SoftBank-backed Klook raises $210 million in post-pandemic travel rebound
The major travel and experience booking platform said it has reached overall profitability for the first time since its inauguration in 2014. Klook has launched its booking service on Xiaohongshu, a popular social sharing app for young Chinese consumers.
Singapore, China to establish 30-day visa-free travel arrangement
Singapore and China are looking to establish a mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement, as the two nations seek to push travel back to and beyond pre-Covid levels. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries will work out the implementation details and implement it in early 2024.
Senators ask Biden to impose China travel ban after respiratory illness cases
Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. In recent months, the United States and China have been steadily increasing flights between the countries, though they remain far below 2019 levels.
China tourism promotion event held in U.S. city Los Angeles
A national tourism promotion event named "Nihao! China" was held here on Tuesday, bringing together over 800 guests from the 2023 United States Tour Operators Association Annual Conference & Marketplace (USTOA).
Mutual decisions reached by the presidents of the two countries at the summit in California last month would directly benefit the tourism industries of both countries, including increasing direct passenger flights, holding a high-level dialogue on tourism, and streamlining visa application procedures, among others, said Guo Shaochun, China's consul general in Los Angeles.
ETOA, ETC partner to promote Europe tourism in China
In 2024, the collaboration between the European Tourism Association (ETOA) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) will focus on promoting Europe in China, the organizations announced. The China European Marketplace (CEM) is scheduled to be held in Shanghai on May 24, 2024. Organized by ETOA, this event will facilitate individual meetings between European suppliers and Chinese outbound tour operators during a one-day workshop. Furthermore, from May 27-29, ETC will host a EUROPE stand at ITB China in Shanghai to showcase various European destinations.
Southeast Asia banks on Chinese and Indian tourists to fuel aviation boom
Major airport expansion projects are taking off across Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and a new airline is set to launch in 2024 – all banking on an expected boom in air travel in Southeast Asia, fuelled by Chinese and Indian tourists. But there are doubts about whether it will materialize in an uncertain economic environment and as worries about the impact of travel on climate change deepen.
China Eastern Airlines launches Perth route
SkyTeam member China Eastern Airlines will launch a seasonal direct service between Perth (PER) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) over Chinese New Year celebrating the Year of the Dragon. The nonstop Airbus A330-200 service will operate three times a week between 20 January and 18 February 2024.
