Meituan stresses growth in its hotel and travel business
Meituan has shared that its promotional efforts, including the decision to offer deals, resulted in a steady performance of its hotel and travel division in the third quarter (Q3) of this year. The focus on “value-for-money purchases” is paying off as quarterly transacting users increased substantially during Q3.
Relux, Trip.com join forces to promote Japan accommodation (in Japanese)
Trip.com Group has partnered with Relux, a Japanese luxury accommodation booking site, to promote Japanese accommodation to overseas markets like Asia. Japan National Tourism Organization data showed that October 2023 foreign visitors exceeded October 2019 levels. Relux aims to provide high-satisfaction lodging experiences to more foreign travelers via Trip.com platform.
China woos foreign tourists with visa-free policy, but will they come back?
China announced a year-long visa-free policy for visitors from several countries, aiming to ease travel and boost inbound tourism. But the resurgence in China's inbound tourism still faces hurdles, including limited flight availability, reduced spending power due to global inflation, and geopolitical tensions.
2,029 individuals enter China on first day of visa-free policy (in Chinese)
A total of 2,029 individuals from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia entered China without a visa on the first day of China's visa-free policy to these six source markets, according to data from China's National Immigration Administration. Malaysian passport holders had the highest number of visa-free entries, totaling 1,113. French passport holders showed the largest increase in entries compared to the previous day, with 227 entries, marking a 52.31% increase.
China says respiratory illness cases are under control as Taiwan issues travel advisory
A recent increase in respiratory illnesses in China is a common issue faced by all countries and Chinese authorities have it under effective control, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s health ministry on Thursday urged the elderly, very young and those with poor immunity to avoid travel to China due to the recent increase in respiratory illnesses there, a move some experts said was ineffective in managing public health risks.
Resumption of US-China flights a headwind for Cathay long-haul recovery: HSBC
An HSBC report has warned that the resumption of direct flights between Mainland China and the USA could impact Cathay Pacific’s long-haul traffic, even as the Hong Kong-based carrier rebounds to a strong recovery this year. Cathay has “benefitted “ from Mainland Chinese travelers using Hong Kong as a gateway to the USA, says the 24 November report, in the months after China reopened its borders.
Hong Kong Airlines' new Japan flight lands in Kumamoto
Hong Kong Airlines further extended its network coverage in the Kyushu region of Japan with its inaugural flight to Kumamoto last week. Kumamoto, with three weekly flights, is the carrier’s seventh Japanese destination, following the launch of services to Fukuoka and Nagoya earlier this year.
Beijing Daxing airport opens first direct flight to Mongolia
A direct flight between Beijing Daxing International Airport and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, has opened, marking a new chapter in air travel between the two countries. The new flight is expected to boost political, economic, and cultural exchanges between China and Mongolia, while also facilitating travel for business, tourism, and educational purposes.
Direct flight links China's Shanghai, Nepal
An air route linking east China's Shanghai with Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, was launched on Saturday, marking the start of a direct flight between the two destinations. The opening of the direct flight route will build a new bridge for the "air Silk Road" in South Asia, which will better promote the economic and trade exchanges, cultural exchanges and tourism development between China and Nepal, the airport authority said.
At present, 101 airlines operate regular flights from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, connecting 274 destinations in 45 countries.
Wuzhen's transformation from tourist attraction to livable town
Wuzhen, in East China's Zhejiang Province, a town with thousands of years of history, is not a name that automatically comes to mind when poverty and backwardness are mentioned. Even without considering its rich cultural history and connections to many famous figures, in the last few decades, it has become a well-planned tourist attraction known to most Chinese people.
Liaoning's 1st immersive theme park for role-playing set to open soon
With an investment of 150 million yuan (US$21 million), the first immersive theme park for role-playing in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, will officially open to the public by the end of 2023, offering visitors a new cultural experience.
