China introduces new steps to draw more overseas tourists

China is well-known for its rich history, diverse landscapes, and vivacious culture and in recent times, it has been working hard to get over a significant challenge by drawing international tourists.

The pandemic situation has made their endeavor difficult because of the limits on international travel.

A present, with border reopening, the government of China is introducing steps to make traveling to China more appealing and easier for international travellers.

The State Council, On September 29, 2023, published a notice on numerous steps to encourage high-quality development for tourism industry targeted at highlighting some of the prime hurdles that have hampered overseas tourist flow.

These steps target visa complexities, safety concerns, and the unique payment systems of the country that have often imposed challenges for international visitors.

Here the readers will have an idea on the initiatives introduced by the Chinese government to improve inbound tourism and their possible effect on the financial growth of the country.

The tourism of China was once a lively and indispensable part of its economy, which has been wrestling with countless problems in terms of growth in recent years.

These erupt from three years of pandemic created isolation and closed the borders. This year, China borders were reopened once again.

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Relaunching of the Mix and Match Combo fare by Greater Bay Airlines

The Mix & Match Combo Fare, one of the airline’s well-liked promotion campaigns that consumers shouldn’t miss, was revived by Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) today. Customers can purchase two roundtrip tickets for travel to any two Asian destinations starting today through October 31, 2023, for just HK$1,700 up. 

All GBA flights, including those to Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City, that depart Hong Kong on or before March 26, 2024, are eligible for this special promotion; however, the first trip must start on or before December 21, 2023. The tickets are good for up to 14-day stays. The same traveller is the only one who may use the tickets. 

The tickets will also include a free 20kg check-in baggage allowance for each flight in addition to the 7kg carry-on baggage allowance, providing travelers with even more convenience. 

Ticket prices for different journey combinations are as follows (applicable taxes and  fuel surcharges are not inclusive): 

Ticket Price for Different Journey Combinations
A+A	A+B	A+C	B+B	B+C	C+C
HK$3,700	HK$3,300	HK$2,700	HK$2,900	HK$2,300	HK$1,700

Applicable Journeys
A	Hong Kong – Tokyo – Hong Kong
Hong Kong – Osaka – Hong Kong
Open Jaw Available: Outbound to Tokyo and inbound from Osaka
Open Jaw Available: Outbound to Osaka and inbound from Tokyo
B	Hong Kong – Seoul – Hong Kong
C	Hong Kong – Taipei – Hong Kong
Hong Kong – Bangkok – Hong Kong
Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City – Hong Kong

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Saudi tourism fund joins with Mukatafa Co

In a bid to back and further grow the travel industry of Saudi Arabia, the Tourism Development Fund has recently signed a cooperation agreement with Mukatafa Co., a Riyadh-based private consultancy firm.

The contract is targeted to improve partnership between the two parties, highlighting exchange of information and accessible expertise within the field, the Saudi Press Agency reported the same.  

This thoughtfulness branches out from the commitment of the Kingdom to firming up partnerships and capitalizing on the benefits between the private and public sectors, with an aim on the prosperity of the nation.  

The deal additionally aligns with the National Tourism Strategy of the Kingdom, which by 2030 is keen on drawing 100 million visitors while rising the contribution of the travel sector to gross domestic product to over 10 percent.

Both parties will cooperate to progress with a cohesive framework to help establishments nominated under the agreement and to profit from funding and investment programs to develop tourism in Saudi Arabia.

This will come in accordance with exclusive terms and conditions agreed by the parties, permitting these governments to increase and withstand the scope of their commercial activities. This will definitely affect the financial and social levels of the Kingdom.

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New movement “Tourism Opens Minds” launched in Riyadh Saudi Arabia

A new worldwide movement has been launched in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to unify and urge governments, tourism industry leaders, and consumers to be more open-minded when choosing a holiday destination.

“Tourism Opens Minds” which was announced at World Tourism Day festivities in Saudi Arabia’s capital, will highlight the significant role that tourism plays in uniting cultures and encouraging a more linked and harmonious world.

To commemorate the occasion, delegates assembled in Riyadh were given a unique Pledge urging them to actively seek to promote new and underappreciated places.

World Tourism Day 2023 was hosted as fresh UNWTO statistics highlighted the sector’s recovery from the pandemic’s effects. The research also indicates that only a minority of tourists aim to seek out new or different places when they return to travel.

According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, global tourism is on course to recover between 80% and 95% of foreign arrivals by the end of 2023.

Notably, a recent YouGov poll indicated that 66% of tourists felt that visiting a place that is familiar to them is essential. Just about half of those polled are uneasy about visiting unfamiliar areas.This is despite the fact that 83% of individuals who travel to new places say they return with an altered or enlarged viewpoint.

The statistics demonstrates the need of efforts like ‘Tourism Open Minds’ to encourage customers to diversify their travel patterns, with UNWTO unifying the worldwide sector behind this goal. The project also intends to help government officials, industry leaders, and consumers avoid the effects of overtourism, create mutual understanding, save the environment, and assure the sector’s equitable growth.

His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, said,“Our contributions including pivotal partnerships such as the establishment of the UNWTO Middle East office in Riyadh, the creation of the Riyadh School for Travel and Hospitality and hosting record-breaking editions of the WTTC Global Forum and UNWTO World Tourism Day, underscore the immense potential of the sector when people from across the globe are united and connected.

“The UNWTO ‘Tourism Opens Minds’ Initiative is another important milestone for the tourism sector, and its launch at World Tourism Day in Riyadh is a continuation of our many previous commitments to the global tourism sector.”

High-level attendees at the World Tourism Day events in Riyadh were encouraged to sign a Pledge, which represented their united resolve to work together to:

• Make lesser-known sites more inviting and accessible.
• Contribute to and build an atmosphere that complements journeys to lesser-known sites.
• To be more open to different cultures and travel locations.

A new logo for the campaign was also released. The emblem, inspired by the colors of every country’s flag, serves as a visual depiction of working together to acknowledge the value of tourism in creating cultural linkages and sustainable progress for all.

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US ranks top for outbound tourism spending for 2018-2022 period

The tourism sector has seen a shifting pattern in spending in recent years, with spending reaching record highs in 2019 before plummeting in 2020 and 2021 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) data, Chinese nationals had the highest international tourism expenditure in 2018 – with around €262 billion spent in this country, followed by Americans with €119 billion and Germans with €91 million, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.

The list of countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure figures for 2018, when the world was expected to witness record highs in the tourism industry as well as an expenditure made in this sector, is completed with the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, with expenditure levels of €80 and 66 billion, respectively.

France, Australia, and South Korea spent between €40 and €33 billion in 2018. Canada and Russia also spent a lot, totaling €32 billion.

By the end of 2019, Chinese nationals had spent €154 billion, followed by €49 billion from the United States and roughly €46 billion from Germany.

Similarly, the United Kingdom and France spent over €32 and €30 billion, respectively, while South Korea and the United Arab Emirates spent approximately €17 billion. Canadians spent €15 billion, followed by Indians and Italians, who spent around €12 billion on tourism.

However, in 2020, these nations’ spending remained in the same places, indicating that China, the United States, and Germany had the biggest expenditures. However, compared to prior years, the statistics declined dramatically, with the COVID-19 epidemic being one among the reasons.

Specifically, Chinese tourists spent €106 billion, Americans spent €52 billion, and Germans spent roughly €48 billion on tourism during this time period. Similarly, spending in the UK fell to €27 billion, the UAE to €19 billion, South Korea to roughly €16 billion, and Italy to €13 billion. Furthermore, India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, who had the highest expenditure levels for the year, saw expenditures ranging from €12 to €8 billion.

The nations with the biggest international tourism expenditures shifted between 2021 and 2022, with China falling completely off the list.

The United States now ranks top with €110 billion in spending, followed by Germany (€85 billion), and Italy (€23 billion) in third place. Canada ranked fourth with €19 billion in spending, after Spain (€18 billion), South Korea (€17 billion), and Saudi Arabia (€13 billion).

Australia, Qatar, and Brazil were among the top countries with the greatest expenditure levels between 2021 and 2022, spending between €11 and €9 billion.

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