Trip.com Group has signed a three-year MoU with the China International Culture Association (CICA) to promote inbound tourism through the latter’s Nihao! China campaign, which plays up cultural exchanges and seeks to establish friendships between China and overseas visitors.
Both will jointly produce global promotional videos and digital communications supporting Nihao! China, and establish a framework that looks into building a service platform for inbound travel and activities at the China International Tourism Fair, the Sino-French Tourism Year, the China-US Tourism High-Level Dialogue, and the World Conference on Tourism Development, among other events.
The group will further contribute to China’s inbound tourism objectives with curated content to showcase specific offerings and services, and by collaborating with Chinese cultural centres, tourism boards, and other organisations.
Over the next three years, Trip.com Group plans to invest in platform technology, marketing and promotion, and product integration to accelerate the development of inbound tourism in China.
Trip.com Group data shows that China’s top 10 source markets, excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, are South Korea, the US, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, Thailand, the UK, and Germany.
January to October 2023 saw a four-digit growth in visitor numbers when compared with the same period in 2022, reaching more than 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. China-related bookings made via the group’s platforms have surged since the reopening of China’s borders earlier this year. In October 2023, there was a 98 per cent year-on-year surge in inbound flight bookings, while September and August saw an increase of 58 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively.
Overseas visitors are most drawn to Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Zhuhai, Hangzhou, Foshan, Xiamen, Zhongshan, and Chengdu. In fact, seven out of 10 hotel bookings made by inbound tourists are for Shenzhen.
Trip.com Group expects inbound demand to rise in the near future, fuelled by government and the industry facilitation.
He previously served as the general manager of Hilton Adelaide for nearly five years.
Having been with the SkyTeam Alliance carrier for 17 years, Chang will move to Phnom Penh for his new role. He was previously based at the airline’s headquarters in Seoul where he was in charge of marketing for Europe and South-east Asia.
In his new role, he will leverage his extensive experience to further enhance guest experiences and elevate the hotel’s reputation.
As for Sangmookda, he will manage a portfolio of over 30 properties where over a third are expected to open over the next three years. With over two decades of experience in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, he brings with him strong operational and commercial expertise from the past management of large hotel portfolios under leading hotel chains such as Marriott International, Minor Hotels and the former Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Planeterra’s work with the Kao Tep Pitak Community Restaurant has been recognised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for its community-based tourism efforts.
Planeterra’s highly effective model of local regeneration empowers small communities around the world to take control of their lives and conserve their environment and traditions through sustainable tourism.
It helped Kao Tep Pitak Community Restaurant gain public awareness, which used to be elusive despite the villagers’ enthusiasm for travellers and warm hospitality. The few who came would stay only briefly, snapping a quick photo of the area’s main attraction – its elegant suspension bridge – before leaving..
By working with Planeterra to develop its tourism programme, Kao Tep Pitak Community Restaurant was able to incentivise locals by providing them with a reliable income while promoting local entrepreneurs and inculcating a sense of pride and self-esteem among participants.
Planeterra enabled the restaurant’s project to gain traction by providing food and hygiene training, guidance on how to improve the tourism experience, as well as vital funding to complete the construction of a community centre, which first began in 2016. The completed centre includes a communal area, kitchen, dining room, and guest bathrooms.
With Planeterra’s partner, G Adventures, the project has drawn thousands of visitors to the community to sample the Kao Tep Pitak way of life, discover local arts and crafts, sample the incredible cuisine and explore the local landscape.
“We are thrilled to congratulate our esteemed community partners, Kao Tep Pitak, on their well-deserved recognition at the Responsible Thailand Awards 2023,” said Tricia Schers, director, partnerships and development, Planeterra. “Their dedication to community-based tourism exemplifies the positive impact that responsible travel can have on Thailand’s nature, local communities, wildlife, and heritage.”