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☆ A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Hotel prices are exploding. As the owner of Destination Europe, she is sending “record numbers” of clients to the continent this year. There’s been such a huge demand for travel in the past three years, and lots of places are pushing up prices.”Is summer in Europe already a washout? Socrates Baltagiannis/picture alliance/Getty ImagesData from Hotel Monitor, American Express Global Business Travel’s annual analysis of worldwide hotel rates, backs his theory up. His prediction appears to be coming true: although the Amex GBT analysis predicted a 11% spike in Paris hotel rates this year, so far they have only risen 8%.

Persons: “ There’s, ”, Tom Jenkins, ” Kayla Zeigler, Graham Carter, “, There’s, you’re, it’s, Eric Gaillard, Reuters It’s, they’re, Eiffel, Hagia Sophia, Jenkins, Tim Hentschel, that’s, It’s, Milos, Hotelplanner's Tim Hentschel, Socrates Baltagiannis, Hentschel, haven’t, Conde Nast, Hayley Berg, Hopper, Berg, Jaime Reina, ‘, ’ ” They’re, Daniela Santanchè, ” Zeigler, Carter, –, Charles de Gaulle, ” They’re, Zeigler, ” –, – Berg, bookers, Henry Nicholls Organizations: CNN, European Tourism Organisation, Unforgettable, “, Reuters, Getty, Hotel Monitor, American Express Global, ”, AFP, Italy –, Games Locations: Europe, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Iceland, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech, Hungarian, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Turkish, Hagia, Venice, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Berlin, Stockholm, Barcelona, London, Murcia, Marbella, Windsor, Paddington, Rome, Athens, Venice’s, Mallorcan, Italy, Amalfi, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, Portugal, France, airfare, London's, AFP

☆ CNBC's Inside India newsletter: What's next for India's regulators?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

People stand in front of a Reserve Bank of India logo at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, India, 5 September, 2023. Instead, there's been a flurry of activity this month at a number of regulators across India's financial system. That frightened bank investors and immediately knocked off more than 3% from the India Nifty PSU Bank index. "RBI has been tightening the screws," Rajeev Agrawal, hedge fund manager and managing partner at DoorDarshi India Fund, told CNBC's Inside India. We also had hedge fund manager Andrew Holland, who spoke on India's infrastructure projects and the outlook for the country's economy.

Persons: Niharika Kulkarni, there's, Nirmala Sitharaman, SEBI, Rajeev Agrawal, Agrawal, Shailendra Singh, India's, they've, Dinesh Kumar Khara, Andrew Holland, Sri Jegarajah Organizations: Reserve Bank of, Global, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, Futures Industry Association, Bombay Stock Exchange, Reuters, India Nifty, DoorDarshi India Fund, Peak XV Partners, Sequoia Capital, CNBC, CNBC Pro, U.S ., State Bank of India, U.S . Federal Reserve, Center Locations: Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai, India, Sequoia, Sequoia Capital India, Southeast Asia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Sri, Japan, Indian, Chennai

☆ Fallout between the Maldives and India is ‘absolutely’ benefiting Sri Lanka, says tourism minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Erica Lamberg | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

By contrast, nearly 34,400 Indian travelers went to Sri Lanka in January, more than double the 13,759 that visited in January last year, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. Fernando also noted the tight relationship between Sri Lanka and India, both in business and tourism. "Sri Lanka has more to offer … Sri Lanka has more value when it comes to India." "ITC, the big hotel chain, opened their first hotel out of India in Sri Lanka. A Maldives concept in Sri Lanka

Persons: Harin Fernando, Fernando Organizations: country's Tourism, CNBC, Sri, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Sri Lankan Airlines, ITC Locations: Maldives, Sri, India, China, Russia, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Sri Lanka's, Sri Lanka, Galle, Colombo

☆ Indian travelers' boycott of the Maldives is helping Sri Lanka
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email'Absolutely yes' — Indian travelers' boycott of the Maldives is helping Sri Lanka, says tourism ministerIndian travelers' boycott of the Maldives is benefiting Sri Lanka, says Sri Lanka's Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, citing the countries tight relationship.

Persons: Harin Fernando Organizations: Sri Lanka's Tourism Locations: Maldives, Sri Lanka, Sri

☆ Sri Lanka visa problem caused by a 'technical issue,' says tourism minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSri Lanka visa problem caused by a 'technical issue,' says tourism ministerSri Lankan Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said 30-day visas, priced at $50. He said the visa was "missed" on VFS Global's website, after the company began processing e-visas for Sri Lanka on April 17, reports CNBC's Monica Pitrelli.

Persons: Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, CNBC's Monica Pitrelli Organizations: Sri, Tourism Minister Locations: Sri Lanka, Sri

☆ A Remote Island Draws Thousands of Turtles Each Year. Could It Attract Tourists?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Ricci Shryock | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Each year, thousands of baby green sea turtles clamber across a beautiful, white-sand paradise that is one of the largest hatching sites of this species in the Atlantic, adorably making their way to the sea. The spectacular hatching events take place between August and December on Poilão Island, a tiny, uninhabited speck off the coast of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. It is the southernmost island of the 88 that make up the Bijagós archipelago, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Last year, turtles laid more than 44,000 nests on its 1.4 mile-long beach. “We want to increase the tourists who go to the Bijagós,” he said.

Persons: speck, Alberto Demba Touré, ” Organizations: UNESCO, Atlantic Locations: Poilão, Guinea, Bissau, West Africa

☆ Taylor Swift is making Singapore a mountain of money, and some of the country's neighbors are salty about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Edwin Tong, Singapore's culture minister, told local outlet Mothership on February 28 that the amount of grant given "is not what is being speculated online." As Tong, the Singapore culture minister, told Mothership, the city-state is looking "beyond just the economic impact" of Swiftonimics. Economists estimate that Swift's concerts in Singapore could contribute up to 500 million Singapore dollars, or $372 million, in tourist receipts. AdvertisementIt's a different story for spending on experiences — and it's heightened because Singapore is Swift's only stop in Southeast Asia. Mann said the people who have money to pay for flight tickets, Swift's concert tickets, and a hotel are likely to keep spending at other tourist spots.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Srettha, Edwin Tong, Swift, it's, Yun Liu, Tong, Kevin Cheong, David Mann, Mann, Coldplay, Si Ying Toh, Cheong, Joey Salceda, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno Organizations: Service, Business, HSBC, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, Nomura, Philippine Star, Bloomberg, Vegas Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, British, Thailand, Bangkok, Indonesia, Sands

☆ Thailand drops joint patrols with Chinese police after public backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Thailand rolled back on Tuesday plans of joint patrols with Chinese police in popular tourist spots after public backlash. Tourism officials on Sunday floated the idea of having Chinese and Thai police patrol much-visited areas to build confidence among tourists, including Chinese nationals. "There are many alternative ways to build confidence for tourists in Thailand ... but we will not have joint patrols," Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol told reporters on Tuesday. "The Thai police force is already adequate and are working hard to restore confidence," Sudawan said. Restoring confidence is critical for Thailand's tourism industry, especially among Chinese visitors.

Persons: Helen Yi, Jorge Silva, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Sudawan, Chayut Setboonsarng, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Tourism, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Siam, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

The Gaza war on the border with Egypt's Sinai Peninsula comes after the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic exposed long-standing frailties in the Egyptian economy. "Foreign sentiment on Egypt is so weak, and now with this coming along it's last thing that Egypt needed. A foreign currency shortage has led to a $5 billion backlog of imports stuck at ports, and problems for foreign companies repatriating dividends, bankers say. So far, the Gaza war has affected the popular Sinai destinations of Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab and Sharm el-Sheikh but left the rest of the country relatively unscathed. Egypt's tourism minister told Reuters this week that the impact of the war was contained to under 10% of bookings.

Persons: Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Monica Malik, Moataz, Sharm, Karim ElMinabawy, Siamak Adibi, Egypt's, Olumide Ajayi, Malik, Patrick Werr, Sarah El Safty, Aidan Lewis, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, Abu, Tourism, Countrywide, Emeco, Middle East Gas, FGE, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Giza, Cairo, Egypt, CAIRO, Gaza, Ukraine, Dhabi, Taba, Dahab, Luxor, Aswan, Israel, Europe, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Gulf . Saudi

☆ As Devastated Acapulco Rebuilds, Other Mexico Resorts Urged to Heed Its Lessons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Cassandra Garrison and Dave GrahamMEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Hurricane Otis not only devastated Acapulco, but also exposed fatal weaknesses in ageing infrastructure, teaching hard lessons that coastal cities throughout Mexico must draw on. As Acapulco rebuilds after the deadly Category 5 hurricane, climate experts, architects, engineers and politicians recommended steps Mexico should take. He noted that after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake killed thousands, the capital imposed tougher building standards. While Mexico City must update its standards for structural design every six years, Mexico lets other individual municipalities issue their own construction regulations. After Odile, Baja California's building standards reflected new guidance on areas of weakness identified, such as roofs.

Persons: Cassandra Garrison, Dave Graham MEXICO, Otis, Enrique de la, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Adrian Pozos, Hurricane Odile, Odile, Pozos, Lopez Obrador, David Waggonner, Waggonner, Waggoner, Dave Graham, Daina Beth Solomon, David Gregorio Organizations: Dave Graham MEXICO CITY, Mexican Tourism, National Autonomous University of Mexico, American Society of Civil Engineers Locations: Acapulco, Mexico, Enrique de la Madrid, Oaxaca, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Baja California, Baja, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Miami, New Orleans

☆ Indonesia ruling party's presidential candidate to announce running mate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The presidential candidate of Indonesia's ruling party will announce his choice of running mate on Wednesday, amid last-minute manoeuvring by the country's political heavyweights to shore up alliances ahead of the 2024 election. The world's third-largest democracy is set to vote in February to replace President Joko Widodo or Jokowi, who has served the maximum two terms allowed. Other possible running mates for Ganjar include Bandung city Mayor Ridwan Kamil, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno, and former military chief Andika Perkasa, according to party sources. Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan is also running for president but trailing in surveys. Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Ganjar Pranowo, Mahfud, Osman Sapta Odang, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Jokowi's, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ridwan Kamil, Sandiaga Uno, Andika Perkasa, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Anies Baswedan, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor, Miral Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Central Java, Jokowi, Ganjar, Tourism, Sandiaga, PDI, Former Jakarta, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Central, Bandung, Mahfud

☆ Mid-Autumn Festival holidays: Millions of Chinese tourists are going on holiday again -- many headed for Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo Kocha Olarn Berry Wang Carina Cheng | Kathleen Magramo | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Only 2.2 million Chinese travelers arrived between January and September 10 this year, according to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin greeted travelers on the first day of the government's visa-free scheme for Chinese tourists. “Competition is really intensifying in the region to attract Chinese tourists amongst all countries, and you have to make it as easy as possible,” said Bowerman. Chinese tourists pray in front of Thai dancers at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand on September 22, 2023. Rumors, film complicate efforts to lure back touristsPrior to the announcement of the visa-free policy this month, Chinese tourists had been slow to return to Thailand.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, It’s, ” Sretta, “, Chiang, Wang Wenbin, Peerapon Boonyakiat, pare, Gary Bowerman, ”, Bowerman, Huang, “ I’ve, coronavirus, Trip.com, Jin Junhao, Joanna Lu, Anusak, Wolfgang Georg Arlt, “ There’s, Thailand ”, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn Organizations: CNN, China’s, Tourism Authority of, Thai, Civil Aviation Administration, China Railway, Asia, Tourism Research Institute, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Thai Travel Agents Association Locations: China, Shanghai, Bangkok’s, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, ”, Beijing, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Asia, Sichuan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom, Erawan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Weibo

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt is seeking to double the number of visitors to the country in the next five years, its top tourism official told The Associated Press. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector recovers from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said Tuesday. Last year, tourism revenues surged to $10.7 billion, up from around $5 billion in 2021, according to the Egyptian central bank. Such an increase, he said, would help the government achieve its target of 18 million tourist visits in 2024. Issa spoke to the AP from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, a neoclassical structure built in the late 19th century and the first purpose-built museum in the Middle East and North Africa.

Persons: Ahmed Issa, “, ” Issa, Issa, ”, Hosni Mubarak, Ali Abdel, Halim, Abdel, Marcel Dourgnon, “ It’s Organizations: Associated Press, Antiquities, Egyptian, British Museum, European Union, National Museum of Egyptian, Grand Egyptian Museum Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Europe, Ukraine, Tourism, Russian, Cairo, East, North Africa, Paris, French

☆ Once Inconceivable, Officials’ Visits Highlight Warming Saudi-Israeli Ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | More About Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Parallel visits this week by an Israeli minister to Saudi Arabia and a Saudi envoy to the Israeli-occupied West Bank have highlighted the fast-warming ties between the Jewish state and the most powerful Arab country. In the first-ever public visit by an Israeli minister to the Arab kingdom, Haim Katz, the Israeli tourism minister, attended a multilateral tourism conference in Riyadh on Tuesday and Wednesday that was organized by the United Nations. Simultaneously, the Saudi ambassador to the Palestinians, Naif al-Sudairi, traveled through an Israeli border checkpoint to visit the West Bank, where he met with the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, the organization that administers just under 40 percent of the Israeli-controlled territory. Experts said the visit by Mr. Sudairi, who is based in neighboring Jordan, was the first known visit by a Saudi official to the region since Israel captured it from Jordan in the 1967 war between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Persons: Haim Katz, Naif, Sudairi Organizations: Bank, United Nations, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Riyadh, Jordan, Israel

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin handed out gifts and posed for pictures as his tourism minister and other VIPs greeted about 300 travelers from Shanghai. He said that the government plans to promote Thailand’s smaller cities as destinations for Chinese tourists to encourage them to stay longer and spend more. Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said there has been about a 30% surge in accommodation and flight bookings since the policy was announced. Chai Wacharonke, a spokesperson for the prime minister, earlier said that Thailand received 15 million international visitors in the first seven months. He said the government aims to draw 28 million tourists and generate 1.4 trillion baht ($39.2 billion) in revenue in 2023.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, ” Srettha, Srettha, Dai, Chiang Mai, Peng, Wan Yi, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Chai Wacharonke Organizations: Bangkok’s, Central, Tourism, Tourism Authority of, Ministry of Tourism Locations: BANGKOK, Shanghai, Thai, Thailand, Bangkok, Phuket, Wan, Wat Arun, Chinatown, Central Asian, Kazakhstan, China, Tourism Authority of Thailand

☆ Brazil's Lula announces cabinet reshuffle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil August 30, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado Acquire Licensing RightsBRASILIA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced a ministry cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday as he seeks to shore up support for his political agenda from a powerful bloc of lawmakers. Lula named federal lawmaker Andre Fufuca as the sports minister, while lawmaker Silvio Costa Filho will be the ports and airports minister, the government said in a statement. In July, Lula replaced his tourism minister Daniela Carneiro with Celso Sabino. The announcement also seals the entry of the party of lower house speaker Arthur Lira, who was a supporter of former President Jair Bolsonaro, into Lula's cabinet.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Adriano Machado, Lula, Andre Fufuca, Silvio Costa Filho, Marcio Franca, Daniela Carneiro, Celso Sabino, Arthur Lira, Jair Bolsonaro, Ricardo Brito, Carolina Pulice, Andrea Ricci, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Brasilia, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA

☆ France hoping tourism revenue to rise to 67 bln euros in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese tourists take pictures in the Champs Elysees Avenue near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Aug 29 (Reuters) - France is hoping to get up to 67 billion euros ($72.42 billion)worth of revenues from foreign tourists in 2023, beating last year's figure of 58 billion, French Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire said on Tuesday. France is the world's most visited country for tourists, and tourism accounts for around 8% of French gross domestic product. "We have had a very good summer," Gregoire told reporters. Gregoire said that, based on current estimates, the final figures for revenues generated from foreign tourists in 2023 should come in between 64-67 billion euros.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Olivia Gregoire, Gregoire, lockdowns, Sudip Kar, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, French, Aviation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Europe's

☆ In China, Raimondo says US will prioritise national security, does not seek decoupling
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Andy Wong/Pool via REUTERS/ Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The United States will put national security concerns first but does not seek to decouple from China, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told China's Vice Premier He Lifeng at a meeting on Tuesday. "While we will never compromise in protecting our national security, I want to be clear that we will never seek to decouple or hold China's economy back," Raimondo said during opening remarks in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. A confidant of President Xi Jinping, He took up the post of China's economy tsar in March, having earlier run the powerful state planner. Earlier on Tuesday, Raimondo and Tourism Minister Hu Hepin agreed to hold the 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit in China in the first half of 2024. Such an exchange offered a platform to reduce misunderstandings of U.S. national security policies, Raimondo said on Monday, but added, "We are not compromising or negotiating on matters of national security.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Andy Wong, Biden, " Raimondo, Xi Jinping, Liu, Raimondo, Hu Hepin, Walt Disney, Matthew Axelrod, Xie Feng, Wang Wentao, Xie, Wang, David Shepardson, Joe Cash, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: . Commerce, of, People, REUTERS, Rights, Harvard, U.S . Tourism Leadership Summit, Commerce Department, United, Walt, Shendi, Twitter, Intel, Micron, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, decouple, Beijing's, U.S, Seattle, Shanghai, Washington

☆ US commerce chief meets Chinese premier in Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng head to their seats for a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, August, 29, 2023. Andy Wong/Pool via REUTERS/ Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met China's Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday, her second full day of talks with top Chinese leaders on balancing business ties and national security concerns. Earlier on Tuesday, Raimondo told China's economy tsar and her direct counterpart, He Lifeng, that the U.S. does not seek to decouple from its geopolitical rival. A confidant of President Xi Jinping, He took up the post of China's economy tsar in March, having earlier run the powerful state planner. Such an exchange offered a platform to reduce misunderstandings of U.S. national security policies, Raimondo said on Monday, but added, "We are not compromising or negotiating on matters of national security.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Andy Wong, China's, Li Qiang, Raimondo, Biden, Xi Jinping, Liu, Hu Hepin, Walt Disney, Matthew Axelrod, Xie Feng, Wang Wentao, Xie, Wang, David Shepardson, Joe Cash, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: . Commerce, of, People, REUTERS, Rights, Harvard, U.S . Tourism Leadership Summit, Commerce Department, United, Walt, Shendi, Twitter, Intel, Micron, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, U.S, Seattle, United States, Shanghai, Washington

☆ 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

☆ Jakarta orders civil servants to work from home to fight soaring pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“The air quality in the Greater Jakarta Area has been very, very bad,” Widodo said. ASEAN is a regional bloc that brings together 10 Southeast Asian countries, many of which have long suffered high pollution levels in their major cities. Ministers in the Southeast Asian country confirmed this week that President Widodo had been battling a cough for weeks and suggested it could be related to worsening air pollution in Jakarta. Air pollution has long plagued the Greater Jakarta area, with factories, coal-fired power plants and traffic congestion all contributing to the smog, according to experts. Experts previously told CNN the health costs of Indonesia’s air pollution cannot be underestimated.

Persons: Joko, Widodo, ” Widodo, Heru Budi, Sigit Wijatmoko, ” Wijatmoko, “, Wijatmoko, Sandiaga Uno Organizations: CNN, Jakarta Gov, CNN Indonesia, 43rd ASEAN Summit, Jakarta Convention Center, ASEAN, Ministers, Tourism, ” Tourism Locations: Jakarta, Swiss, Greater Jakarta Area, Greater Jakarta

☆ $2 to cut a sandwich in half: The outrageous rip-offs targeting tourists in Italy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

– plate near Portofino in northern Italy, and 10 cents for a sprinkle of cocoa on a cappuccino at a Lake Como coffee bar. Easy targetsOutrageous charges, like 2 euros for slicing a ham sandwich, have been labeled "crazy receipts" by the Italian media. High fuel and energy prices have made it an incredibly expensive summer. Worst offendersSome of the highest price hikes in Europe have left a vacation at home too expensive for many Italians. “We had this trip planned before Covid and have been dreaming about it even though we read the headlines about expensive prices.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN —, Stefano Mazzola, Giorgia Meloni, ”, Furio, Truzzi, Francesca Volpi, Sharm el Sheik, ” Paolo Manca, Betsy, James Cramer, ” Betsy, “, Alberto Pizzoli, Antonio Coviello, Daniela Santanche Organizations: Rome CNN, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Italy’s National Research Center Locations: Italian, Lake Como, Ostia, Sardinia, Portofino, Italy, Como, Albania, Montenegro, Ukraine, Europe, Puglia, Egypt, Piazza Navona, Rome, AFP

☆ Jakarta is the world's most polluted city. And Indonesia's leader has the cough to prove it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is the world’s most polluted city, according to a new study, and the country’s president may have the cough to prove it. Uno said doctors were still diagnosing the cause of Widodo’s cough but added that it might be related to the worsening air quality, reported CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia. But in recent weeks air quality in the capital has become particularly bad, deteriorating to the worst in the world, according to data provided by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. On August 9, Jakarta topped its list of polluted cities after registering “unhealthy” air pollution levels nearly every day, the company said. “Air pollution is a serious problem in Southeast Asia,” said political analyst Bridget Welsh from the University of Nottingham.

Persons: Joko Widodo, IQAir, ”, Sandiaga Uno, Uno, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, ” Budi, Widodo, ” Widodo, Bridget Welsh Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Tourism, Creative, Sandiaga, CNN, CNN Indonesia, Central, IQAir, Skyscrapers, Getty, University of Nottingham, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Jakarta, Swiss, AFP, Greater Jakarta, Central Jakarta, Greater Jakarta Area, Jakarta –, Southeast Asia, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Borneo

☆ Indonesia plans random emission tests on motorists as poor air chokes Jakarta
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JAKARTA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia's capital will force drivers to undergo emission tests, officials said on Monday, amid deteriorating air quality that has made Jakarta one of the world's most polluted cities. Jakarta has been consistently ranked among the 10 most polluted cities globally since May and last week topped global rankings compiled by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. "We will start in Jakarta and when it gets better, we will expand it to greater Jakarta," environment minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar told a press conference. President Widodo also advised companies to impose hybrid working and urged weather modification in Greater Jakarta, saying dry weather was contributing to pollution. "Also, keep monitoring the industrial sector and power plants mainly surrounding Greater Jakarta," he told ministers.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Sandiaga Uno, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Widodo, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty, Susan Fenton Organizations: Swiss, Jakarta, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Jakarta, Greater Jakarta, Indonesia

☆ 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

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