More than 80% of Chinese travelers plan trips in second half of 2020
>> The 2H 2020 Travel Sentiment Survey by Ctrip’s Tourism Big Data Lab, which polled several thousand Ctrip.com users hailing from more than 50 cities across China, showed that 82.6% of respondents are keen to travel in the second half this year. Of these, 80% signaled preference for longer-distance domestic travel between provinces.
Similarly, 80.2% of participants in a recent study by the China Tourism Academy intend to travel in the third quarter of 2020, marking a recovery of 90% compared to 2019 figures. More than half of respondents (57.1%) would contemplate going on more domestic trips if outbound travel does not recover in the rest of 2020.
Travel restrictions trap $111 billion of luxury spend within China
>> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has halted travel and disrupted networks of parallel importers, high-end Chinese shoppers who spend USD 111 billion a year on luxury goods, more than a third of the industry worldwide, are finding it hard to spend their cash. Before the pandemic, two thirds of Chinese luxury purchases were made abroad, according to consultancy Bain & Co.
Chinese consumers turn to duty-free as outbound tourism halted
>> Chinese consumers have been embarking on a new shopping spree, but without having to fly overseas to buy luxury goods. Instead, they are consuming in the domestic market and swarming into duty-free shops to buy everything from smartphones to wine, as outbound travel has been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Beijing lifts most travel restrictions, says city’s outbreak contained
>> Beijing has contained transmission of the coronavirus outbreak and will lift travel restrictions on most residents at midnight, city authorities said, weeks after a new wave of infections broke out in the Chinese capital. The city’s massive track and trace campaign has “effectively cut off virus transmission channels” with fewer than three cases discovered each day in recent days, spokesman Pan Xuhong said.
Chinese contactless hotel employs just two members of staff
>> Chinese hotel chain Leyeju employs just two members of staff at a hotel, operating with an entirely automated experience. Being a completely contactless, Leyeju Smart Hotel is growing fast, the chain has plans to open between 100 and 150 new hotels in China.
Lufthansa touches down in Nanjing with international flights restored
>> The air link between Nanjing and Germany was recently restored as the first renewed Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt arrived at Lukou, marking another important milestone in Nanjing’s return to normality.
HNA Group gets US bailout funds
>> Chinese companies including conglomerate HNA Group were among recipients of the billions of dollars in coronavirus-relief loans handed out by the U.S. government. HNA Group North America and HNA Training Center NY got between USD 350,000 and USD 1 million each in bailout loans meant to help struggling businesses pay American workers.
Airlines explore ways to offset losses in China
>> Promoting tea products, set meals and a variety of services via live streaming platforms have become new tasks for flight attendants as Chinese civil aviation companies explore new ways to offset economic losses. Sichuan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines have started to directly engage in food delivery. Airlines in China are finding creative ways to boost their sales, such as selling agricultural products and multi-trip weekend tickets.
