Chinese firms give thousands of employees free trips in Thailand, France

Staff from Tiens Group celebrate the group's 20th anniversary in Nice, south of France, May 8, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Meanwhile, China's Tiens Group, another big direct-seller, sent more than 6,000 of its employees on a holiday to France to celebrate its 20th anniversary, shortly before Inifinitus's trip in Thailand.

According to media reports, it was the biggest-ever tour group to visit France, booking 140 hotels in Paris and 4,760 rooms in 79 four-and five-star hotels in Cannes and Monaco, and requiring 146 buses to drive them around.

They were aboard 84 commercial planes from China, who received VIP treatment during their visit and were even invited to meet with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on May 6.

Total spending of the Tiens visit, without counting the shopping, reportedly reached 13 million euros ($14.7 million) during the trip running from May 5-13.

The company operates in more than 190 other countries, according to its website, with 7.5 billion yuan in sales last year coming from Asia Pacific, said the South China Morning Post citing industry estimation.

Li Jinyuan, founder and chairman of the conglomerate, was ranked 24th in the Hurun China rich list last year, with a personal fortune worth 35 billion yuan ($5.6 billion). The 57-year-old is listed on Forbes' 2011 list of the world's billionaires.

With an average of 1,500 euros spent on shopping, Chinese tourists are among the world's biggest holiday spenders.