Happy Chinese couples pay more and play more, research shows

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the latest research from OC&C’s Fundex has revealed that Chinese couples had the most fun when hanging out with their spouses, and they were willing to go out of their way and pay more for a better experience. In 2018 OC&C conducted a survey of 40,000 respondents in eight countries worldwide, asking about their leisure habits, and their use of a large number of leading leisure brands. According to the survey, the happiest couples in China spent more time with their partners. Couples who have the least fun typically spent only 35% of their leisure time together compared to 47% among those who had the most fun.   Being open to new experiences and activities may be a key part of having fun in a relationship. 89% of Chinese couples who had the most fun were open to being surrounded by different people, cultures, ideas, and lifestyles, compared to 48% among couples who had the least fun. Among Chinese couples who had the least fun, 67% were primarily motivated by convenience – only 47% of couples who had the least fun were willing to go out of their way for a better experience, compared to 88% among couples who had the most fun. Meanwhile, among Chinese couples who had the most fun, 75% claimed to have strong experience-seeking behaviours. The report shows that while for the least fun Chinese couples, mainly tripped out for food, couples who have the most fun do more varieties of leisure activities, and they also do them more frequently, such as watching movies in the cinema, visiting a theme park, or taking a cruise. Additionally, 93% of Chinese couples who had the most fun believed in paying a bit more for something slightly better, and even for couples who had the least fun, 77% of them still believe the same. When it comes to restaurants for example, while couples who were looking to splash out a little tended to visit brands like Haidilao Hot Pot and Shanghai Min more often, other brands such as Zoo Coffee and Bellagio offered couples a good way to have fun on a budget. “With long working hours and less leisure time as well as the fact that a lot of couples are working in different cities, Chinese people are sadly spending less time with their partners compared to other countries,” said Steven Kwok, associate partner, OC&C Strategy Consultants. “However, we found them more open to exploring and spending money on new experiences such as theme parks, cruises and that they get the most fun out of it.”