How the steep decline in Chinese tourists will cost the US more than $20 billion
>> In 2019, 2.8 million Chinese visitors accounted for only 4% of all inbound foreign travelers to the U.S., yet they accounted for 13% of spending. This year, fewer than 850,000 Chinese will travel here, according to the National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO), the agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that tracks tourism statistics. That 68% drop in traveler volume translates to more than $20 billion that Chinese visitors will not spend in the U.S. this year.
China's weekly international flights recover to over half of pre-pandemic levels
>> China has promoted the steady and orderly resumption of global civil aviation market as the number of weekly international flights has recovered to more than half of the volume before the epidemic, an official from the Civil Aviation Administration said on Friday. The number of weekly international flights has resumed to 52 percent of the volume in 2019, said Jin Junhao, deputy director of the transport department of the administration.
Space travel, inbound tourism push among Trip.com’s future commitments
>> Shanghai-based global travel company Trip.com’s vision for the future includes offering space travel on its platform, taking up the call by government to boost inbound tourism and optimizing efficiency and convenience for corporate travelers.
Arguing that travel promotes innovation, chairman James Liang in his video address cited man’s migration out of Africa leading to agriculture, the age of European exploration resulting in astronomy, geometry, evolution and scientific revolution, and space travel possibly leading to “limitless potential”.
Air China has filed to fly New York to Los Angeles
>> Star Alliance member Air China plans to operate a flight within the United States, from New York to Los Angeles. Three times a week they intend to operate: Beijing to New York JFK, New York JFK to Los Angeles, and Los Angeles to Beijing. Given that flights between the U.S. and China remain limited, that would allow them to serve New York without limiting their Los Angeles service as much.
Passenger travel on South Korea-China routes at half of pre-THAAD row
>> Passenger travel on air routes connecting to China in August recovered to around half of the 2016 level before Beijing restricted travel to South Korea in 2017 over a row over Seoul's hosting of a US missile defense system, data showed Sunday. The number of travelers on such routes came to 931,272 in August, which accounts for around 45 percent of the 2.06 million posted in the same month of 2016, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Trip.com, Korea Tourism Organization sign MOU to Boost China-Korea Tourism (in Chinese)
>> Trip.com Group and Korea Tourism Organization signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at a tourism event in Beijing. Under the MoU, both sides will collaborate on travel product innovation, tourism promotion and other areas to boost China-Korea tourism growth. Flight bookings from mainland China to Korea have surged over 17 times year-on-year.
Fliggy launches new measures to help overseas merchants effectively reach Chinese customers
>> Fliggy, an online travel platform and arm of Alibaba Group, announced that it will launch new measures providing businesses from around the world with enhanced digital capabilities to maximize growth on its platform. These developments will enable partners to tap into the massive potential of Chinese tourism in a cost-effective manner.
China expected to have 500 general aviation airports by 2025
>> The total number of China's certified general aviation airports is expected to reach 500 by 2025, according to a report released by the country's leading aircraft maker on Thursday. China will strive to achieve the goal of each of the country's 2,800 county-level regions having its own general aviation airport, said Cao He, director of the civil aircraft engineering research center under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
China tourism industry gears up for week-long holiday
>> A major international tourism fair is underway in China ahead of a week-long holiday. Japanese officials are on hand to promote sightseeing spots and tourism programs to bring in visitors. The three-day expo began on Friday in the southern city of Guangzhou. Officials from more than 50 countries and regions are taking part. The National Day holiday begins later this month, and is the first since Beijing lifted anti-coronavirus restrictions in January.
China to handle 17% more domestic air passenger trips during upcoming holiday than in 2019
>> China is preparing to handle 1.96 million domestic air passenger trips each day during the upcoming eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, up 17 percent from the figure recorded for the same holidays in 2019, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Friday.
China’s booming travel consumption drives up car rental orders
>> China’s car rental services have seen robust business growth thanks to a strong recovery in the tourism market. Domestic car rental services giant CAR Inc. said the total orders for its car rental services during the July-August period surged some 50% year-on-year and exceeded that of 2019, as many people chose to travel during the summer vacation.
Chinese tourism in Madrid skyrockets
>> The capital city of Spain, Madrid, has witnessed a significant surge in Chinese tourists. In the first seven months of 2023, Madrid welcomed 58,000 travelers from China, marking a staggering increase of 168.25% compared to the same period in 2022. Notably, the number of flights between the two countries has grown by an impressive 300% since the beginning of the year.
Changi Airport’s passenger traffic to and from China rebounds to 72% of pre-pandemic levels
>> More than 510,000 passengers traveled between Singapore and China in August, making it the first month passenger traffic between the two countries exceeded 500,000 since the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Based on figures released by airport operator Changi Airport Group (CAG) on Sunday, passenger traffic to and from China rebounded in August to 72% of pre-pandemic levels.
Giant ‘Spaceship’ lands in China as world’s biggest indoor theme park
>> A 2,000-foot long, 650-foot wide theme park near Macau will welcome guests inside for the first time this weekend, taking over the title of the world's largest indoor amusement park. Chimelong Spaceship, named for obvious reasons upon seeing it, is the second park to open as part of the huge Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort in southern China.
Australia blocks Qantas-China Eastern Airlines cooperation
>> Australia's competition regulator on Friday said it planned to end a long-surviving partnership between Qantas Airways and a Chinese state-owned carrier over claims that it would lessen competition and provide the airlines a chance to hike airfare. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a draft order to deny authorization for Australia's flagship carrier and China Eastern Airlines to continue their operations between the two countries.
