Exclusive: Inside the world of Wendy Wu
The world of travel is having a chat, and China has just entered the conversation.
Travel in and out of China is on the increase, and there’s no one more excited about that than travel industry superstar, Wendy Wu.
In an exclusive interview with Travel Weekly, Wu spoke about how her company has now made it easier for agents to book travel into China, how Covid opened the door to a new world for Wendy Wu Tours and how it took the brand global.
“Prior to COVID, we were very much China, Southeast Asia, and Japan specialists and experts, but because of COVID, we experienced a transformation following encouragement from customers we worked with a lot of other countries, especially in Europe.
“Customers said to us, Europe is open, can you please take us somewhere? So we started to select really carefully unique places in Europe and the Middle East because they were already open and China wasn’t,” she said.
Wu is very passionate about the places her company takes its customers, She spoke at length about the links between China, Japan and Portugal.
“When we go somewhere, we really know what we’re talking about.
“We uncover all these hidden gems, even gems within our wonderful culture and history, the food and the wine.”
Wendy Wu Tours began visits to Europe as the world reopened post-COVID. (Credit: Wendy Wu Tours)
Wu says what sets her tours apart from the rest – as well as the in-depth destination knowledge – is its fully inclusive prices.
“Everything is covered. The airfare, of course. The taxes, of course. Then three meals a day, entrance fees, entertainment and experiences. They’re all included so once a tour is booked, that’s it,” she said.
Wendy also spoke of the recent developments around Visa processing for agents.
“We are going to start doing the Visa applications for our customers and our travel agents.
“So travel agents will be able to just send the customer’s passport to us, and we will process it for them, they don’t have to go to the Visa Centre anymore,”
In fact, I just got back from the Visa Centre, now!” She laughed.
“Which, luckily, we are,” Wu said.
At this stage, only Visas for travellers from New South Wales can be processed by Wendy Wu Tours, but the service is expected to expand to other states next year.
Wu said travel to China surges whenever her company promotes the destination, “pushing the go button” on travel between Australia and China. She said she wants agents to join her in pushing the button more often.
“When we press it and press with us, then we get to share the bookings, which absolutely has been the case so far.”
It’s no secret that China has been in the headlines lately, and it’s not something that Wendy Wu hides from.
“Relations between China and Western countries including Australia are not the best. But, it’s important to know the people in China are very friendly. And that’s the thing our passengers experience in China.”
Sure, there is the Great Wall the Terracotta Warriors, but they realise people are so warm and friendly.
Like many places, travel to China has been affected by the gradual return of airlines to once-popular routes. But, Wu says airfares will be less of a factor in 2024.
“I actually think prices will come down in the next few months, and along with the Visa processing service, this will make travel to China much easier,” she said.
Asking someone like Wendy to name her favourite destination is impossible. And, it came as no surprise that her list of places she loves the most had about ten countries on it. Even when asked to shorten that to two places, she gave us five.
It may be the Great Wall that brings people to China, but it will be the great people they remember. (Credit: iStock)
There is China and Japan of course, but there’s no doubt that Portugal, Jordan and Egypt all hold a special place in Wendy’s heart. It’s evident from the massive smile that appears on her face the moment she even says the names of these countries.
“I love Japan, and I love Laos and Cambodia. And I love Mongolia, gosh, Mongolia. The wilderness, the pristine nature of Mongolia. No one will ever be able to describe it properly,” she said.
Wu also spoke of her love for agents working on the front line of travel in both Australia and New Zealand.
“I want to share something with the travel agents. Even though China has not fully recovered, as a group in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, we are doing 25 per cent above what we were doing in 2019. And, that’s thanks to agents.
As the interview was coming to an end, Wendy continued to add to her list of favourite destinations. A sure sign that genuine passion for people and their places are at the heart of Wendy and everything she does.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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