9/19/22: East/West China Updates

China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced Monday that border area travel groups organized by tour agencies can choose their port of entry and exit “flexibly”. Specifics are unclear, but draft rules are in the works to support China’s tourism recovery. More on this as well as travel and tourism market updates below...

HEADLINES

• China plans easier border entry rules for some foreign tourists
• Chengdu, Sanya emerge from static management, to resume normal life, production

• Hong Kong relaxes Covid travel restrictions at airport
• Cathay Pacific to Add Flights as Hong Kong Eases Quarantine Rules

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS RESUMING / NEW INT'L ROUTES

• Etihad to launch flights between Abu Dhabi and Guangzhou from October.
• Scoot to resume weekly flights between Singapore and Fuzhou from September, flights between Singapore and Hangzhou from October.
• China Eastern to resume weekly flights between Qingdao and Seoul from September.

INDUSTRY UPDATE?

• The Saudi Tourism Authority | ?????? ???????? ??????? (STA) has taken a step forward?by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading global payment services provider UnionPay International. The agreement will support the development and strengthening of Saudi’s positioning as a tourism destination for UnionPay International cardholders from China and around the world as Saudi drives forward its ambition to welcome even more Chinese visitors to the authentic home of Arabia.
• The ITB China Industry MeetUp (IMU) is being held both online and offline from 14 – 28 September 2022. IMU brings together 50 sponsors from over 20 countries and regions. DMOs and travel organizations promote select content and activities through their event-exclusive mini-sites to leading buyers from across China. Both an-person event and online sessions will be live-streamed and made available on demand for global audiences.

• Tourism Ireland and Weibo Corporation have jointly launched a new consumer campaign featuring KOL highlights from previous trips spotlighting Ireland’s culture, scenic beauty and more. The campaign “Recall Your Ireland Time” features a series of enticing KOL content as well as a dedicated topic page, livestream, advertisement, etc. Consumers and readers can also experience the charm of Ireland through virtual tours.