Hey, big spenders

Chinese tourists remained the most generous spenders among all overseas tourists in Japan, with average spending reaching $2,300 between April and June, nearly three times that of South Korean tourists, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The China Tourism Academy estimated that 65 percent of the travel budgets of outbound Chinese tourists were for shopping.

Some 60 percent of luxury purchases by Chinese are done outside the Chinese mainland, according to a report by consultancy Bain & Co. Big-ticket items on the mainland can be 30 to 40 percent more expensive than in Hong Kong due to luxury and import taxes as well as pricing strategies.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization forecast Chinese travel would reach 100 million outbound trips by 2020. Their outbound spending in 2013 is expected to reach $117.6 billion, up 20 percent from the previous year.

Chinese-tailored services have boomed as well.

Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan that boasts beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear water for diving, has also installed China UnionPay card terminals in most shops and hotels. UnionPay cardholders can spend without currency exchange fees at hotels and shops, ranging from Lawson convenience stores to shopping centers such as Ashibinaa, an outlet mall near the airport.

At the Laox electronics store in Ashibinaa, Chinese-speaking attendants greeted customers with ni hao, and recommended a complete line of popular items favored by Chinese, ranging from Hitachi facial moisturizer massagers to Panasonic rice cookers.

Masseuses in Thai spa centers are conversant with such Mandarin phrases as tang xia (lay down), teng bu teng (does it hurt?) and shu fu ma (feel comfortable?).

The number of Chinese visitors to Thailand surged from 1.8 million in 2011 to 2.8 million in the first eight months of 2013, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Du Xiaoying contributed to this story.