After ticking France, Italy, Britain and 24 other countries off her travel list, Chinese tourist Ma Bo selected a luxury cruise to the South Pole for her latest jaunt, where bouts of penguin-spotting were punctuated by steak dinners and afternoon workouts in an on-board gym.
Wealthy Chinese tourists are heading to riskier destinations in search of adventure, and demanding a high-level of comfort when they do. “The waves were huge, but the boat remained stable, and we had five-star service,” said the 43-year-old freelancer, who spent Rmb150,000 ($22,0000) on the December trip.
China this year overtook Australia as the second largest source of travellers to Antarctica, accounting for 12 per cent of some 46,000 total visitors, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. US tourists accounted for one-third.