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☆ Why Chinese Propaganda Loves Foreign Travel Bloggers
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Vivian Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Spend some time browsing YouTube or Instagram and you might come across a growing new genre: China travel vlogs. The videos are even more popular on Chinese social media. YouTube and Instagram are banned in China, but Chinese users have found ways to reshare them to Chinese sites, to avid followings. The bloggers have been interviewed by Chinese state media and their experiences promoted with trending hashtags such as “Foreign tourists have become our internet spokespeople.”The emergence of these videos reflects the return of foreign travelers to China after the country isolated itself for three years during the Covid pandemic. Travel bloggers have leaped at the chance to see a country to which they previously had limited access.

Persons: marveling Organizations: YouTube Locations: China, Shanghai, British, Xinjiang

☆ The UK used to be a European tourism hot spot. Here’s how it all went wrong
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Tax-free shopping for tourists has been axed, and EU visitors now need a passport to visit, which most don’t have. Matt Cardy/Getty ImagesAs a result of Brexit, in 2021 the UK government abolished tax-free shopping for non-EU citizens. It means the UK is now the only European country not offering tax-free shopping to visitors from outside the continent. “The impact of losing tax-free shopping is clear to see,” says Dee Corsi, chief executive of the NWEC. “Whilst the likes of Italy and France are actively leveraging tax-free shopping as a driver of growth, British businesses continue to trade at a disadvantage.

Persons: CNN —, Rishi Sunak, what’s, JC Milhet, Hans Lucas, Tom Jenkins, ”, “, ” Patricia Yates, Kayla Zeigner, Marcy Zyonse, We’ve, –, Yates, ” There’s, Zeigler, Zyonse, ’, Owen Humphreys, VisitBritain, That’s, she’s, Keir Starmer, VisitBritain's Yates, Phil Noble, ” “, Marcus Lee, hasn’t, Matt Cardy, Dee Corsi, Jenkins, “ It’ll, King Charles, John Sibley, London “, Mia, ” She’ll, Britain Organizations: CNN, UK’s Labour Party, Conservative, Labour, Getty, European Tourism Organisation, VisitBritain, Destination, Tourism, New, London, ”, UK, “, China Travel, Visitors, West End Company Locations: Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, London, AFP, Europe, Caribbean, Greece, Lake, Ireland, It’s, Spain, France, New York, ”

☆ These stocks may have trouble living up to expectations for a big earnings turnaround this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This in effect creates an 'implied' 2H of 2024 guidance that is perhaps excessively optimistic," CEO Adam Parker wrote Sunday. Parker's warning comes after S & P 500 reported earnings growth of 4.2% for the fourth quarter on a year-over-year basis, per FactSet. He also screened for stocks in which there's a big difference between earnings expectations for the first and the second half of the year. Parker surmises that these stocks may disappoint on these aggressive earnings turnarounds. Consensus estimates from analysts surveyed by FactSet suggest the stock, which is down nearly 5% this year, could gain 13.2% from Monday's close.

Persons: Adam Parker, Parker, AbbVie, FactSet, Wells Fargo, Estee Lauder Organizations: Research, Abbott Laboratories, Humana, Pharmaceutical, FactSet, Mondelez International, Procter, Gamble Locations: —, China, Monday's

☆ Starbucks releases pork flavored coffee in China for Lunar New Year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Who doesn’t like a little braised pork with their coffee? Starbucks (SBUX) is betting on that unusual combination with a new drink released in China to mark the Lunar New Year. The drink combines Dongpo Braised Pork Flavor Sauce with espresso and steamed milk, with extra pork sauce and pork breast meat for garnish, according to the Starbucks delivery app. And while the foods served at New Year feasts vary by region, braised pork makes a frequent appearance. The Starbucks pork latte has quickly gained traction on Chinese social media, with the topic viewed more than 476,000 times on Weibo by the time of publishing.

Persons: Savory Latte, Su Dongpo, it’s, “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Starbucks Reserve, Starbucks Reserve, United, Starbucks, Luckin, Shanghai, Weibo Locations: China, Hong Kong, Weibo, Asia, People, United States, Wuhan

☆ Five senators ask Biden to impose China travel ban after respiratory illness cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Five Republican senators led by Marco Rubio on Friday asked President Joe Biden's administration to ban travel between the United States and China after a spike in Chinese respiratory illness cases. In recent months, the United States and China have been steadily increasing flights between the countries, that are still far below 2019 levels. The United States lifted the unprecedented travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting in November 2021, including from China. The United States rescinded a separate requirement air travelers test negative before arriving in June 2022. The United States in January started requiring air passengers to get negative COVID tests after Beijing's decision to lift its stringent zero-COVID policies and lifted the requirements in March.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Marco Rubio, Joe Biden's, Rubio, Maria Van Kerkhove, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Chizu Organizations: CS, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Friday, Senate Intelligence, World Health Organization, China, Program, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Pueblo , Colorado, U.S, United States, China, Washington, States

☆ Casino operator MGM beats third-quarter estimates as China travel rebounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An exterior view of MGM Grand hotel and casino, after MGM Resorts shut down some computer systems due to a cyber attack in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., September 13, 2023. REUTERS/Bridget Bennett/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 8 (Reuters) - MGM Resorts International (MGM.N) beat market estimates for third-quarter profit and revenue on Wednesday, as the casino operator benefited from easing pandemic-related entry restrictions in its key markets. The post-pandemic travel rebound in China and Macau has been a tailwind for casino operators such as MGM Resorts and Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS.N). "MGM China is performing exceptionally well," MGM's CEO Bill Hornbuckle said in the statement. Last month, MGM had said it expects a $100 million hit to its third-quarter results after a cyberattack disrupted its operations, forcing a shutdown of its systems.

Persons: Bridget Bennett, Bill Hornbuckle, Priyamvada, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: MGM, MGM Resorts, REUTERS, MGM Resorts International, Vegas Sands Corp, Wynn Resorts, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S, China, Macau, MGM China, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Benoit TessierJuly 27 (Reuters) - Visa (V.N) and Mastercard (MA.N), which bet on China to boost travel spending, have had to contend with a disappointing first half of the year as post-COVID momentum in the world's second-biggest economy loses steam. In their earnings calls this week, both card giants said travel in China was nowhere near pre-pandemic levels. "Looking at Mainland China specifically, cross-border travel continued to improve but remains well below 2019 levels," said Vasant Prabhu, Visa's chief financial officer. His counterpart at Mastercard, Sachin Mehra, also said there was further room for travel recovery in China. Reuters GraphicsInbound cross-border travel to China stood at nearly 50% of 2019 levels, while outbound travel was nearly 70%, the company said.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Vasant Prabhu, Sachin Mehra, Edward Jones, Logan Purk, Manya Saini, Niket, Krishna Chandra Organizations: REUTERS, Mastercard, Reuters, U.S, Reuters Graphics Visa, Thomson Locations: China, Mainland China, U.S . Federal, Bengaluru

☆ China travel rebound bets turn toward airports, away from airlines
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Ankur Banerjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We are optimistic on a rebound in regional and international travel and continue to get exposure through airports and airplane leasing." Shares of Air China, China Eastern and China Southern have gained between 7% to 17% in the past four months, with Air China and China Southern trading above their 5-year average forward earnings, according to Refinitiv data. Airports under perform AirlinesIn the battle for Chinese travelers, local airlines are expected to fare better than regional airlines such as Qantas (QAN.AX), Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI) and Cathay Pacific (0293.HK), mainly because Chinese airlines kept more widebody planes and staff ready. All three Chinese airlines are expected to swing to profit in 2023 after reporting big losses last year, according to Refinitiv data. Analysts expect Chinese airlines will see profits peak next year as international traffic makes a fuller rebound.

☆ Prudential says exposure to SVB minimal, sales to China travellers pick up
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Selena Li | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, March 15 (Reuters) - Asia-focused insurer Prudential's (PRU.L) said its exposure to collapsed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) is minimal, and expects little impact on its "conservative" balance sheet. "Our exposure to SVB is de minimis," Turner said. The insurer's stock price ended 1.18% lower in Hong Kong on Wednesday, while the broader market was up 1.52%. Its London-listed shares fell 4.7% by 9 a.m. GMTAnalysts say they expect a stronger pickup in sales from Chinese mainland visitors to Hong Kong, the insurer's key revenue centre. As China ended its Zero-COVID policy, border restrictions were removed last month allowing mainland visitors to go to Hong Kong and buy insurance again.

☆ Singapore Airlines may see a meaningful rebound in China travel only in the second quarter: Analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSingapore Airlines may see a meaningful rebound in China travel only in the second quarter: AnalystJason Sum of DBS Group Research says it's "not feasible" for SIA to rapidly add flights to China in the first quarter of 2023 because consumers are still hesitant to travel there.

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Finnair (FIA1S.HE) reported a second straight quarterly operating profit on Wednesday as the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns eases on its key Asian business, and said it looked forward to potentially "huge" demand from the Chinese market. In the fourth quarter, 31.2% of its passenger revenue came from Asian traffic, versus 41.1% in the same period in 2019. Finnair said it expects to significantly increase its 2023 revenue compared with the previous year, but not yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. Its comparable operating profit reached 17.9 million euros ($19.2 million) in the fourth quarter, against a loss of 65.2 million a year earlier. Finnair shares were up 1.1% at 0.5345 euros by 1506 GMT, after rising as high as 0.5520, their highest since February 2022.

☆ South Korea to restart issuing short-term visas for China travellers on Feb 11
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Feb 10 (Reuters) - South Korea plans to resume issuing short-term visas for travellers from China on Saturday after China improved its COVID-19 situation, Seoul officials said on Friday. South Korea suspended issuing short-term visas to Chinese visitors last month after China abruptly ended its stringent "zero-COVID" policy, leading to a wave of infections. Beijing retaliated against Seoul by halting short-term visas for South Korean travellers. South Korea's prime minister, Han Duck-soo, last week hinted at lifting restrictions before the end of February if China's COVID situation became "manageable." Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hang Lung Properties says Hong Kong property recovery will not be 'V-shaped'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHang Lung Properties says Hong Kong property recovery will not be 'V-shaped'Adriel Chan from Hang Lung Properties says Hong Kong will get a boost from the return of Mainland China travelers looking for an "alternative" market.

☆ Tourism is roaring back in China. But the $6 trillion consumer market is digging itself out of a deep slump
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

He's hopeful business improves this year – and allows Rêver to recoup the roughly 35% in revenue it lost last year. Within a retail sales slump of 0.2% to 43.97 trillion yuan ($6.28 trillion), catering sales dropped by a steeper 6.3%. He expects 7% year-on-year growth in retail sales. Hainan's recovery plansHainan, a tropical province aiming to be a duty free shopping destination, announced a goal for 10% growth in retail sales this year. That's after its retail sales fell by 9.2% last year.

☆ Thai AirAsia readies personnel as China travel resumes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A flight attendant participates in an annual aviation safety & emergency course as China reopens its borders, at Asia Aviation Academy in Bangkok, Thailand January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Chalinee ThirasupaBANGKOK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Budget carrier Thai AirAsia (AAV.BK) is preparing its pilots and cabin crew for the return of Chinese tourists, previously its largest customer group, as the airline resumes routes across China. The airline plans to restart flights to eight Chinese cities including Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Wuhan, for which cabin crew are undergoing refresher training courses. "In the flight, we should have at least one cabin crew who can speak Mandarin to communicate with passengers," said cabin crew member, Sakuna Puangpipat. Reporting by Napat Wesshasartar; Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents global airlines, is predicting full recovery in 2024. The crippling impact of COVID-19 saw dozens of airlines go out of business and wiped billions of dollars off balance sheets. In public, airlines and leasing firms have deplored delivery delays and are seen likely to press aircraft makers for compensation. Inflation is driving up aircraft parts and prices, while raising questions over the resilience of travel demand. Overall, more than half of the world's airline fleet is controlled by global leasing companies rather than owned directly by airlines.

☆ Factbox: Countries mandate COVID tests for China travellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

SWEDENSweden will require travellers from China to show they have tested negative for COVID before they can enter the country, the government said. FRANCEFrance will require travellers from China to provide a negative COVID test result less than 48 hours before departure. INDIAThe country has mandated a COVID-19 negative test report for travellers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. CANADAAir travellers to Canada from China must test negative for COVID-19 no more than two days before departure, Ottawa said. SPAINSpain will require a negative COVID-19 test or a full course of vaccination against the disease upon arrival for travellers from China.

☆ With new China travel restriction in place, Asian Americans urge nuanced caution
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Following the Biden administration’s implementation of a new Covid-19-related travel requirement for passengers flying in from China, Asian American advocates and experts are urging caution and nuance amid years of heightened anti-Asian violence. Several Asian American organizations and leaders have expressed concern over the requirement of a pre-departure negative Covid test from those flying in from the country. “What I would ask everyone to do is, again, be careful not to conflate the virus with an ethnicity or a group of people,” said John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. But some groups like Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit that tracks incidents of hate and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, strongly opposed the policy. The group pointed to previous travel restrictions under the Trump administration in January 2020 that coincided with a rise in hate incidents against the racial group.

☆ Netherlands to require negative COVID test from China travellers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

AMSTERDAM, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will require travellers from China to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test before they are allowed into the country, the Dutch government said on Friday. The requirement, which will be active as of Tuesday, follows recommendations made by the European Union earlier this week, which were already adopted by a range of countries including neighbouring Belgium and Germany. Reporting by Bart Meijer Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

China reported one new COVID-19 death in the mainland for Wednesday, compared with five a day earlier, bringing its official death toll to 5,259. Chinese health officials have said only deaths caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure in patients who had the virus are classified as COVID deaths. The methods for counting COVID deaths have varied across countries since the pandemic first erupted in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. British-based health data firm Airfinity has estimated about 9,000 people in China are probably dying each day from COVID. TESTING WASTEWhile countries try to get more information on the extent and severity of China's outbreak, several have imposed requirements on travellers from China to be tested for COVID.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization officials met Chinese scientists on Tuesday amid concerns over the accuracy of China's data on the spread and evolution of its outbreak. China reported five new COVID-19 deaths for Jan. 3, compared with three a day earlier, bringing the official death toll to 5,258, very low by global standards. British-based health data firm Airfinity has said about 9,000 people in China are probably dying each day from COVID. Bookings for international flights from China have risen by 145% year-on-year in recent days, the government-run China Daily newspaper reported, citing data from travel booking platform Trip.com. But there are signs that an increase in travel from China could further spread the virus abroad.

☆ Australia Joins Countries Requiring Covid Tests From China Travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Stuart Condie | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

China was the largest source country for visitors to Australia before the pandemic. SYDNEY—Australia has joined the growing list of countries to implement Covid-19 testing for travelers from China, citing a lack of information from China following its relaxation of measures designed to slow the spread of the virus. Starting Jan. 5, travelers to Australia from China will have to submit a negative Covid-19 test before departure, Australia’s government said Sunday. China is a key trading partner for Australia and was its largest source country for visitors before the pandemic, accounting for 1.4 million of 9.5 million arrivals in 2019.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may say more on this in her end-of-year news conference from around 11:30 a.m. (1030 GMT). It was unclear when the EU health committee, which started its meeting on Thursday morning, would end and what decisions it could take. The Health Security Committee is composed of officials from health ministries across the bloc and chaired by the Commission. It has met frequently at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe to coordinate policies. China has rejected criticism of its COVID statistics as groundless and politically motivated attempts to smear its policies.

REUTERS/Thomas PeterBEIJING, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Searches on Chinese travel sites surged and social media platforms were flooded with delight and relief on Wednesday as the public cheered the biggest loosening of some of the world's strictest COVID policies. CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM, EXHAUSTIONThe news was also welcomed by foreign business groups, many of which had become increasingly outspoken about the damage the zero-COVID policy was having on China's economy and the operations of their companies. "Timely implementation will help stabilise China’s economy and get life back to normal," the European Chamber of Commerce in China said of the 10 measures announced on Wednesday. It also urged China to roll out mRNA vaccines for domestic use as part of a vaccination drive with the elderly a priority. Reporting by Sophie Yu and Martin Pollard, Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ We still see Estee Lauder shares as a buy on weakness despite downbeat guidance
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Estee Lauder (EL) reported a better-than-expected fiscal first quarter, but a downbeat forecast for the rest of its fiscal year sent shares lower Wednesday. If the U.S. dollar is peaking here and starts to pullback, Estee Lauder will also see a huge pressure point on its business gradually ease. Even though foot traffic may be down in stores, we think Estee Lauder is seeing solid growth from its direct-to-consumer channels. Shares of Estee Lauder have dropped 13% since we started a position back near the end of September. Capital Returns Separately, Estee Lauder announced that it's increasing its quarterly dividend payment by 10% to 66 cents per share.

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