Jim Laurie’s Post

Celebrating visa free travel between Malaysia and China！ 庆祝中国和马来西亚两国免签证！ The visa free travel will not only increase the number of tourists between both countries, as this will help facilitate more trade and investment activities. #malaysia #china #tourism #trade #investment #visafree #visafreetravel #tourismmalaysia #shanghai

We are excited to share that China has recently extended its visa-free travel policy to six countries, which is a promising step towards a more connected world. This policy includes France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia, and it has already shown positive results, with a surge in visits and interest in China as a tourist destination. In the first ten months of 2023, Trip.com saw a surge in visitor numbers, achieving a four-digit increase and surpassing 60% of pre-COVID travel levels, led by strong inbound interest from countries like Malaysia and Germany. A notable 48.69% rise in flight searches from Malaysia to China on November 24th highlights this trend. To further capitalize on this momentum, Trip.com Group, as official partners, is launching the "Nihao! China" program initiative with the China International Culture Association. This initiative will build a service platform for inbound travel and organize activities agreed upon by both sides, with the goal of fostering and promoting cultural exchanges and establishing friendships between China and visitors from around the world. For more details, please visit：https://lnkd.in/gnzMNJN5 #TripNews #TravelChina #VisaFree #VacationMode

China's National Bureau of Statistics: In 2023, the total number of inbound tourists reached 82.03 million. - Of these, 13.78 million were foreign tourists, while 68.24 million were from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. - The total expenditure by inbound tourists amounted to $53 billion. - Domestic tourism in China experienced significant growth, with 4.89 billion domestic trips, marking a 93.3% increase compared to the previous year. - Urban residents accounted for 3.76 billion domestic trips, showing a growth of 94.9%. - Rural residents contributed to 1.13 billion domestic trips, experiencing an 88.5% increase. - The total expenditure by domestic tourists reached CNY 4,913.3 billion, reflecting a growth of 140.3%. - Urban residents spent CNY 4,178.1 billion on domestic travel, showing a growth of 147.5%. - Rural residents spent CNY 735.3 billion on domestic travel, experiencing a growth of 106.4%. **A total of 100.96 million residents holding Chinese passports traveled abroad. ** - Among them, 96.84 million were non-official travelers, while 77.04 million visited Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. - The remaining 23.92 million traveled to destinations outside Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. #CHINA #Outbound #INTL #TRAVEL #PAX #HKG #TPE #MFM

Vietnam's tourism industry continues to show robust growth. As of July 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 10 million foreign visitors, with July alone accounting for 1.15 million. South Korea, China, Taiwan, the U.S., and Japan remain our top sources of international tourists. In an effort to further enhance the tourism sector, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed relevant ministries to consider expanding visa exemptions. Currently, Vietnam offers visa waivers to nationals of 25 countries, compared to 162 by Malaysia and Singapore, 157 by the Philippines, and 93 by Thailand. Thailand’s achievement of over 20 million foreign arrivals in the same period underscores the potential for growth that lies ahead for Vietnam. By strategically enhancing the visa policies, we can look forward to even greater milestones in our tourism industry. https://lnkd.in/givMjPdB #VietnamTourism

China has introduced a groundbreaking visa-free policy for Australian citizens, marking a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations and boosting tourism. This initiative extends to Australia and several European nations, aiming to revitalize international travel and foster greater cultural and economic exchanges between China and its global partners. Valid until the end of 2025, the new policy simplifies travel for Australians, making it easier for them to explore China’s rich historical heritage, vibrant cities, and breathtaking natural landscapes. This move enhances convenience for travelers and signifies a renewed commitment to international collaboration and tourism growth in the post-pandemic era. The visa-free policy is expected to attract a surge of Australian visitors, promoting cultural understanding and economic ties. By streamlining entry procedures, China is poised to become an even more attractive destination for international tourists, driving mutual benefits and shared prosperity. https://lnkd.in/dNqVRpaf #ChinaVisaFree #AustraliaTravel #BilateralRelations #TourismBoost #CulturalExchange #TravelSimplification #PostPandemicTravel #ExploreChina #TourismGrowth #InternationalCollaboration

Back in KL this Sunday (before I head to PATA's summit in Macau this week - give me a holler if you'll be there!) and just sent out my weekly report tracking the recovery of the SE Asian tourism industry. Key developments include: 📰 A week of visa movements, as China announces it will extend 15-day visa-free access for Malaysians until end-2025, Thailand extends visa waivers for Indian and Taiwanese nationals - but to buck the trend, the Philippines tightens visa applications for Chinese nationals. 📰 Singapore lays out an ambitious 2040 tourism vision, pledging to be “relentless in the pursuit of novel tourism concepts, steadfast in the refresh of our existing products, and nimble in securing major events”. 📰 Water supplies in tourist areas become hot topic, as Baguio in the Philippines warns of a crisis by Aug if there is no rainfall, whilst Phi Phi Island in Thailand faces major shortages with hotels considering temporarily shutting if drought does not improve. Want the full report? Comment YES below, and I'll send it via DM. Or if you're fed up of waiting, you can also subscribe to get it every Sunday straight to your inbox here: https://lnkd.in/fcy2w8R #tourism #southeastasia

𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚-𝐎𝐧-𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬. Taiwan is exploring the possibility of introducing visa-on-arrival for Indian travelers, aligning with global trends of simplifying visa processes to boost tourism. Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang highlighted Taiwan’s interest in tapping into India’s substantial outbound market. Before any final decision, talks with the immigration department are anticipated. ResearchAndMarkets.com predicts that India’s outbound MICE tourism market will achieve a valuation of $13.4 billion by 2031. Read more:- https://lnkd.in/gtNMhq2U #Dailyupdates #Travel #WeeceTravel #TravelManagement

🌏🛫𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜🛬🌏 Asia-Pacific continues to lag the global rate of travel recovery, still falling shy of pre-pandemic volumes for the full year. Despite North-East Asia being the slowest recovering sub-region within Asia-Pacific, #Japan continues to have a stellar year, with visitor volumes expected to be more than 2019 levels, in large part due to the weak Yen making Japan more affordable. Another bright spot in the region is #Vietnam which has enjoyed a strong start to the year, with a robust rebound in travel from #China and helped by broader changes in visa policy. To learn more about our Tourism Economics forecast services, click here 👉https://shorturl.at/uppnX #AsiaPacificTourism #APAC #TourismFocus #travelrecovery #travelprojections

"Decline of Yen Boosts Japan's International Tourism in 2023" Japan experienced a surge in international tourism in October 2023, attributed largely to the declining yen making travel more affordable. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the country welcomed 2,516,500 overseas visitors in that month, surpassing the numbers from October 2019 by 0.8%, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism sector has seen a rapid revival since autumn 2022, following the relaxation of many border restrictions. The Japanese government is now aiming to exceed the 2019 record of 31.9 million visitors. The exchange rate of the yen significantly impacted this increase in tourism. Before the pandemic, the dollar was equivalent to about ¥110, but by October 2023, it had risen to around ¥150. This shift made Japan's famed attractions more financially accessible than in 2019. Breaking down the visitor statistics by country, the largest group in October 2023 was from South Korea, with 631,000 visitors. This increase is credited to improved political relations between South Korea and Japan compared to 2019. In contrast, the number of Chinese visitors fell to 256,300, only 35.1% of the figure from October 2019. This decline is believed to be influenced by the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. #japantourism2023 #yendecrease #traveltojapan #internationalvisitors #asiantraveltrends

🌍 China's Tourism-Driven Growth: A 20-Year Journey 🇨🇳 Over the past two decades, China has led the way in GDP growth, powered by a thriving tourism sector. ✈️🏨 From iconic destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and the Great Wall to modern infrastructure such as high-speed trains and luxury resorts, China has become a global tourism powerhouse. 🌟 Supported by government policies, China's tourism industry has not only positioned the country as a top destination but also created one of the largest outbound markets. This shift is part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy and elevate the services sector. Want to explore China's rich history and vibrant culture? Start planning your next adventure with Travels.com. 🚀 #Tourism #China #EconomicGrowth #GlobalTravel #Infrastructure #TravelIndustry