China’s inaugural domestically built cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, is poised to set sail on its maiden voyage from Shanghai on January 1, offering mainland travellers an enticing blend of international exploration and home comforts. The 323.6m long vessel, operated by CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, a joint venture between China State Shipbuilding Corp and Carnival Corp from the US, will embark on a six-day journey, stopping at South Korea’s Jeju Island, Nagasaki, and Fukuoka in Japan.

Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. is excited to declare the formalization of an agreement for the operation and management of Hotel Okura Suzhou in Suzhou, China, starting in 2027. The agreement, inked on December 20, involves Suzhou Ronghe Real Estate Co., Ltd., a company under the ownership of Suzhou Harmony Development Group Co., Ltd., Marimo Holdings, Inc., and Sumitomo Corporation.

Sanya’s 5th Hainan Film Fest boosts popularity, with events like this driving hotel occupancies to new highs in Damao Yuanyang Eco Village.

The illustrious Hong Kong Fringe Club celebrates its triumphant win in securing the tenure for the renowned Grade 1 heritage building at No. 2 Lower Albert Road in the heart of the Central District. This success, following the open tender by the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau (“CSTB”) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, heralds a promising phase for the city’s already dynamic arts and culture scene.

SkyTeam stands out as the primary alliance in Greater China, boasting three regional members – China Eastern, Xiamen Air, and China Airlines – along with a collective of 13 SkyTeam affiliates operating flights to, from, and within the region. Covering a network spanning over 160 cities across Greater China, SkyTeam solidified its reach through a strategic partnership with China United Airlines, significantly enhancing its network breadth and competitive edge. Year-to-date, the cumulative Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) provided by SkyTeam members serving the Greater China market have surged by over 50% compared to the previous year.

In 2023, Trip.com reports China’s key role in global travel surge, with a 240% increase in trips, especially to Southeast Asia.

Accor Greater China is excited to unveil two significant additions to the Grand Mercure portfolio, a premier brand within Accor’s global hospitality offerings.

Batik Air adds routes to Kunming, Zhangjiajie, Zhengzhou in China, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan starting Feb 2024, boosting Asian travel options.

The Taklimakan Desert, China’s largest desert known as the Sea of Death, has experienced a third consecutive year of significant snowfall.

Amid a surge in COVID cases driven by the highly transmissible JN.1 variant, many Asian countries are gradually reintroducing thermal scanners and face masks. If reports are to go by, over the past two weeks, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have witnessed an increase in COVID cases, coinciding with the holiday season.