Boeing faces $51M penalty for arms export violations to China, Russia
Boeing has agreed to pay a $51 million penalty to settle a U.S. administrative charge related to unauthorized exports of technical data to countries including China and Russia. The settlement, announced by the U.S. State Department on Thursday, resolves nearly 200 violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations laws, reported the Financial Times.
China courts US tourists with cultural gems beyond Beijing, Shanghai, spotlighting Xi'an
In a renewed push to bolster tourism and cultural exchanges, China is extending a warm invitation to American travelers, urging them to explore the historical and cultural depths of lesser-known cities like Xi'an, beyond the well-trodden paths of Beijing and Shanghai. This initiative, aimed at reviving pre-pandemic travel levels, features easier visa applications, increased flight frequencies, and events such as the China-US Tourism Leadership Summit, fostering a deeper understanding between the two nations. The first US "Splendid China Tour" group on Feb 25 departed from Los Angeles International Airport on Air China.
Thailand-China visa waiver boosts travel interest according to Agoda insights
According to a report by Agoda Insights, a substantial rise appeared in searches for Thailand among Chinese travelers since the implementation of the visa waiver policy. Not only have accommodation searches from Chinese traveling to Thailand increased since the introduction of visa-free travel for Chinese tourists, but also in addition the first month of the year saw five times more Thais search for accommodation in Mainland China compared to January 2023.
China's thriving outbound tourism contributes to global economic recovery
China's booming outbound tourism market is making a significant contribution to global economic growth. According to reports, the number of Chinese outbound tourists has nearly doubled in the past decade, reaching approximately 130 million people. This trend has fueled the prosperity of the global tourism industry and brought substantial economic benefits to destination countries.
Tourist spending in Hong Kong expected to drop 16% this year
Hong Kong can expect more tourists this year but they will be spending less per head, according to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Visitors are expected to spend an average of HK$5,800 on overnight stays this year, a 16% decrease from last year. Meanwhile, the bureau expects a 35.3% increase in visitor arrivals this year, from 34 million to 46 million. In 2018, Hong Kong saw 65.15 million total arrivals.
Cathay Pacific eyes daily Hong Kong-Cebu flights
Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways is keen on increasing flight frequencies from Cebu as the airline group aims to return operations to pre-pandemic level by the end of the year. Before the pandemic, the Cebu network had twice daily flights—which the airline also intends to eventually restore sometime in the future.
Deutsche Hospitality rebrands to H World International
Deutsche Hospitality, a German hotel company, is rebranding to H World International to drive the expansion of its parent group H World, outside of China. All of H World International’s brands will be part of the H Rewards global loyalty program and online booking platform. H World International has entered into a joint venture with Conduit House, a fully integrated hotel operator and hospitality asset manager in Asia, for pre-opening support, technical services and operations.
Nepal tourism seeks boost from Indian and Chinese visitors
Nepal's tourism sector could experience growth by attracting a percentage of tourists from neighboring India and China. Every year, around 200 million nationals from China and 100 million from India travel abroad. Businessmen stated that redirecting just 2 to 3 percent of these tourists to Nepal would significantly benefit the country’s tourism sector.
Macau Cruise to welcome new operator
A new ferry company will join the Macau Cruise local maritime tourism program in 2024, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has said in a reply to an inquiry. The addition will provide new sightseeing routes for fireworks, according to MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, responding to lawmaker Ella Lei. Macau Cruise, operated by Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management (Macau), has already conducted over 600 voyages since resuming operations in August of the previous year, accommodating more than 5,000 passengers.
