing visitor behaviour.

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Sources: Travel Weekly, The Guardian

Photo: flickr