Macao’s events attendance reaches 96% of 2019 levels
The number of MICE events in Macao leaped by 231.1% year-on-year to 245 in the third quarter of 2023, according to the city's Statistics and Census Service. The number of participants & attendees surged by 59.9% year-on-year to 545,000. In the first three quarters of 2023, a total of 757 MICE events were held, up by 187.8% (or 494) year-on-year; total number of participants & attendees rose by 50.3% to 1,220,000. The two indicators recovered to 70.4% and 96.1% of the levels in the same period of 2019 respectively.
Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link in Greater Bay Area completed
Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a core transportation hub project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, is one step closer to completion. Shenzhen-Zhongshan link consists of one underwater tunnel, two bridges and two artificial islands, making it one of the most challenging cross-sea cluster projects in the world.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge soon open for tourism
The Zhuhai municipal government has officially announced that the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge tourist trial operation is scheduled to open in mid-December 2023. During the trial operation, the tourist route is limited to travel between Zhuhai Port and Blue Dolphin Island, with a management model structured around group reservations and organized tourist groups. The entire journey is expected to take approximately 140 minutes. It's crucial to note that the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge tour does not fall under the category of outbound tourism, and there won't be duty-free shops on the island.
C919 clears the runway for overseas suppliers, broadening market appeal despite headwinds
The C919, which completed its maiden commercial flight in May with China Eastern Airlines, is a symbol of the country’s aim to carve out a share of the billion-dollar passenger jet market presently dominated by Boeing and Airbus. Though the success of China’s home-grown narrowbody passenger jet is clearing the runway for the world’s top transport equipment firms to enter its market, there may be turbulence along the way, as some foreign investors have expressed concern over intellectual property rights and domestic competition is on the rise.
Chinese airlines to increase flights to Kazakhstan to 30 weekly next year
The number of flights operated by Chinese airlines to Kazakhstan will increase to 30 per week on existing and new air routes during the spring-summer navigation period next year. China Southern Airlines will open flights on the new route Almaty-Beijing with a frequency of three flights per week starting Jan. 23 next year. In December, Loong Airlines plans to increase the number of flights on the Almaty-Hangzhou route from three to four a week.
China Eastern Airlines introduces special New Year flights connecting Shanghai to Cairns
China Eastern Airlines will operate seasonal services from Shanghai to Cairns specifically for the Chinese New Year celebrations in 2024. Anticipating a surge in Chinese tourists eager to welcome the Year of the Dragon in Tropical North Queensland, there are 10 scheduled flights from February 1 to February 18. These flights, operating four times a week (on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday), aim to entice visitors to choose Cairns as their tropical destination for the New Year festivities.
Philippines exceeds foreign tourist arrival target for 2023
The Philippines has exceeded its target of 4.8 million foreign tourist arrivals for 2023, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said Wednesday. As of Nov. 27, Frasco said the Southeast Asian country has welcomed 4,822,530 international visitor arrivals, raking in 404 billion pesos (7.296 billion U.S. dollars).
South Korea remains the country's top source of foreign arrivals, accounting for 26.37 percent of the total, followed by the United States (16.53 percent), Japan (5.66 percent), and China (5.02 percent), Frasco said.
Kiwis amazed by culture, cuisine from China's Sichuan Province
Kiwis are amazed by unique cultural events and cuisine from southwest China's Sichuan Province during a tourism promotion event held here on Wednesday. The "Cultural China, Splendid Sichuan" features the long-pot tea art, a large puppet performance, the unique Sichuan Opera act "Face Changing," other local dances and performances, as well as Sichuan's spicy cuisine.