Travel photography platform Bojue attracts state-led strategic investment
>> Travel photography platform Bojue Photography has signed a strategic investment agreement with the Xiamen Consumption Fund under state-owned conglomerate China Resources, according to a WeChat post by the company. Bojue Photography is a service provider focusing on wedding photography in popular tourist destinations, including Xiamen, Shenzhen, Lijiang and Sanya.
Trans-Pacific air tickets soar after US lifts pupil journey restrictions
>> Ticket costs for flights from China to the US skyrocketed after the American authorities lifted journey restrictions Monday for college kids from China and a number of other different international locations. An economy-class ticket for United Airways’ direct flight from Beijing to Boston Aug 31 was listed as RMB 7,200 (USD 1,100) earlier, but the value almost quadrupled to about RMB 35,000 Wednesday.
Beijing considers China-US exchange after America eases entry rules
>> China said it was willing to resume a travel exchange with the United States following an announcement by the US it was easing some coronavirus travel bans. The US has announced it will allow students and professionals in various categories and from various countries, including China, to enter the country. The announcement comes more than a year after the US suspended entry for travellers who had been in mainland China 14 days before travelling because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Full recovery of China outbound leisure travel is unlikely before Mid-2023
>> While Chinese travelers are eager, their outbound leisure travel will not be back to pre-COVID levels until the second quarter of 2023 at best, according to a new study from consulting firm Oliver Wyman. Hong Kong remains the most desired destination on travelers’ wish lists, with 41 percent of the respondents seeing the city as one of their top destinations once the border reopens. But the former British colony city’s regional status as a shopping paradise is being challenged by Hainan, with 40 percent of the survey respondents choosing the island as their top destination even when international travel is available.
Shanghai International Resort to turn zone into 'tourism city'
>> Shanghai International Resort, which is home to the iconic Shanghai Disney Resort, is looking to build the zone into a "tourism city" by 2035 as it celebrated its fifth anniversary on Monday. Since operational in April 2016, the resort has received over 83 million visitors, raking in over 40 billion yuan worth of tourism-related revenue, generating 2.6 billion yuan's tax income, and creating 15,000 jobs.
Hotels, attractions in Singapore get prepared for air travel bubble with Hong Kong
>> Hotels and attractions in Singapore are looking forward to welcoming foreign guests following the relaunch of a long-awaited air travel bubble with Hong Kong, which they described as a “positive step forward” for the battered tourism industry. Attractions in Singapore can easily accommodate 10,000 people a day, which means about 40 flights. But the two cities are starting with one to two flights a day so for now it’s not going to move the needle.
Cathay Pacific offers crew voluntary redundancy in fresh cost-cutting move
>> Cathay Pacific is offering its Hong Kong-based pilots, cabin crew and airport staff voluntary redundancy as part of severe cost-cutting, and warning that business is not improving under the “devastating impact” of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hong Kong travel agents arrested for trying to rip off subsidy scheme
>> Travel industry professionals in Hong Kong have been busted trying to scheme nearly HKD 3 million out of the government via a subsidy scheme designed to relaunch the industry. The alleged scammers, made up of 14 directors and five employees from 15 travel agencies, were arrested on suspicion of using the hong kong government’s Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme to fraudulently obtain nearly HKD 3 million.
China Mobile brings 5G network to Hong Kong airport
>> China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) announced the pioneering introduction of the 5G Network to Hong Kong International Airport, making it the first local operator to offer 5G service at the international transportation hub. This appointment further affirms CMHK's 5G network strengthen, which will allow visitors at the airport to enjoy an extraordinary 5G experience.
Ministry issues strict anti-virus rules at tourist spots ahead of travel peak
>> China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued strict epidemic prevention measures at tourist attractions across the country during the upcoming May Day holiday, which is said to be the hottest holiday since the COVID-19 pandemic with over 200 million Chinese expected to travel. Apart from booking tickets in advance, all tourist attractions will require visitors to register by scanning health code before entry, and have their temperature taken.
MGM China expecting near full occupancy during Golden Week on high-end demand
>> MGM China anticipates being nearly fully booked out at its Macau integrated resorts, MGM Macau and MGM China, during the upcoming May Golden Week holiday period in the latest indication of the SAR’s accelerating recovery. That will be similar to what the company saw in 2019, according to MGM China President Hubert Wang.
