Tongcheng brings in ad revenue via “fun and entertaining” brand identity
Tongcheng Travel Holdings’ revenue generation from categories other than accommodation reservation and transportation ticketing services rose considerably in the third quarter (Q3) of this year. The share of Chinese online travel company’s revenue from categories other than accommodation and transport ticketing almost touched 15% in Q3.
H World continues to expand its upper-midscale segment
Multi-brand Chinese hotel company H World Group’s hotels in operation as well as in the pipeline in the upper-midscale segment continue to swell. The hotel company has been counting on hotels in this category to drive sustainable RevPAR recovery, along with other factors like uncovering opportunities in lower-tier cities in China.
Hong Kong property giant Sun Hung Kai launches aparthotel service
Sun Hung Kai Properties' long-term rental apartment brand "TOWNPLACE" launches 843 short-stay hotel rooms in West Kowloon, Hong Kong. The hotel offers daily to weekly stays to accommodate business travelers and short-trip tourists. The "Aparthotel" model combines the strengths of both hotels and serviced apartments to deliver flexible and comfortable short stays.
Saudi Tourism Authority holds largest international promotional campaign in China
The Saudi Tourism Authority recently held its first international promotional campaign in China to invite Chinese tourists to explore the Kingdom and the experiences it has to offer. The festival was attended by 80,000 people, the campaign reached out to 500 million Chinese people, and bookings to the Kingdom increased by 277 percent, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Chinese airlines cancel flights to Thailand due to low tourist numbers
Several Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, and Shanghai Airlines, have canceled flights to Thailand for December and January due to lower-than-expected bookings. The cancellations are attributed to China’s economic slowdown and efforts to boost domestic tourism. Initiatives like granting free visas to Chinese nationals have not resulted in an influx of tourists. Chinese arrivals in Thailand are currently at around 40% compared to pre-Covid times.
China Eastern launches first flight between Jinan and Oceania
China Eastern Airlines launched the first flight between Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, and Sydney, Australia on Monday. This is the first flight connecting the Chinese city to Oceania, according to the Shanghai-based carrier. Direct flights from Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport to Sydney will be operated every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The return flights will be available every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday (Australia local time).
AirAsia adds over 5 million seats for China, India and Malaysia flights
AirAsia announced a major expansion of its services covering China, India and Malaysia, totaling an astounding 230 weekly flights for the first quarter of 2024 with up to 5.2 million seats per year. The significant increase in capacity via AirAsia Malaysia and AirAsia X Malaysia comes in response to the anticipated surge in travel demand following the announcement of a 30-day visa-free entry for travelers from the two countries to Malaysia starting Dec 1, 2023, Capital A Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said.
China says it values follow-up to MH370 incident
China values the follow-up to the incident of MH370, a Malaysia Airlines flight that went missing nearly 10 years ago, and hopes all sides maintain close communication and properly handle this issue, the foreign ministry said on Monday. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the comments after a media report of a Chinese court holding the first hearing of a liability lawsuit filed by relatives of passengers on MH370.
