DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Tourism in China surges during May Day holiday but travelers turn frugal
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has reported a surge in tourism during the just concluded Labor Day holiday, but travelers cut back on their spending, in a sign that consumption in world’s second largest economy remains sluggish. That was 28% more than the number of trips taken during the Labor Day holiday period in 2019, which lasted only four days. This year’s Labor Day tourism revenue was 166.89 billion yuan ($23.6 billion), only 13.5% higher than the 2019 level. Passengers at Nanjing Railway Station in East China's Jiangsu province on May 5, the last day of the Labor Day holiday. On Monday, a private sector survey showed that the Caixin/S&P Global services PMI fell to 52.5 in April from 52.7 in the previous month.

Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Labor, Tourists, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Passengers, Nanjing Railway, PMI, TD Securities, P Global, National Bureau, Statistics Locations: China, Hong Kong, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu

☆ Here's who qualifies for Turkey's new digital nomad visa and how to apply
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey is the latest country to open its arms to remote workers keen to relocate. Here's what it takes to get the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate for Turkey. Related storiesThe Digital Nomad Identification Certificate, which is the first step to a digital nomad visa, is open to remote workers ages 21 to 55. If approved, it's as simple as applicants receiving a certificate with a barcode that they can use to apply for the digital nomad visa at the Turkish consulate. Earlier this month Italy announced that it would welcome remote workers and their families on renewable digital nomad visas.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, and Tourism Ministry Locations: Turkey, Canada, Italy, Turkish, Russia

☆ Turkey is the latest country to launch a digital nomad visa—find out if you qualify and where to apply
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Turkey is the latest European country to launch a digital nomad visa. The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry announced it is accepting applications from eligible applicants between the ages of 21 and 55. There is only one country in Asia on that list — Russia. In addition, applicants must have a university degree, be employed or self-employed, or have a business contract for a company outside of Turkey. Applicants will also need a passport or a travel document that is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Turkey.

Organizations: and Tourism Ministry Locations: Turkey, Turkish, U.S, Canada, Europe, Asia, Russia

☆ China Lunar New Year travel spending surpasses pre-Covid levels — is consumption revival in sight?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China's travel activity and spending jumped above pre-pandemic levels during the Lunar New year holiday, in a sign that consumption was improving in the world's second-largest economy. Tourists spent nearly 632.7 billion yuan ($87.95 billion) on domestic holiday trips, a 47.3% year-over-year jump, data showed. State broadcaster China Central Television said citing the ministry that domestic trips represented a 19% rise over the same period in 2019 while spending rose 7.7%. The Chinese mainland saw 3.6 million tourist departures and 3.23 million tourist arrivals during the holidays, according to the ministry, as mutual visa-free travel with certain countries hastened the recovery in both outbound and inbound travel during the holidays. However, sustainability of the bump in travel remains uncertain as tourism revenue per trip still remained below the pre-pandemic level.

Persons: Nomura Organizations: country's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Tourists, China Central Television Locations: Sunday, State, China

☆ Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Laura He | Marc Stewart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But according to CNN calculations based on official data, the average tourism-related spending per trip was below pre-pandemic levels, as consumer confidence remains weak amid deflationary pressure. However, the most recent holiday season took place over eight days from February 10 to February 18, which was one day more than previous periods. On average, 59.25 million domestic trips per day were made during this holiday period, slightly lower than the 59.29 million trips per day taken in 2019. Movie ticket sales reached a record 8 billion yuan ($1.11 billion) during the eight-day holiday season, according to data released on Sunday by China Film Administration. “The headwinds to growth remain severe and it will take more than a bump in holiday travel for market sentiment to recover,” said Neumann.

Persons: ” Nomura, ”, Frederic Neumann, Neumann, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN, CNN, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Hangzhou East Railway, National Immigration Administration, China Film Administration, HSBC, China Index Holdings, Shenzhen Component Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hangzhou, China's Zhejiang province, Macao, Asia, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Coldplay has a request: They really, really want to play in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

He really, really wants to play in China. “I promise we’ll play in China one day,” Martin said to the screaming crowd when he invited two lucky fans up on stage. “You know, we can’t get the permission (to play in China),” he told concertgoers. Chris Martin and Coldplay aren’t alone in wanting to serenade mainland Chinese audiences. Chinese authorities have also been known to vet the content of shows, including setlists and lyrics.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Coldplay, Chris Martin, “, ” Martin, don’t, Coldplay, ”, Martin, concertgoers, “ Coldplay, China …, Paul Kane, Coldplay aren’t, Jon Bon Jovi, Jovi, Bon Jovi’s, Lama, Xi Jinping, –, Xi, Golshifteh Farahani, “ Young, Bjork, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry's, Sam Yeh, Katy Perry, Madonna, James Hetfield, we’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Coldplay, Tourism Ministry, Oasis, Communist Party, China’s Communist Party, Tibet, Municipal, of Culture, Getty, Taiwan, Chinese Culture Ministry, South China Morning Locations: Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Guangzhou, British, Asia, Tokyo, –, Beijing, Shanghai, Macao, Covid, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Worth, Iranian, Buenos Aires, Iran, Taipei, AFP, Taiwan

☆ Social media chatter helps draw 3 million tourists in 3 days to a frigid city in northern China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Yulia Jiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"He said he was happy to see so many southern visitors in Harbin." The plump, bundled-up appearance of Harbin tourists, many hailing from southern China, led to locals calling them "Little Southern Taters" — a nickname that was widely discussed on Chinese social media. Tourists new nickname for Harbin — the shorter "Rbin" — has swept across Chinese social media too, representing their newfound affection for the city. A larger plan to use social media to publicize Harbin and the larger province of Heilongjiang may be at play. He Jing, head of Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, told China Central Television that his department has been focusing on using social media "since the beginning of 2023."

Persons: Yuying Zhang, Zhang, Zhang Zhang, Zhang Tao, she's, —, Andrea Verdelli, Jing, Jiang, Yuetong Jiang Organizations: Harbin Cultural Broadcasting, Tourism Bureau, CNBC, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Street, Bloomberg, Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture, China Central Television, Harbin Locations: Harbin, China, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Tourism, Changchun, China's Jilin

☆ Houthis could cut undersea global internet cables, minister warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An analyst has warned that the Houthis' next target could be undersea internet cables. That analysis warned of the potential shift in the Houthi's strategy in the Red Sea. Such a move would see the Houthis' strategy shift from targeting shipping — itself deeply disruptive to the global economy — to the global flow of information. In the analysis published last week, analyst Emily Milliken at the DC-based Askari Defense & Intelligence described undersea cables as the Houthi's "next casualty." Advertisement"Even partial damage to the undersea cables could eliminate internet access across vast areas, causing major economic disruptions for entire countries," she wrote.

Persons: —, Moammar, Emily Milliken, Milliken, Yemen's, Jake Epstein, group's Organizations: UN, Service, Gulf International, Askari Defense & Intelligence, Telegram, General Telecommunications Corporation, Guardian, Yemen Telecom, of Telecommunications, Information Technology, US Central Command Locations: Aden, Gulf, Red, Yemen, Gaza

LUANG PRABANG, Laos (AP) — Landlocked Laos doesn't have the famous beaches of its neighbors to attract tourists, but instead relies on the pristine beauty of its mountains and rivers and historical sites to bring in visitors. The crown jewel is Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where legend has it that Buddha once rested during his travels. Nestled among the mountains of northern Laos, Luang Prabang was the capital from the 14th to the 16th century before it was moved to Vientiane. “This dam won't generate a lot of power for Laos, it's going to power new shopping malls in Bangkok,” Eyler said of the Luang Prabang project. “In isolation, the potential transboundary harmful effects due to the Luang Prabang hydropower project may not be substantial," the river commission said.

Persons: Buddha, it's, ”, Brian Eyler, Stimson, Eyler, ” Eyler, Philip Hirsch, “, you've, ” Hirsch, Vietnam —, Barbara Curti Organizations: UNESCO, Asia Program, Sustainability, ” UNESCO, Associated Press, Ministry of Information, Foreign Ministry, Heritage, Monitor, Sydney University, CBA, Commission Locations: LUANG PRABANG, Laos, Prabang, Southeast Asia, Washington, Luang Prabang, Luang, Paris, New Delhi, Vientiane, Vietnam, China, Kunming, Thailand, Stimson, Bangkok, British, Cambodia, Asia, asia

☆ Popular Taiwanese rock band Mayday investigated for lip-synching in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Popular Taiwanese rock band Mayday is being investigated by Chinese authorities over allegations of lip-synching during recent concerts, an accusation the band’s label has denied in a controversy that has dominated Chinese social media since the weekend. Live shows routinely use pre-recorded background vocals and music to bolster artists’ live singing performances, especially acts that involve vigorous choreography. Chinese government regulations explicitly ban performers from “deceiving audiences with lip-synching,” and organizers from arranging for performers to lip synch. The band is well known for hosting energetic marathons of music, with each show typically lasting two to three hours. They were among the first Taiwanese musicians to hold large-scale concerts in China after the country lifted its stringent zero-Covid policy and travel restrictions.

Persons: ”, ’, vlogger Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Tourism Bureau, Xinhua, B’in Music, Weibo, CNN, B’in, “ Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shanghai Culture, Weibo, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ Somalia joins east Africa trade bloc as it eyes new opportunities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Abdi Sheikh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOGADISHU, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The East African Community trade bloc admitted Somalia as its eighth member on Friday, a move Somali authorities and businesses hope will boost the country's war-ravaged economy. "Somalia officially joins the East African Community, reinforcing ties and opening new doors for progress and partnership," Daud Aweis, Somalia's minister for information, culture and tourism said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. In turn the bloc's large population and existing customs union and common market are a draw for investors that Somalia can now tap into. Somali businesses said the country's vibrant private sector, which has overcome long odds to stay afloat, would bring a fresh injection of risk-tolerant entrepreneurs into the trade bloc and boost exchanges across the large Somali Diaspora. "It will be simpler for the large Somali Diaspora living across East Africa to access financial services and products," said Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, managing director of Salaam Somali Bank, one of Somalia's major banks.

Persons: Daud Aweis, al, Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, Hereward Holland, Elias Biryabarema, William Maclean Organizations: East African Community, EAC, Democratic, East African, Salaam Somali Bank, Thomson Locations: MOGADISHU, Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Al Qaeda, Shabaab, Mogadishu, al Shabaab, Somali, East Africa

☆ From town hall prep to disaster predictions: Mayors descend on Washington to learn how they can use generative AI in their cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. James Anderson, head of government innovation programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies, introduces mayors to the Mayors Innovation Studio on AI. The focus of Wednesday's session was primarily on how generative AI may streamline processes for cities or offer new insights to make them safer or more efficient. More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. The event sought to give mayors a starting point for how to think about implementing generative AI into their processes.

Persons: Bloomberg Philanthropies, they're, James Anderson, Anderson, Mitch Weiss, Weiss, ChatGPT, chatbot, they've, Breda, Santiago Garces, Garces, Tim Kelly, Kelly, Andrew Ginther, Ginther, we're, Breed Organizations: Bloomberg CityLab's, Innovation, Bloomberg, Congress, Harvard Business School, Boston, CNBC, Center for Government Excellence, Johns Hopkins University, AI, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, YouTube Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Boston, New York City, York, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Columbus , Ohio, coders, India

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — For people around the world, the green leaves that sprouted from a scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree in the heart of devastated Lahaina symbolized hope following Maui’s deadly wildfire this summer. Before colonialism, commercial agriculture and tourism, thousands of breadfruit trees dotted Lahaina; the fire charred all but two of the dozen or so that remained. By contrast, researchers believe breadfruit and kukui nut — now the state tree of Hawaii — were among the many edible plants Polynesian voyagers brought around 1,000 years ago. Efforts to revive the banyan and other important surviving trees have included trucking in water, applying compost extract and testing soil. But replanting breadfruit in urban areas comes with challenges, said Steve Nimz, an arborist on Oahu who has been helping restore Lahaina’s trees.

Persons: landscapers, ”, Noa Kekuewa Lincoln, King Kamehameha, ulu, ” Kekona, Lahaina’s, replanting, Steve Nimz, “, Hokuao Pellegrino, ” Pellegrino, replant, Pellegrino, he's, reintegrating breadfruit, ___ Komenda Organizations: University of Hawaii, Development Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina, ulu, Maui, Manoa, U.S, India, Lele, Hilo, Lincoln, Oahu, Waikapu, West Maui, “, Tacoma , Washington

☆ China's domestic tourism is finally back to pre-pandemic levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Both figures were lower than what Chinese state media had earlier cited the ministry as predicting: 896 million trips and 782.5 billion yuan in domestic tourism revenue. Golden Week domestic tourism revenue was 753.43 billion yuan ($103.24 billion) — a 1.5% increase from that in 2019, according to China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism . The number of domestic tourist trips rose by 4.1% from 2019 to 826 million during the latest eight-day holiday, the ministry said. BEIJING — China's big "Golden Week" holiday saw domestic tourism rebound to around pre-pandemic levels, while overseas travel had yet to fully recover, according to official figures. That was also below earlier predictions, reported by state media, which forecast nearly 1.6 million trips across the border a day.

Persons: Morgan, Robin Xing, Morgan Stanley, Trip.com, Jane Sun, CNBC's Eunice Yoon Organizations: China, Golden, China's Ministry of Culture, Tourism, BEIJING, National Immigration Administration, China's Labor Locations: China, Beijing, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, France, Europe

☆ China's Golden Week: expected consumption boom disappoints
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has concluded its Golden Week holiday on a muted note, with key travel and spending data showing weaker-than-expected recovery in consumption amid a wider economic slump. Before the holiday, the ministry had expected domestic travel to hit 896 million trips, and tourism spending to reach 782.5 billion yuan ($107 billion). According to the National Immigration Administration, on average 1.48 million people crossed the border every day during the Golden Week holiday. Weakness at the box officeChina’s box office hit multi-year lows during the holiday week. A recovery in domestic consumption not related to the Golden Week also fell short of expectations.

Persons: ” Goldman Sachs, Tesla, BYD Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, National Immigration Administration, Shenyang North Railway, Stringer, Getty, Citi, Entertainment, Tencent, China Passenger Car Association Sunday, CNN, EV Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, China's, Liaoning, AFP, Tourism

☆ Turkish film festival canceled after censorship controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Aimee Look | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —One of Turkey’s most prestigious film festivals was canceled Friday after a political documentary provoked the ire of the government. The Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, in its 60th year, was due to be held in Antalya, on the Turkish riviera, from October 7 to 14. The documentary film “Kanun Hukmu” (or “The Decree”) was first removed from its schedule last week. A screening of the documentary film "Kanun Hukmu" was canceled, then reinstated — and then canceled again. After this, the festival removed the film once again and then finally canceled the entire event.

Persons: Nejla Demirci, —, Ahmet Boyacıoglu, ”, “, filmgoers, Muhittin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan Organizations: CNN, Antalya Golden Orange Film, Twitter, Hurriyet Daily, Tourism Ministry of, Hurriyet, Antalya Golden Orange Locations: Antalya, Turkey, Tourism Ministry of Turkey, Antalya’s

☆ China PMI, bumper 'Golden Week' travel give glimmers of hope for economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

PMI data released by Caixin Media and S&P Global showed both manufacturing and services losing some momentum. “We see increasing evidence of a near-term growth stabilization,” Nomura analysts said in a research note on Saturday, thanks partly to the raft of policy measures unveiled since late July, they added. While domestic travel for the Golden Week holiday appears strong, Chinese consumers are leaving the mainland in fewer numbers. Preliminary statistics from ForwardKeys, a global travel data provider, last week showed that Chinese travel within Asia was down 33% on pre-pandemic levels. On the first day of the Golden Week holiday, the number of mainland Chinese tourists entering Hong Kong was still less than half of 2018’s level, the city’s government said over the weekend.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Stringer, “, ” Nomura, Julie Kozack, Xu Jiayin, Xu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau, Statistics, PMI, Caixin Media, P Global, Getty, China State Railway Group, Ministry, Transport, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, NBS, ” Citi, International Monetary Fund, Bank, Golden, Evergrande Group Locations: Hong Kong, Nantong, China's Jiangsu, AFP, China, Hangzhou, China's, Zhejiang, Beijing, Asia

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s oldest film festival has been canceled amid controversy surrounding a politically sensitive documentary about the aftermath of a 2016 coup attempt. “Due to the mess created by their own hand,” the festival administration, artistic director and the entire artistic team were fired, he said. The documetary's director Nejla Demirci wrote on X Friday evening: “I am saddened to see, day by day, how negative attitudes have organized against a documentary film. Organizers had said they would remove “The Decree” from the film festival program. Festival director Ahmet Boyacioglu initially announced the film was removed from the national documentary category due to ongoing legal proceedings against one of the people featured.

Persons: Muhittin Bocek, ”, Fethullah Gulen, Gulen, “, Critics, terminations, Nejla Demirci, Ahmet Boyacioglu Organizations: —, Antalya, Orange, Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, Culture Ministry, Turkish, U.S, Wednesday Locations: ISTANBUL, Turkish Culture, Turkey, Antalya

[1/3] Tourists rest on the Bund ahead of the National Day holiday, in Shanghai, China September 26, 2023. China celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day from Friday to Oct. 6 in the longest public holiday this year. The China Tourism Academy, part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, estimates people will make more than 100 million trips a day during "the most popular Golden Week in history". In 2019, mainland Chinese tourists spent $255 billion abroad, more than any other nationality, with group tours estimated to account for roughly 60% of that total. ($1 = 7.3030 Chinese yuan renminbi)Additional reporting by Wang Tao in Singapore; Editing by Marius Zaharia and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, It's, Joe Zhang, I'm, haven't, Boon Sian Chai, Boon, Cao, Nancy Dai, Zhou Weihong, Wang Zheng, Wang Tao, Marius Zaharia Organizations: Bund, REUTERS, Rights, China Tourism Academy, Ministry of Culture, Trip.com, Spring, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Beijing, Japan, Tourism, Anqing, Anhui, South Korea, United States, ForwardKeys, Thailand, Singapore

CNN —Water levels at Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world and South America’s largest – are dropping precipitously after an unprecedented winter heat wave. While water levels are known to fluctuate each year, these changes have become more extreme due to the climate crisis. Communities that rely on fishing are struggling as low water levels adds to mounting problems: declining fish stocks due to pollution and overfishing. “It’s going to keep affecting us, there won’t be any more totora, the islands are deteriorating, that’s what worries us,” Charca told CNN. Grinia Avalos, deputy director for climatology with Senamhi, told CNN that these warmer temperatures are expected to continue until at least February 2024.

Persons: ”, Nazario Charca, Anton Petrus, Taylor Ward, Sixto Flores, Raldes, Flores, Claudia Morales, Jullian Huattamarca, Juan Karita, Dina Boluarte, Huattamarca, “, Uros, Sergi Reboredo, Charca, It’s, ” Charca, El, Grinia Avalos, Connor Baker Organizations: CNN, Getty, Reuters, El Nino, Crisis, “ Locations: South America’s, Peru, Bolivia, Puno, AFP, Agriculture, Taquile, Peruvian, Lake Titicaca, South America

☆ Here's what the U.S. hopes China will do after Raimondo's trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has left Beijing with a few deliverables: plans for formal discussions on export controls and tourism. In her two days in Beijing, Raimondo met with Premier Li Qiang, Vice Premier He Lifeng, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping. Here's what they agreed to do, according to public announcements:Establish a commercial issues working group between the commerce departments — meet twice a year at the vice minister level, and once at the minister level. Launch export control enforcement information exchange — first in-person meeting held at the assistant secretary level at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on Tuesday. He noted that in his first 15 months in China as ambassador, there were no U.S. discussions at a senior level with Chinese officials.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, Li Qiang, Wang Wentao, Hu, Wang, China Nicholas Burns Organizations: Commerce, of, People, BEIJING — U.S . Commerce, Culture, —, Ministry of Commerce, U.S . Tourism Leadership, U.S Locations: Beijing, BEIJING — U.S, Shanghai, U.S, China

☆ US isn’t trying to hold China’s economy back, says Commerce Secretary Raimondo
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —The United States is not seeking to decouple from China’s economy or hold it back, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told senior Chinese economic officials Tuesday in Beijing. Hours later, when she met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Raimondo emphasized that point. “A well-maintained economic and trade relationship is beneficial to both [our] countries and the whole world.”“We hope that commercial relationship can provide stability for the overall relationship,” Raimondo said in reply to Li. He said that he hoped the United States will work with China to “adopt rational and practical practices” and put the leaders’ recommendations into practice. On Monday, Raimondo said it was “profoundly important” that the US and China have a stable economic relationship.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, ” Raimondo, Lifeng, ”, Premier Li Qiang, Raimondo, “, Biden, Li, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Hu Heping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Premier, “, Culture and Tourism, Biden, United States Locations: Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, China, United, Bali

☆ China loosens its pandemic-era ban on citizens joining group tours abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —China has lifted pandemic-era restrictions on group tours for more countries, including key markets such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia, in a potential boon for their tourism industries. Prior to the pandemic, mainland Chinese tourists spent more than any other country’s tourists when abroad, clocking up a combined $255 billion in 2019 with group tours estimated to account for roughly 60% of that. Just how much outbound Chinese tourism will bounce back for the latest group of countries remains to be seen. “The opening of group travel from China to the U.S. is a significant milestone,” said Adam Burke, head of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. China has never publicly acknowledged limiting group tours to South Korea.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, –, Fumio Kishida, ”, Don Farrell, Steve Saxon, Adam Burke, “ Organizations: CNN, US Commerce Department, Japanese, Trade, Tourism, Weibo, McKinsey & Co, “, Los Angeles Tourism, Reuters Locations: China, United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Canada, Thailand, Russia, Cuba, Argentina, Nepal, France, Portugal, Brazil, Xinjiang, Los Angeles, U.S

☆ China lifts ban on group travel to more than 70 locations, giving a boost to travel stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China lifted a ban on group tours to more than 70 locations, giving travel and airline stocks in Asia a boost. China's culture and tourism ministry said Thursday that group tours will resume to over dozens of locations in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and North America. South Korean airline and travel stocks saw the strongest reaction, with tour agency, airline and hotel stocks all surging. Travel agency Lotte Tour Development saw its shares spike more than 25%, while shares of luxury hotel operator Hotel Shilla surged 17%. South Korean airlines also saw gains, with Asiana Airlines climbing 7% and Korea Airlines advancing 3.1%.

Organizations: North America, Travel, Lotte Tour Development, Asiana Airlines, Korea Airlines Locations: Seoul, China, Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, North, Japan, South Korea, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Israel

Travellers walk past an installation in the shape of five stars, at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, China April 24, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/file photoBEIJING, Aug 10 (Reuters) - China has lifted pandemic-era restrictions on group tours for more countries, including key markets such as the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia in a potential boon for their tourism industries. Just how much outbound Chinese tourism will bounce back for the latest group of countries remains to be seen. Shares in firms in the latest group of countries with large exposure to Chinese travel demand jumped on the news. China has never publicly acknowledged limiting group tours to South Korea.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Fumio Kishida, Don Farrell, Steve Saxon, Casey, Sophie Yu, Joyce Lee, Jamie Freed, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Beijing Daxing International, REUTERS, Japanese, Trade, Tourism, Weibo, McKinsey & Co, South, Grand Korea, Reuters, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Britain, Canada, Thailand, Russia, Cuba, Argentina, Nepal, France, Portugal, Brazil, Xinjiang, South Korean, U.S, Shanghai, Seoul

Search resuls for: "Culture and Tourism"

25 mentions found