Travel & Tourism Newsletter for November 2011
Dear Elizabeth,
With this newsletter, we aim to provide our clients and others in the travel and tourism industry with a broad overview of the latest trends and newest regulations related to the Chinese travel and tourism industry.
If you have any comments or suggestions on the summary above or the full newsletter below, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Also, do please do let us know if you do not wish to receive this newsletter by getting in touch with me at oliynyks@ruderfinnasia.com or by return email.
Best regards,
Shari Oliynyk
Director, Travel & Tourism
About Ruder Finn China’s Travel and Tourism Experience
Over the past 12 years, Ruder Finn China has developed and implemented numerous multi-faceted public relations programs in the travel and tourism sector. Ruder Finn’s work on behalf of international clients includes projects and programs promoting countries, airlines, resorts and major tourist destinations.
Ruder Finn China’s travel and tourism experience, combined with its worldwide track record, offers its clients a combination of truly knowledgeable local and international teams, delivering results that meet their needs and objectives – on time and on budget. Feel free to get in touch with us to discuss your requirements. Our contact information is indicated at the beginning of this newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you!
China Travel Industry News
Outbound travel warming up due to RMB appreciation, European and American trips popular
Chinese tourists don’t have to apply for Transit Without Visa
Private Customized Travel is Rising
Chinese group tour to US to expand to 27 provinces and cities
Outbound travel to UK warming up, but tour guides are insufficient
China Consumer and Economic News
Chinese agents feel the crunch
Destination News
Brunei ramps up presence in Chinese market
US to issue more visas to attract Chinese tourists
Florida Tourism and Delta Air Lines launch New Year trip, inviting 1,000 Chinese tourists
Foreign tourism departments accelerate expansion in China
Tourism Australia attracts tourists in Guangzhou
Greater China Travel Mission 2011 of Australia held to explore Chinese market
UK promotes travel resources with the Olympic Games
Hotel News
Fairmont Hotel and Residences to Open in Chengdu
Swissotel Signs Hotel in Chengdu
Shangri-La launches Kerry Hotel, Beijing
Hilton Worldwide to groom hospitality talent in China
Oakwood introduces Premier brand to China
Sheraton to add four hotels in China by year-end
Airline News
Scoot to fly to Australasia, China
CZ takes off China, Perth direct
Lufthansa likely to axe Guangzhou
China Travel Industry News
Outbound travel warming up due to RMB appreciation, European and American trips popular
National Business Daily, November 16, 2011
Xia Bing
Spring Festival outbound travel is warming up, even though there are still three months left. The appreciation of the RMB has provided a big boost in the promotion of outbound travel. Long-distance trips to Europe, America, Australia and South Asia are very popular.
Chinese tourists don’t have to apply for Transit Without Visa
www.travelweekly-china.com, November 19, 2011
Air Canada has announced that Chinese tourists who fly to the US and Hong Kong from Mainland China on Air Canada don’t have to apply for the Transit Without Visa (TWOV). At the same time, Chinese tourists flying to appointed Canadian and US cities will enjoy more discounts and convenience in buying air ticket packages, which are suitable for flights to destinations, including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Charlottetown.
Private Customized Travel is Rising
Jiefang Daily, November 22, 2011
Li Bao Hua
High-end customized travel is rising and it has accounted for 5% of traditional travel agencies’ business. A large travel agency has received over 20 orders of the kind this year. Many travel agencies say more and more elite travelers are making similar demand.
Chinese group tour to US to expand to 27 provinces and cities
TTG China, November 22, 2011
Reporters learned from the 22nd China-United States Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade that Henan, Jiangxi and Guizhou will be allowed to send group tours to the US. In total, China will have 27 provinces and cities going on group tours to the US.
Outbound travel to UK warming up, but tour guides are insufficient
TTG China, November 22, 2011
The outbound travel to the UK is warming up in China. With the increasing numbers of outbound Chinese tourists, travel agencies are finding it hard to supply high quality tour guides to meet demand. Travel trade professionals said that the British Tourist Authority should increase investment in tour guide training. In addition, the travel market in the UK also faces the problem of inadequate resources and inconvenient visa procedures.
China Consumer and Economic News
Chinese agents feel the crunch
TTG Asia, November 1, 2011
Amee Enriquez and Brian Higgs
The US and Eurozone financial crisis is keeping inbound tour operators in China on the edge of their seats, with some saying that business from these segments has yet to recover. Guo Lingmei, spokesperson of Beijing-based BTG International Travel and Tours, which handles inbound leisure tours, said that sales had been steadily declining by 30 per cent every year since the 2008 financial crisis. As a result, more attention has been given to developing outbound tours, especially at a time when a strengthening Renminbi is fuelling Chinese consumers’ travel purchases.
Luxury Goods Consumption of the Chinese People to Account for 50% of the World’s in the Next 15 Years
China Business News, November 22, 2011
Zheng Shuang
China is becoming the new country for European luxury goods companies as the European luxury goods market is slowing down. Greg Furman, Founder & Chairman of the Luxury Marketing Council, said at the “Luxury Goods in China” summit that Chinese luxury goods consumption to account for 50% of global luxury consumption within the next 15 years. A McKinsey research report indicates China’s luxury goods consumption had increased from 5 billion yuan in 1998 to 80 billion yuan in 2010.
Destination News
Brunei ramps up presence in Chinese market
TTG Asia, November 1, 2011
Brian Higgs
BRUNEI is looking to grow MICE and leisure traffic from mainland China through a series of marketing initiatives that target eastern and southern China. The NTO organised a series of seminars and roadshows in Shanghai, Ningbo and Hangzhou in July last year, and Zhuhai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in July this year.
US to issue more visas to attract Chinese tourists
TTG China, November 10, 2011
Facing growing visa demands from China and Brazil, the US government is planning to attract more tourists from the two countries. For the first time, America’s Tourism Department has finally begun reshaping its image with regards to tourism. The US Department of State said on November 8th that the US hopes to process over 4 million visa applications from China and Brazil by 2013.
Florida Tourism and Delta Air Lines launch New Year trip, inviting 1,000 Chinese tourists
TTG China, November 11, 2011
The Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation and Delta Air Lines have launched the “New Year Trip”, inviting 1,000 Chinese tourists to welcome the Spring Festival in Florida from January 18th to 29th. Chinese tourists will spend a happy Spring Festival on the East Coast of the US, in Miami and Orlando.
Foreign tourism departments accelerate expansion in China
Beijing Business Today, November 10, 2011
Foreign tourism departments, including Tourism Australia, Tourism New Zealand and the tourism department of Spain, are accelerating the promotion of travel packages at the end of this year. They are aiming to attract more Chinese tourists in the coming ten years.
TourismAustralia attracts tourists in Guangzhou
Guangzhou Daily, November 4, 2011
Wang Fei
Yesterday, Tourism Australia led representatives from Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania and held the first press conference about the travel packages for the 2012 Spring Festival in Guangzhou. They also launched five all-new trips for the next year to attract tourists in Guangzhou.
Greater China Travel Mission 2011 of Australia held to explore Chinese market
Beijing Times, November 9, 2011
Liu Gang
From November 6th to 9th, the 3rd Greater China Travel Mission 2011 of Australia was held in Nanjing. Tourism departments of seven states in Australia, eight Australian and Chinese airlines, 59 scenic spots and 80 travel agencies from Australia negotiated with 150 travel agencies from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. They talked about the innovative marketing.
UK promotes travel resources with the Olympic Games
TTG China, November 21, 2011
Following the launch of the large campaign, “Great Britain, You are Invited”, 31 British travel agencies began talks about cooperating with their Chinese counterparts today in Beijing. The British Tourist Authority said it will promote the travel resources of the country leveraging the Olympic Games in the China market.
Hotel News
Fairmont Hotel and Residences to Open in Chengdu
www.asiatraveltips.com , November 15, 2011
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has signed a new property in Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province in Western China.
“Chengdu is one of the fastest growing cities in China, and we are excited to expand our presence in the country to the Western region,” said Jennifer Fox, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “Its stature as an economic, transportation, and communications hub of Western China, coupled with its cosmopolitan offerings and proximity to natural attractions ensures demand from both business and leisure travelers.”
Swissotel Signs Hotel in Chengdu
www.asiatraveltips.com , November 15, 2011
Swissotel Hotels & Resorts has expanded its portfolio of hotels in China with the signing of the Swissotel Chengdu in Sichuan province. With hotels already operating successfully in Shanghai, Beijing, Foshan and Kunshan, the Swissotel Chengdu will be the fifth hotel in China for the international hotel chain, and its first hotel in the west of the People’s Republic.
Shangri-La launches Kerry Hotel, Beijing
TTG Asia, November 21, 2011
SHANGRI-LA Hotels & Resorts officially opened its second Kerry Hotel on Saturday, marking the completion of the first phase of a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of Kerry Centre Hotel, Beijing.
Hilton Worldwide to groom hospitality talent in China
TTG Asia, November 30, 2011
HILTON Worldwide signed an agreement with Les Roches Jin Jiang International Hotel Management College (LRJJ) in China for a Hilton Class programme that will offer workplace training and other curricula for students.
Under the partnership, Hilton Worldwide and LRJJ will select 20 top first-year students every year. Each will be offered three full-time internships at Hilton Worldwide’s managed properties throughout their course, gaining 18 months of training.
Oakwood introduces Premier brand to China
TTG Asia
OAKWOOD Asia Pacific will be launching its Oakwood Premier brand in China with the launch of the 225-key Oakwood Premier Guangzhou in first quarter 2012. Oakwood Premier Guangzhou will be the second serviced apartment opened by Oakwood Asia Pacific in the capital of Guangdong province. The first was Oakwood Gold Arch Residence Guangzhou on Er Sha Island. With the launch of Oakwood Premier Guangzhou, Oakwood’s portfolio in China will be boosted to seven properties in six destinations, including Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Sheraton to add four hotels in China by year-end
TTG Asia, November 25, 2011
STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will open another four Sheraton branded properties in China before the end of 2011. This fall, Sheraton will open its first hotel in Hangzhou and Daqing, and its second hotel in Xian and Changzhou. Eight Sheraton hotels and resorts have already opened this year in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Zhenjiang, Hainan, Jinzhou and Changzhou. With the addition of these 12 properties, Sheraton will grow its portfolio in Greater China to 46 hotels by year’s end, moving Starwood closer to its goal of operating 100 hotels in the region by end-2012.
Starwood Plans China Growth
www.etravelblackboardasia.com, November 3, 2011
Expanding its Asia presence, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has released plans to open five more Sheraton hotels in China before the end of this year. The five new hotels are to open up in Hangzhou, Xian, Daqing and two in Changzhou and are a strategic move to expand the Sheraton brand within the country. The news comes in addition to seven other properties opening up across the country, increasing the brands footprint in China to 46 hotels in Greater China by the end of this year and 100 properties by the end of 2012.
Airline and Air Travel News
Scoot to fly to Australasia, China
TTG Asia, November 1, 2011
SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) new low-cost carrier (LCC), Scoot, will operate on medium and long haul routes, including to Australia and China.
CZ takes off China, Perth direct
www.etravelblackboardasia.com , November 9, 2011
Aiming to build passenger numbers between China and Perth, China Southern Airlines has launched the first-ever direct flights between the two regions. The Tourism head explained the new eight hour service would enable the city to achieve its tourism goals as well as strengthen business and trade links with China.
Lufthansa likely to axe Guangzhou
Business Traveller Asia, November 14, 2011
Star Alliance fans wishing to patronise Lufthansa for their trips between Europe and Guangzhou in southern China may have to opt for an alternative next year. Lufthansa launched its Frankfurt-Guangzhou in 2004. If it is axed, as expected, Lufthansa will be following in the footsteps of OneWorld member Finnair. The Finnish flag-carrier inaugurated Helsinki-Guangzhou service in 2005 only to scrap it three years later.
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