Tourism Seychelles stepped up its engagement with China’s luxury travel market at DONG Connection 2026, securing key partnerships and highlighting its experience-led, sustainable offerings. With rising demand for high-end, bespoke travel, the destination is positioning itself to capture a growing segment of affluent Chinese travelers.
Sanya, China– Tourism Seychelles is doubling down on China’s booming luxury travel market, leveraging its presence at the DONG Luxury Travel Connection 2026 to strengthen ties with top-tier buyers and showcase its high-end offerings.
Held from April 13–17 at The Sanya EDITION, the event brought together more than 750 global buyers and suppliers from 40 countries, generating over 20,000 one-to-one meetings.
The Seychelles delegation—led by Director for the Chinese Market Jean-Luc Lai-Lam and Senior Marketing Executive Yu Sen, alongside Six Senses Zil Pasyon Seychelles—held 53 targeted meetings with leading Chinese luxury travel agencies.
“China remains a key growth market for Seychelles’ luxury segment,” said Lai-Lam. “We’re seeing strong demand for experience-led travel, especially in nature, wellness and bespoke journeys—areas where Seychelles excels.”
Positioning itself as a “higher value, lower impact” destination, Seychelles is targeting affluent travelers seeking immersive and sustainable experiences. Key highlights included curated island-hopping, biodiversity-focused adventures, tailor-made honeymoons, and a growing wellness portfolio, all backed by conservation and community-driven initiatives.
The event also saw the launch of the Luxury Travel Trends in China white paper, revealing a major shift in consumer behavior. A striking 85% of high-net-worth travelers plan to increase travel spending in the coming year—far outpacing the 11% who intend to spend more on traditional luxury goods.
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The report also points to evolving demographics, with more self-made wealthy individuals and women shaping travel decisions. Notably, 77% of respondents said they are willing to pay a premium for once-in-a-lifetime experiences—reinforcing Seychelles’ push toward high-value, experience-driven tourism.
