Speaking at the 2017 FVW Congress in Cologne, Germany, Thomas Cook China managing director Alessandro Dassi said that the company will have served 20,000 customers by the end of September.

He added: “In our first year since launch, Thomas Cook China will have looked after 20,000 customers. Over the next 12 months, we plan to grow this number by more than ten times.

“We have the full commitment of Fosun and Thomas Cook to support the future growth of the business. 

“The ambition is to make China a sizeable market for Thomas Cook Group, comparable, over time, with our more mature source markets in Europe.”

Thomas Cook China was launched in September 2016 following a deal with Fosun, the leading Chinese investment conglomerate.

Dassi added while the target had been set despite the market being so competitive while the operator was also having to take account of changing trends which are seeing the Chinese move away from group travel.

He said: “There is already huge choice in the market for the Chinese leisure travellers, and a great focus on price.

“The industry is not yet keeping up with the pace of change in the behaviour of Chinese consumers.

“To exploit this gap we have focused on developing products that are truly unique and differentiated, leveraging Thomas Cook’s  resources across key tourist destinations.”