Social first travel marketing in China

China Travel and Tourism Marketing Agency for International Brands

Planning an overseas trip takes more confidence than choosing a local weekend away. Chinese travellers often move between Xiaohongshu (RedNote), short video, WeChat, traveller reviews and booking platforms before they commit. They want inspiration, but they also look for social proof, practical answers and reassurance that help will be there when they need it.

148.36Moutbound tourist trips in 2025
+20.8%year on year growth
+69%growth since 2023

Selected brands our team has supported

GoogleDisneySony MusicExpedia GroupSimilarwebRakuten AdvertisingThe FixiesBrunei TourismPixalateBVRioBossjobQuickWhipSupremeWhipOliver HomesDandydill WayAnimotion MediaSDSMMCBasketball Training SystemsReviv

Before, during and after the trip

Win trust before the booking and keep it after the trip

A beautiful post can spark the idea. Clear Chinese information, credible reviews and responsive service are what make the trip feel safe enough to book.

The strongest China travel marketing stays useful at every stage, from the first saved guide to the next visit or referral.

01

Dream

Show the places, moments and experiences worth travelling for.

02

Plan

Answer the real questions about routes, seasons, visas, stays and activities.

03

Book

Make the next step clear through a practical booking, enquiry or partner route.

04

Travel

Give Chinese guests useful information and convenient support while they are away.

05

Share and return

Encourage reviews, UGC, recommendations and reasons to stay connected.

Chinese outbound travel is growing

Chinese outbound travel is growing again

Mainland residents made 148.36 million outbound tourist trips in 2025, up 20.8% in a year and almost 69% from 2023.

Demand is back. The opportunity for an overseas destination, hotel, attraction or travel brand is to become visible and useful while Chinese travellers are still comparing their choices.

Source: China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism statistical bulletins for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Figures are outbound tourist trips by mainland residents.

Outbound tourist trips by mainland residents
Chinese outbound tourist trips rose from 87.63 million in 2023 to 148.36 million in 2025A rising line chart with 87.63 million trips in 2023, 122.79 million in 2024 and 148.36 million in 2025.87.63M122.79M148.36M202320242025Million tourist trips

What Lotus can support

Build a Chinese traveller journey that leads somewhere

Research, Chinese content, social platforms, creators, media and customer care should make the next decision easier, not send Chinese travellers in different directions.

01

China travel audience research

Understand who is travelling, what shapes the decision, when planning begins and which questions remain unanswered.

Explore market research
02

Positioning and campaign strategy

Find the strongest reason to visit, stay or book, then turn it into a focused Chinese platform plan.

03

Verified Chinese accounts

Plan and coordinate the accounts, documents, access and local administration the program needs.

Explore account setup
04

Chinese travel content

Create natural Chinese guides, social posts, video, articles, email and service information for each planning stage.

Explore Chinese content
05

Creator, KOL, KOC and UGC work

Choose voices that can show a believable experience, answer real traveller questions and give the brand social proof.

Explore influencer marketing
06

Paid social media

Give proven content more reach when the audience, offer and next step are ready.

Explore paid media
07

Chinese traveller community management

Build and manage useful WeChat or social communities for trip questions, destination tips, member updates, reviews and referrals.

Explore WeCom and community
08

Regular social media operations

Run planning, publishing, community, reporting and improvement through a dependable working rhythm.

Explore social media management

Choose each channel for a clear purpose

Meet Chinese travellers where each decision happens

The right mix depends on who is travelling, what they need to know, how they book and what support the brand can provide afterwards.

01

Xiaohongshu (RedNote)

Build travel search visibility with useful guides, real experiences, routes and saved recommendations.

Explore Xiaohongshu
02

WeChat Official Account

Give Chinese travellers an official home for detailed information, updates and regular communication.

Explore WeChat
03

WeChat Channels

Place travel video inside the wider WeChat ecosystem and connect discovery with official content and service.

Explore WeChat Channels
04

WeCom

Let sales, marketing and customer service stay connected with Chinese travellers through a company managed account.

Explore WeCom
05

Douyin

Use short video, search, culture and creators to make a destination or experience feel immediate.

Explore Douyin
06

Kuaishou

Reach broad Chinese audiences with direct, entertaining travel stories and practical short video.

Explore Kuaishou
07

Bilibili

Give interested travellers more depth through longer stories, explainers, itineraries and creator led video.

Explore Bilibili
08

Dazhong Dianping

Support reviews and discovery when a Chinese traveller is choosing restaurants, attractions or other physical locations.

Explore Dazhong Dianping
09

Travel booking platforms

Be ready where Chinese travellers compare flights, rooms, packages, prices and booking conditions.

WeCom and Chinese traveller communities

Stay close after the first enquiry

A booking should not be the last time the customer hears from the brand. WeCom gives sales, marketing and customer service teams a single business account to serve WeChat users before the trip, help them while they travel and stay useful afterwards.

Explore WeCom for Travel and Tourism
01

Keep customer relationships with the business

Customer contacts can remain with the company when a team member changes.

02

Make service convenient

Answer questions through the app Chinese travellers already use every day.

03

Build useful communities

Run WeChat groups for trip tips, updates, member offers and live questions, with clear response rules.

04

Encourage return and referral

Stay helpful after the trip with relevant follow up, review prompts and reasons to come back.

Lotus can support WeCom setup, customer journeys, team workflows, Chinese content, community guidelines and regular support and practical guidance for the people serving your Chinese market.

How we work together

From Chinese traveller insight to regular delivery

01

Define the traveller and goal

Agree who matters, what they need to understand and the action the brand wants to support.

02

Find the strongest position

Shape the reason to choose the destination or experience around Chinese interests and practical concerns.

03

Prepare the foundations

Set up the right accounts, content system, booking route, access and response responsibilities.

04

Create and distribute

Run useful Chinese content, creator work, campaigns and media across the chosen platforms.

05

Learn and improve

Use traveller questions, search behaviour, community response and results to strengthen regular delivery.

Travel and hospitality experience

Travel and hospitality sectors we can support

Our work across travel and other industries helps us bring a wider creative view while staying close to the practical detail a traveller needs.

Tourism boards and destinationsHotels and resortsAttractions and experiencesAirlines and transportTravel technology and bookingRestaurants and hospitalityEducation travelLifestyle and wellness travel

Working in another travel category?

Tell us who you want to reach, where they are travelling and what currently makes the China journey difficult.

Start the conversation

Common questions

China travel marketing questions from international brands

Practical answers for destinations, hotels, attractions and travel businesses planning how to reach and serve Chinese travellers.

What does a China travel and tourism marketing agency do?

A China travel and tourism marketing agency connects audience research, positioning, verified Chinese accounts, Chinese travel content, creator work, paid media, community management and regular operations. Lotus plans the work around how Chinese travellers find inspiration, compare choices, book and seek help before, during and after an overseas trip.

Which Chinese platforms do travellers use when planning an overseas trip?

The mix changes by audience and destination. Xiaohongshu (RedNote) is important for travel search, inspiration and saved guides. Douyin, WeChat Channels, Kuaishou and Bilibili support different kinds of video discovery. WeChat provides official information, while WeCom supports customer service and follow up. Chinese travel booking platforms remain important when travellers compare routes, rooms, prices and booking conditions.

Why is Xiaohongshu (RedNote) important for Chinese travel marketing?

Chinese travellers use Xiaohongshu (RedNote) to search destinations, hotels, attractions, restaurants, routes and real visitor experiences. Useful posts can continue to appear in search and saved trip plans after publication, which makes the platform valuable for both inspiration and practical decision making.

How do WeChat and WeCom work together for travel brands?

A WeChat Official Account can publish trusted Chinese information and regular updates. WeCom is designed for direct customer contact, team service and follow up with WeChat users. Together they can connect public content with a more convenient one to one or group service journey.

Why is WeCom valuable for a hotel, destination or travel business?

Most travellers do not become loyal customers after one message or one trip. WeCom gives sales, marketing and customer service teams a company managed way to answer questions, keep useful contact history and stay connected with Chinese guests. It can support the first booking, service during the trip, repeat visits and referrals.

Can Lotus help manage WeChat groups for Chinese travellers?

Yes. A useful group needs a clear purpose, membership plan, content rhythm, response times and escalation rules. Lotus can help plan and operate groups for trip preparation, destination tips, member updates, customer questions, reviews and referrals, while keeping the experience useful rather than noisy.

Can WeCom help turn first time Chinese guests into repeat customers?

It can support that goal, although no platform can guarantee it. When a brand has permission to stay in touch, WeCom makes it easier to provide aftercare, share relevant offers, invite feedback and give a happy customer a convenient way to recommend the business to friends.

Should a travel brand send Chinese users to its own booking website?

Sometimes, but the route must be practical. Chinese travellers expect clear Chinese information, fast mobile pages, familiar payment options and responsive service. In many cases an established travel platform, local partner, WeChat route or assisted booking journey works better than sending everyone to a global website.

Can Lotus set up and verify Chinese social media accounts for a travel brand?

Yes. Lotus can review the documentation, platform route, ownership and local administration needed for verified Chinese accounts. Requirements vary by platform, business category and entity structure, so we confirm the workable route before recommending setup.

Does our travel brand need a Chinese legal entity or mobile number?

Not every platform or activity has the same requirement. Account verification, advertising and certain functions may require specific documents, a Chinese entity, a local partner or a Chinese mobile number. Most account setups need a local number somewhere in the process. Lotus can assess the practical route and support the coordination.

Can we reuse our existing destination, hotel or travel content?

Yes, when the source material is strong. We review what can travel well, then reshape the story for Chinese culture, search habits, platform formats and seasonal interests. The aim is natural Chinese content that answers what travellers actually want to know, not a direct translation of global copy.

How much should a travel brand budget for Chinese creators or influencers?

There is no useful flat rate. Pricing changes with the platform, creator size, audience fit, destination, travel requirements, production effort, usage rights, timing and recent account performance. Share a realistic budget range and goal with Lotus, and we can recommend a practical mix of UGC, KOC and KOL work.

How early should an overseas travel campaign start in China?

Start early enough to secure accounts, content, creators, media and approvals before Chinese travellers begin planning. Long haul trips, visa dependent travel and major holidays usually need more lead time than a short break. Lotus plans backwards from the decision window, not only the departure date.

How should China travel marketing performance be measured?

Measures should follow the traveller journey. Useful signals can include Chinese search visibility, saved posts, qualified engagement, video completion, creator content quality, enquiries, booking actions, service conversations, reviews, repeat interest and brand search growth. We agree the most meaningful measures before activity begins.

Does Lotus offer regular China travel marketing support?

Yes. Lotus works best as a regular China marketing partner, connecting Chinese social media management, content, creators, paid media, WeCom, community support, reporting and local coordination with the brand’s global or regional team.

Related China insights

Useful reading for travel teams entering China

Work with Lotus

Looking for a China based travel marketing partner?

Tell us who you want to reach, what you want Chinese travellers to discover and what is already in place. We will recommend a practical place to begin and show how it can grow into regular delivery.

Discuss Your China Travel Goals