Chinese tourists are still traveling, but they aren’t spending as much
Retailers and fashion brands are expressing concern over a slow-down in their Asia business as Chinese tourists pull back on purchases, The Wall Street Journal reported. The majority of Chinese travelers are opting for experiences over shopping, according to the China Trading Desk. Xiaohongshu, a social media site similar to Instagram, may be to partly blame. The platform has popularized travel that prioritizes experiences — and the requisite attendant selfies, of course — over making purchases.
New York City needs China's tourists to bounce back
Though New York City hotel occupancy rates are nearing pre-pandemic levels, the recovery is hindered by a significant decline in Chinese tourists, who typically spend the most money and stay in the US for a whopping 12 nights on average. In 2019, 8% of the 14 million tourist arrivals to the US were from China, but this year only 3% of international visitors are expected to be from China.
Trip.com Group, Amadeus expand partnership beyond air to include hospitality distribution
Amadeus said it has expanded its partnership with Trip.com Group to support the Chinese online travel giant's global growth strategies for its OTA and its Trip.Biz corporate travel management unit. Continuing as the preferred GDS hotel content provider for Trip.Biz, Amadeus will work closely with and support Trip.Biz on the latter's global strategy.
Cathay Pacific restores first class service to New York
Cathay Pacific has announced that it will recommence First class service from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on March 31, 2024. This marks a highpoint in Cathay Pacific’s continued commitment to the North American market, offering a superior long-haul flight experience connecting the two global financial powerhouses.
Mandarin Oriental to open hotels in western Japan in 2027
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group said Friday that it plans to open two hotels in the Seto Inland Sea area of western Japan in summer 2027. One of them will be a 13-story, 92-room urban resort hotel to be built in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture. The other will be a 22-room hotel on the Kagawa island of Naoshima that is reminiscent of a traditional local house. The Hong Kong-based luxury hotel chain, which already runs a hotel in Tokyo, plans to open a hotel on another island in the Seto Island Sea possibly in 2030.
Four Seasons partners with Sun Hung Kai to launch a hotel in Suzhou
Four Seasons luxury hotel group has worked with Hong Kong developer Sun Hung Kai Properties to launch the Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou.
Hong Kong luxury retailers adjusting to drop in high-spending Chinese tourists
Hong Kong's luxury retailers are adapting to fewer wealthy Chinese shoppers visiting the city and a shift towards tourists flocking to Instagram-coveted spots in trendy districts rather than splashing out on pricey branded gear. The rise of competing shopping hubs like China's Hainan island, changing consumer preferences and a rise in online shopping have fundamentally changed demand for luxury goods in Hong Kong and are starting to reshape the city's visitor economy, according to industry experts.
Hainan opens new scenic highway loop
A scenic highway circling the main island of south China's Hainan Province opened to traffic on Monday, according to a press conference in Haikou, the provincial capital. The project had a total estimated investment of 16.35 billion yuan (2.3 billion U.S. dollars), said Huang Peng, chief engineer of the provincial transport department. The highway is 988 kilometers in length and has 45 viewing platforms, 25 parking areas, 66 roadside parking belts and 14 electric vehicle charging stations, Huang said.
