Indonesia to grant visa-free for tourists from China
The Indonesian government will impose a visa-free policy for tourists from 20 countries and regions including China in an attempt to attract more foreign visitors. The policy will be finalized one month ahead. Indonesia has targeted to welcome 14 million foreign tourists in 2024.
China reduces visa fee for some countries to better facilitate exchanges
The Embassy and Consulates General of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia will reduce visa fees from December 11, 2023 to December 31, 2024. This is for applications of more-than-15-day stays, while China granted a 15-day visa-free policy to Malaysian passport holders last month.
Similar notices for lowering visa fees have been announced by China's embassies and consulates in other countries including South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Macau, Hong Kong remain confident of inbound travel despite flu situation in China
The recent upsurge of multiple infectious respiratory illnesses in China may dampen the desire to travel to China, but inbound operators in Macau and Hong Kong have played down its impact on inbound traffic over upcoming peak Christmas season. In Macau, the Health Bureau issued a notice on November 26 citing a slight increase in Mycoplasma pneumonia infections but at a low level. CTSHK Metropole International Travel Service’s deputy general manager, George Kai had similar sentiments.
Fliggy strengthens ties with Choose Paris Region to promote tourism in France
Fliggy, an online travel platform and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group, signed a letter of intent with Choose Paris Region, a business growth and destination agency for the Paris Region, to deepen collaboration on digital marketing and customer services. At the signing ceremony in Hangzhou, the two parties jointly announced the launch of Fliggy X Paris Region Pass and Online Chinese Customer Service Center.
Rail network a key link for Greater Bay Area, ASEAN
The successful Greater Bay Area Conference 2023, which was co-hosted by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition on Nov 22 in Hong Kong and featured the theme "When GBA Meets ASEAN — One Heart and One Mind", covered many areas of cooperation and development. The conference mainly aimed at green financial technology, connectivity and tourism in the two major regions, which represent about 680 million people.
Hainan sees surge in sea tourism
As winter approaches, sea tourism in South China's Hainan province is on the rise. Some tourism destinations of the province such as Sanya and Lingshui have become hubs for tourists seeking diverse experiences like yachting, fishing, riding motorboats and cruising on the sea.
Hong Kong heads into holiday season with wave of dining and shopping discounts
Hong Kong restaurants, retailers, malls and its rail operator will offer a wave of discounts and perks to boost spending over the holidays, according to the tourism minister, who has also revealed he will lead a group of experts on deciding the best forward for the industry.
China’s cruise-ship builder chases more orders
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding delivered the giant Adora Magic City, China's first self-built cruise ship, last month and has another cruise ship in progress. The company is looking to establish a local supply chain as it pursues orders for more giant pleasure vessels to reinforce its position in a sector that is seen as a crown jewel of the manufacturing industry.
Zhejiang Province promotes cultural tourism in Bulgaria
A delegation from China's Zhejiang Province welcomed Bulgarian tourists at a forum promoting the province's attractions in Sofia on Thursday. Meanwhile, Director of the China Cultural Center in Sofia Hong Hai introduced China's national tourism brand, "Nihao! ('Hello' in Chinese) China," to Bulgaria.
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rails to up Kyrgyz tourism co-op with Mongolia
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will boost chances for a tourism partnership between Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Ambassador to Mongolia, Aibek Artykbaev, said at a tourism forum in Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar, Trend reports. The railway is a proposed 454-kilometer rail link that would connect China's, Uzbekistan's, and Kyrgyzstan's railway networks.
