China’s hotel construction pipeline hits record high
According to the latest China Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics, China’s hotel construction pipeline ended 2023 with record-breaking project and room counts with 3,788 projects and 691,772 rooms.
China’s record holiday travel, spending data brighten economic outlook
China on Sunday reported record-high figures for domestic travel and spending during the just-concluded Chinese Lunar New Year holidays, with both figures also largely exceeding those of the same period in 2019 before COVID-19. The number of trips made during the holidays represented a 19 percent growth from the level during the same period in 2019. Total spending increased by 7.7 percent.
Social travel startup Moyu Lvxing (Shanghai Cuttlefish Travel Agency Co., Ltd.) plans to wholly acquire Shanghai Yuehua International Travel Agency to fully expand its outbound travel business. The acquisition aims to empower the company's global travel specialist partners with safety qualifications, in response to the strong growth trend of China's outbound travel in 2024. In November 2023, Moyu announced the completion of its Series A and A+ rounds of financing, accumulating hundreds of millions of Chinese yuan (around USD 13.9 million).
Cathay Pacific resumes daily Singapore-Bangkok services
Cathay Pacific will restart its Singapore-Bangkok flights from March 31. The daily flights will retain their pre-pandemic flight timings, with CX712 departing from Singapore Changi Airport at 13.25, and CX717 from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 11.55.
WTTC says Saudi Arabia, China, India lead investment in travel while Canada lags
Saudi Arabia and China are investing heavily in the travel and tourism economy. But Canada is just beginning to catch up after years of cutbacks, according to The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTCC). The WTTC annual Economic Impact Report highlights the changes and growth taking place worldwide in the travel and tourism sector. Projections show that in 2025 China and India will be the only countries to see more than 10% in annual change.
UnionPay partners with Spring Airlines to enhance payment experience
UnionPay International and Spring Airlines recently announced that the official Spring Airlines website is now fully accepting UnionPay cards for tourists and business travelers from Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, SAR, just in time for the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush, ensuring that every passenger can enjoy safe, fast, and convenient payment services. The new service officially launches on January 31, 2024.
Bicycle tour connects Vietnamese, Chinese provinces
A two-day bicycle tour linking Vietnam and China was launched on Friday, helping to enhance tourism ties between the two sides and promising experiences for visitors to Vietnam's northernmost province of Ha Giang. Trieu Thi Tinh, Deputy Director of the Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the tour, named "One Journey - Two Countries", starts at the Tianbao International Border Gate in China’s Yunnan Province, goes through the Thanh Thuy International Border Gate in Ha Giang Province, and ends in Ha Giang City.
First flight from Xiamen Airline arrives in Maldives
Flights from China’s Xiamen Air have started to the Maldives on Wednesday. Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) stated that Xiamen Air is currently operating chartered flights to the Maldives. Additional flights are scheduled for February 18 and February 22, which are direct flights from Fujian, China, to the Maldives. The Ministry of Tourism is actively working to ensure additional Chinese airlines commence flight operations to the Maldives. Currently, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines operate direct flights to the Maldives.
Film fans help fill Shanghai hot spots
Inspired by the hit Chinese TV series Blossoms Shanghai, Spring Tour Travel Agency debuted its first Blossoms Shanghai Citywalk Tour along Zhongshan East Road on Jan 14. The service can accommodate up to 18 people, most or all of whom are avid fans of the show.
