How to sell escorted tours in Asia

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Escorted tours and Asia are a match made in heaven – with many miles to cover, myriad cultures to learn about and multiple language barriers to overcome, the continent lends itself to a guided style of travel that gets visitors straight to the heart of the destination they’re in.

Discover how you can boost your Asia touring sales with tips from the experts and find out the latest insights from operators.

Who buys Asia tours?

Asia’s appeal is widespread across generations and genders, from families keen to discover Asia’s awesome attractions with the help of a guide to couples looking for an adventurous honeymoon.

It’s a strong seller for solos too, with many travellers seeking the cost savings and security of travelling in a group. Cosmos Tours reports that solo travellers have made up 21% of its Asia customers this year, while Exodus Adventure Travels says 30% of its Asia bookings this year have been from solos.

Solo travellers can even enjoy dedicated departures: the most popular Asia trips in G Adventures’ Solo-ish range are to Vietnam and China, with an average age of 45 and 75% female.

Most popular places in Asia

Many operators have boosted their Asia programmes this year, and certain destinations are seeing a rise in new product, from the ‘Stans’ of central Asia to South Korea.

Wendy Wu Tours, Ramble Worldwide and Newmarket Holidays have expanded their India touring programmes, while First Class Holidays and Inside Travel introduced India last year – the latter’s first new destination since 2022.

Tyler Palma, Inside Travel’s product director, says: “India has grown steadily and there is more to come.”

The announcement of visa-free travel for Brits to China has also led to a spike in interest. Intrepid Travel is reporting a 146% rise in bookings for UK visitors since the end of January, while Just You’s 2027 Inspirational China and Yangtze Cruise is up 350% compared to last year.

Other rising stars include Indonesia and Mongolia, both new for Wendy Wu Tours; Nepal, where Contiki has introduced a new small-group tour for 18-35s; and Cambodia, where G Adventures is holding its summit in September.

It’s a reminder that Asia has 48 countries to discover – so there’s plenty more in store for clients keen to go further.