China to grant Ireland unilateral visa-free treatment
China will apply a unilateral visa-free policy to Ireland to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday. Li made the remarks when meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house.
Social media fuels tourism boom in China
Harbin, a northeastern Chinese city, has transformed into an enchanting winter wonderland, captivating global audiences thanks to a surge in social media exposure. This year's ice and snow season in Harbin has been a viral sensation, with short videos showcasing the city's breathtaking winter attractions sweeping across social media platforms.
Fliggy adds 600,000+ Amadeus hotel offerings on its platform (in Chinese)
Alibaba's online travel unit Fliggy said it has deepened its partnership with Amadeus Hospitality to expand its hotel offerings and enhance overseas hotel booking services. With the Amadeus Value Hotel program integrated into Fliggy's platform, the new cooperation enables users to book over 600,000+ properties, ranging from five-star hotels to B&Bs and apartment hotels, while continuing to enjoy a seamless booking experience.
W Guangzhou hotel suspends operations, sparking online rumors (in Chinese)
Rumors have been circulating online about the Guangzhou W Hotel's possibly suspending operations for an unknown reason. Some consumers have reported that their bookings were canceled. A representative from Marriott International, owner of the W brand, clarified that the hotel is not suspending operations for rectification but is undergoing operational adjustments, and no further details are currently available.
ACI and CCAA ink MoU: Enhancing China’s airport operations
Airports Council International World (ACI World) and the China Civil Airports Association (CCAA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the cooperation of Chinese airports. The agreement focuses on customer experience, training, decarbonization, and events, promising substantial growth and efficiency in China’s aviation sector.
ACI World’s Director General, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, has wrapped up a five-day tour around China January 9–15, which included meetings with top-level representatives from CCAA, Beijing Capital International Airport, Daxing International Airport, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, as well as government representatives including Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Administrator Mr. Song Zhiyong and Acting Mayor of Guangzhou Mr. Sun Zhiyang.
China's population falls for 2nd straight year in 2023
Mainland China saw its population fall for the second straight year in 2023, government data showed Wednesday, with its birthrate hitting a new record low to accelerate the graying of the world's second-largest economy. The population of China, excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, reached 1,409.67 million by the end of 2023, down 2.08 million from the previous year, a marked increase from the 850,000 decline in 2022.
Japan received 25 million tourists in 2023, reaching 79% of pre-COVID level
Japan welcomed 25.06 million visitors last year, reaching 79% of the pre-pandemic level in 2019 due to the easing of border restrictions and the weak yen. China, once the largest contributor to Japan's inbound tourism, has lost momentum, with only 2.42 million arrivals, or 25% of the 2019 level, due partly to its economic slowdown and the souring of relations over Japan's release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.
Greater Bay bridge attraction receives 33,000 visitors in first month (in Chinese)
The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge in China's Greater Bay Area welcomed 33,000 visitors in its first month since December 15, 2023, as a tourist destination. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Tour allows visitors to travel within the customs supervision area and port-restricted area between Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao, a first in the country. Visitors start from the Zhuhai highway port and pass through various distinctive bridges and undersea tunnels, with the entire tour lasting about 140 minutes.
Vietnam absent, but Thailand ranked top winter destination for Chinese tourists: Airbnb
Data from US-based vacation rental company Airbnb shows that Vietnam is absent from the company's list of top 10 favorite winter destinations for Chinese tourists this year, while Thailand now ranks number one. Japan came second on the list of 20 most searched countries by Chinese tourists for 2023-2024 winter holidays. New Zealand ranked third, followed by Australia, and the US.
Trip.com Group and Vietjet Air sign MoU to improve traveler experience
Trip.com Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vietjet Air to leverage the expertise and resources of both parties to make travel easier and more convenient for travelers around the world. In addition to offering its inventories of hotels, airport transfers, attractions and activities to customers on Vietjet's website, Trip.com will also provide Vietjet with innovative technologies, such as the Virtual Interline solution to widen Vietjet's global network footprint and share valuable insights to empower Vietjet to make informed decisions to optimize customer experience.
China Southern Airlines resumes Shenyang-Bangkok flight route
China Southern Airlines on Tuesday officially resumed its passenger air services between Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning Province and Bangkok, Thailand. The route was previously halted for four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resumed service will be operated by Airbus A320neo aircraft, offering flights five times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
