Tag: China
Thailand: Visa fee waiver extended till April 30
Bangkok (TAN): The government of Thailand has announced extension of the visa-on-arrival fee waiver from January 31 to April 30, 2019. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said the extension will be applicable for citizens of 20 countries.
Under the waiver, citizens from all these 20 countries will be granted stay in Thailand for up to 15 days without having to pay THB2,000 visa-on-arrival fee.
List of countries eligible for the fee waiver
- Andora
- Bulgaria
- Bhutan
- China, including Taiwan
- Cyprus
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Papua New Guinea
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Ukraine, and
- Uzbekistan
Continue reading Thailand: Visa fee waiver extended till April 30
Etihad Airways to introduce Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Barcelona
December 22 (TravelAndy): Etihad Airways will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its scheduled services from Abu Dhabi to Barcelona, effective from Feb 22, 2019, replacing the Airbus A330-200 currently operating the recently launched route.
The deployment of the larger 787 Dreamliner to Barcelona has been timed to coincide with the Mobile World Conference taking place in the city from 25-28 February, during which Etihad Airways will provide daily flights. The airline will increase frequency to a permanent daily operation from 31 March.
The service will feature Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy cabins, configured with 299 seats – 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats – a capacity increase of six seats in Business and 31 in Economy in each direction, and an increase in belly-hold cargo capacity of four tonnes.
Continue reading Etihad Airways to introduce Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Barcelona
Discussion on future of tourism at China meet
October 30 (TravelAndy): The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the People’s Government of Guilin, China held the 12th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook on 25-27 October 2018. This year’s edition – ‘The Future of Tourism: Road to 2030´, aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Digital advances provide opportunities to tourism in order to enhance inclusiveness, community empowerment and efficient resource management to achieve the SDGs. Yet to do so, we need to better understand where tourism is heading so we can adopt the adequate policies and business strategies.” said UNWTO Executive Director Shanzhong Zhu at the event.
International tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew 6% in 2017 to reach a total of 323 million. Rapid economic growth in emerging economy markets, rising air connectivity, more affordable travel and enhanced visa facilitation continue to fuel tourism from within and outside the region. Asian destinations earned USD 390 billion in international tourism receipts in 2017, 29% of the global figure, a share that has steadily increased from 17% in 2000. China, the world´s top spender in international tourism and fourth largest destination, has been one of the main drivers behind this growth. Continue reading Discussion on future of tourism at China meet
Hippo kills tourist in Kenya, another injured
August 13 (TravelAndy): A international tourist was killed and another injured in a hippopotamus attack in Kenya.
The incident took place by lake Naivasha, situated 90km northwest of the country’s capital, Nairobi.
Kenya Wildlife Service, in a Tweet on Sunday said: “@kwskenya is sad to announce the death of a #Chinese tourist who was attacked by a #hippo while taking pictures on the shores of Lake Naivasha yesterday evening. His colleague survived with minor bruises and was treated at #Naivasha District Hospital. We are tracking the hippo.” Continue reading Hippo kills tourist in Kenya, another injured
Frequent shooting, robbery & thefts in US: China
July 3 (TravelAndy): China has asked its citizens to be aware of the problems of travel in the US through a notification.
In the notification issued by the embassy of China in the US, the citizens have been reminded of the high health care costs, security issues and possible discrimination that they could face while traveling in the US during the Chinese summer vacations.
Issued in Chinese, the notification advises tourists to arrange adequate insurance and medical coverage for their travels. Continue reading Frequent shooting, robbery & thefts in US: China
China: New railway line cuts travel time by 3 hours
July 2 (TravelAndy): A new railway line between Kunming and Dali in China has reduced travel time from more than five hours to less than two hours, Xinhua reported.
Kunming is the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province and the touristy Dali is popular for its beautiful scenery, historical heritage and vibrant nightlife.
The first bullet train of the 328km line operated between the two cities on July 1. Trains on the route run at 200kmph, the China Railway Kunming Group said, according to Xinhua. Continue reading China: New railway line cuts travel time by 3 hours
China push to Tunisia tourism revival
June 24 (TravelAndy): A total of 12,000 tourists from China visited Tunisia till May this year, a 56.8 per cent rise as compared to the number last year, said Xinhua, citing Tunisia tourism ministry figures.
Holidaymakers are returning to Tunisia three years after two terrorist attacks hit the industry hard. Around 2.3 million tourists visited Tunisia between January 1 to May 20, 2018, an increase of 21.8 per cent from the same period last year.
Chinese tourists are travelling to the country either as part of group tours or as self-guided travellers. Continue reading China push to Tunisia tourism revival
Hainan Airlines operates first direct China-Scotland flight
June 13 (TravelAndy): The first ever direct flight between Scotland and China has landed at Edinburgh Airport.
The four-weekly, year-round service with Hainan Airlines from Beijing Capital International Airport is Scotland’s first connection to the Far East.
It is a major boost for tourism in Scotland and increases business links with the Far East, both of which will benefit the Scottish economy. Continue reading Hainan Airlines operates first direct China-Scotland flight
China woos US tourists with photo exhibition
June 12 (TravelAndy): China’s tourism department organised a photo exhibition at Harvard University over the weekend to attract visitors to the country.
According to a Xinhua report, the exhibition — organised by the China National Tourist Office in New York as part of the 39th Boston Dragon Boat Festival on June 9 and 10 — displayed more than 30 photographs of tourist destinations across China.
The exhibition was part of the tourism department’s ‘Bringing China Tourism to American Universities’ campaign. Continue reading China woos US tourists with photo exhibition
Ireland woos tourists from China
June 10 (TravelAndy): Tourism Ireland aims to increase the number of the Chinese visitors to the island to 175,000 by the year 2025, Xinhua reported.
“China is the largest outbound travel market in the world and one that Tourism Ireland is committed to growing over the coming years,” the report quoted James Kenny, Tourism Ireland’s China manager, as saying.
Hainan Airlines will launch a direct Beijing-Dublin flight service starting on June 12. This is the first direct flight ever to be launched between the Chinese mainland and Ireland. Continue reading Ireland woos tourists from China
Airbnb China to disclose host & guest info to govt
March 30 (TravelAndy): Home-renting service provider Airbnb will now automatically send host and guest details to the Chinese government agencies, reports said.
The rule applies from Friday, March 30, 2018.
Airbnb hosts in China received en email from the company on March 28 saying the company was going to do this to follow local rules.
“Like all businesses operating in China, Airbnb China must comply with local laws and regulations, including privacy and information disclosure laws,” it said. Continue reading Airbnb China to disclose host & guest info to govt
Indonesia to promote 10 ‘new Balis’
February 24 (TravelAndy): Indonesia intends to promote 10 new tourist destinations as “the new Bali”, the South China Morning Post said.
The beautiful beaches and picturesque rice fields attract millions of tourists to Bali every year and Indonesia intends to cash in on the island’s popularity through this tourism promotion exercise. (ALSO READ: My 2016 prediction on Bali is coming true now)
Indonesia, which is looking to increase it’s tourism revenue from 4 per cent of the country’s GDP in 2014 to 20 per cent in 2019, is looking at China to be its major investor in this initiative. Chinese tourists outnumbered Australians for the first time in Indonesia in 2017 and the archipelago nation expects this trend to continue. Continue reading Indonesia to promote 10 ‘new Balis’