HBX (Hotelbeds) plans to triple its China business size in three years
Carlos Muñoz Capllonch, Chief Commercial Officer of HBX Group (parent of Hotelbeds), recently talked to ChinaTravelNews and shared his thoughts and views on the B2B sector, as well as how the company is going to grow in the China market.
Singapore's visa-free agreement with China may push inbound travel closer to pre-pandemic levels
The number of Chinese travelers entering Singapore looks set to increase after the mutual 30-day visa-free travel agreement between both countries kicks in, pushing inbound travel volume closer to pre-pandemic levels. The visa exemption agreement will increase the number of individual and small family group travelers, and a tour agency is expecting a 10% increase in bookings.
China, Singapore to let each other’s tourists pay with digital yuan
Tourists from China and Singapore will be able to pay with the e-CNY when traveling to both countries as part of a new pilot program, in a breakthrough for Beijing’s efforts to promote the cross-border use of the digital yuan. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said in a statement that its project with the Digital Currency Institute of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) would allow travelers from both countries to use the digital version of the Chinese currency in tourist spending.
US business insiders find China's tourism market more attractive due to wider opening-up
U.S. business insiders who attended a five-day travel industry event here have seen greater opportunities from China's tourism market soon as the country is introducing more opening-up measures on traveling, including new visa policies. China is expected to be "a top travel destination by mid-2024," and with its wider opening-up, people are "excited to go there," said Carmen Mcleod Whitaker of Atlanta's IHG, an attendee at the 2023 United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) Annual Conference and Marketplace concluding on Wednesday.
Six Flags investors seek fraud suit revival again
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. should face allegations from two pension funds that it misled shareholders about its progress in developing theme parks in China, appellants said in a reply brief seeking to overturn a Texas federal judge’s dismissal of their claims. The Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, which served as lead plaintiff, argued it has standing to bring the suit on behalf of class members, contrary to a June ruling in US District Court for the Northern District of Texas that the fund purchased its stock too late.
Travelers take steps to cut carbon footprint
Business travelers have shown a preference for trips that leave a smaller carbon footprint, according to a recent report by the business travel management division of Trip.com Group, a major online travel agency based in Shanghai. More than 60 percent of its business customers have opted for low-carbon travel products, the report says. According to the US-headquartered Global Business Travel Association, 25 percent of companies worldwide consider carbon footprint and sustainability important in business travel. Among them, 35 percent have implemented sustainable policies.
Direct flight links China's Haikou, Auckland in New Zealand
Direct flights between China's Haikou city and Auckland in New Zealand were launched on Friday as an aircraft carrying over 60 Chinese tourists landed at the Auckland International Airport. The round-trip service, operated by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, is currently scheduled for every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
China's first large domestic cruise ship ready for inaugural voyage
All equipment needed for China's first domestic large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City was installed on Sunday, with 1,292 crew members from around the world boarding for duty. The ship has been officially transferred to the operator and it's ready for the inaugural voyage, according to media reports. After eight years of research and development and five years of construction, China's first large cruise ship, was officially named and delivered in Shanghai on November 4.
