World Tourism Cities Monthly

世界旅游城市资讯 (月 刊 ) Issue No.10

（2015.01.01—2015.01.31）

Address: 6th Floor of the

White Peacock Art World,

No. 3 Dongbinhelu

Deshengmenwai Street,

Xicheng District, Beijing,

P.R.China

Zip Code: 100120

Phone: 008610-65289071

E-mail: info@wtcf.org.cn

【Special Focus】……………………1

⊿ Changes make China tourism different

【Tourism News】……………………4

⊿ Egypt: welcomes a super large-scale Chinese tourist

group

【City News】……………………8

⊿ Beijing: awarded as “Top 10 Chinese Tourism Cities”

【Industry News】……………………12

⊿ Club Med: to target Chinese market under new owners

【Figure Scan】……………………17

⊿ 43.4 million: Los Angeles hits tourism record for 4th

year

World Tourism Cities Federation

世界旅游城市联合会

Content

1

Changes make China tourism different

2015 China Tourism Work Conference

was held in Nanchang, Jiangxi province,

China on January 15th. Li Jinzao,

chairman of China National Tourism

Administration plans “515 Strategy” to

boost tourism development in China that focuses on “civilization,

orderliness, Security, convenience and prosperity”. There are 10 actions

and 52 measures to accomplish the goals. The strategy covers such

aspects as the order of the tourism industries, travel safety, industrial

promotion, new type of the tourism operation, regional tourism

integration, tourism diplomacy, reforms, blend Internet and so on.

The media, tourism industries, academia and WTCF members pay high

attention to this conference. China Tourism News, Xinhua Net,

Renmin.com said, the conference provides new power and gives

confidence to the tourism development. It will boost a new development

on it. The reform measures which were indicated in the conference will

promote the management and service quality as well.

Wei Xiao’an, Director of WTCF Expert Committee, said the concept in

Special Focus

Reference：people.com

2

this conference is a totally new way on tourism, focusing on economy,

quality of life and cultural development. This “cyclone” will make

tourism difference in future. Bao Jigang, President of Tourist Education

Branch of China Association of Tourism and Dean of Tourism of

Zhongshan University, also believes the report from this conference is

worth doing further research. Liu Yi, General Manager of Beijing

Tourism Group and Zhang Lijun, President of China CYTS Tours gave

their opinion on tourism development. The development of an industry

and the position in national economy reflect in industrial-scale,

internationalizing and integer programming of market participants. The

policies can boost vigorous enterprise development. Enterprise should

cooperate with government to pursue mutual benefit and common

development.

The Reuters said, Chinese tourists overtook Americans and Germans as

the world's top-spending travelers in 2013, but questionable behavior has

given offence in some countries, making them unwelcome. The Chinese

government has started working on a national database to help rein in

some of its unruly sightseers and monitor the behavior of habitual

offenders. According to the TODAY news, we should thank the Chinese

government for showing everyone else how to behave. “Barbaric” travel

behavior cuts across all nationalities and countries; as the world shrinks

3

further and more people start to travel. It is important to every country to

enhance awareness of civilization.

The “Toilet revolution” has caused wide

international media concern as well.

Daily Mail reported that tourists will no

longer have to hold their breath when

they visit the loo at certain attractions in China. Western holidaymakers

are often befuddled or disgusted when they first encounter a row of squat

toilets.

WTCF member A&K Group thought, the conference has significant

meaning on accelerating the benign development of tourism industry. It is

of great importance in guiding highly-recognized service idea and further

communication with industry. The conference indicated to building

security pre-warning mechanism, adding more safe facilities and

equipment, promoting emergency rescue system are truly significant in

tourism. Tourism practitioners should update their products and find

position in new tourism format. A&K Group will follow the new

direction of the policy and highlight the leisure vacation products to

boosts tourism market.

4

Cooperation: South Korea launches Chinese Tourism Year

With the hopes of boosting tourism and promoting people-to-people

exchange, the 2015 Chinese Tourism Year in South Korea was launched

on January 23. For South Korea, 2015 will be the “Year of Visit to China”

and 2016 will be the “Year of Visit to South Korea” for China.

(Reference: Xinhua net)

Seychelles: is voted China's Best Island Travel Destination

Seychelles has been voted “The Best Island Travel Destination” by

China’s Best Travel Media which is the Asian nations’ leading travel

media that reaches over 200,000 professionals in the travel industry. The

award was presented to its representative in China during the 10th China

Outbound Travel award ceremony held at the Beijing Regent Hotel on

December 16. (Reference: seychellesnewsagency.com)

Canada: 2015's Best Places to Visit announced

20 Best Places to Visit in Canada in 2015 were announced on January 2nd

.

Toronto tops the list. Toronto welcomes the Pan Am Games and 40th

edition of Toronto International Film Festival. (Reference: VACAY.CA)

Tourism News

5

New Zealand: want special driving rules for foreign tourists

Special rules for overseas drivers are favored by the majority of New

Zealanders, according to a survey. Overseas drivers were found at fault in

75% of 538 injury crashes in which they were involved. Despite the poll

findings, the Government is defending education ahead of new rules.

(Reference: nzherald.co.nz)

USA: “52 Places to Go in 2015”is released by New York

Times

The New York Times rolled out its annual list of Places to Go on January

9th

, allowing 52 destination marketing organizations to declare an early

win on their 2015 publicity efforts. In the paper, it’s a multiple page

spread with images of some destinations and descriptions of each.

(Reference: skift.com)

Nepal: to issue passports for three genders

Nepal joins Australia and New Zealand in recognizing a third gender.

Citizens will now have the chance to choose between three genders -

male, female or indeterminate, marked by an 'x' in the passport. It is

hoped to welcome more gay visitors in future. (Reference: jiemian.com)

6

Malta: Green tourism on target for 2020

Malta’s “island of dreams” and an understated place of beauty, Gozo is

developing its infrastructure and tourism industry in line with its goal of

becoming an eco-island by 2020. The government is placing particular

emphasis on the conservation of the island’s ecosystem, while reducing

its carbon and water footprints. (Reference: theworldfolio.com)

Spain: plans to be the leader of Shopping Tourism

For 2015, Spain has set its target to become a leader in shopping tourism,

a booming segment that attracts visitors to the big cities. This will help to

diversify the offer and attract tourists with a higher than average

purchasing power. (Reference: tourexpi.com)

UNWTO: Tourism innovation awards unveiled

The finalists of the 11th UNWTO Ulysses Awards for Innovation in

Tourism, one of the three categories in the annual UNWTO Awards for

Excellence and Innovation in Tourism have been announced.

(Reference: travelmole.com)

Thailand: Tries to Boost Tourism

Thailand attempts to fix its sagging international image while admitting it

is facing increasing competition from Cambodia, Laos and Burma. The

7

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced a year-long global

promotion campaign of twelve slightly off the beaten track cities and

twelve new tourism routes. (Reference: travelagentcentral.com)

Korea: targets $23.2 billion in tourism investments

The South Korean government said it will create a business environment

to induce more than 25 trillion won (US$23.2 billion) in investment by

local companies to build up the country's tourism industry and corporate

competitiveness. (Reference: eTurbo News)

Portugal: ranks high on global ranking of visa restrictions

Portugal ranks high (172) on the 2013 Henley & Partners Visa

Restrictions Index – A Global Ranking of Countries based on Freedom of

Travel for their Citizens. That means a Portuguese passport holder may

enter 172 countries and territories without a visa. The top rank is jointly

held by Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom with a score of 174.

(Reference: PR Newswire)

Cyprus: boost tourism by Russians, Israelis

A surge in Russian and Israeli tourists ensured visitors to Cyprus rose last

year, helping its bailed-out economy weather three years of recession.

Tourists from Russia increased 4.6% to 636,766. Israeli visitors also rose

8

57.6% to 68,822 last year. The figures represent a rare upward trend for

the economy of Cyprus. (Reference: euronews.com)

Egypt: welcomes a super large-scale Chinese tourist group

A super large Chinese tourism group arrived in Egypt on January 7th,

2015. This is the largest number of Single Tourist Group to Egypt from

China since 2011. As the introduction, it was a year-end incentive travel

for the staff of a Guangzhou Biotechnology Company. Egyptian Tourism

Authority held a grand dinner and officials also had the dinner with them.

(Reference: City Member - Egypt)

Dubai: Shopping Festival's 20th edition underway

The 20th edition of the Dubai Shopping

Festival started on January 1st which is

organized by the Dubai Festivals and

Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency

of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). This

event is running until February 1, with more than 150 attractions on its

agenda. (Reference: hoteliermiddleeast.com)

City News

9

Houston: The 60th Anniversary of Boat Show

The 60th Anniversary of the Houston

Boat Show kicked off on January 2nd at

the NRG Center. The Houston Boat Show

is the biggest and longest running of its

kind in the USA, also is one of the most attractive event in Houston as

well. (Reference: houstonboatshows.com)

Harbin: 31st Int'l Ice and Snow Festival kicked off

The 31st Harbin International Ice and

Snow Festival kicked off at the capital of

Northeast China's Heilongjiang province,

on Jan 5, 2015. The Harbin Ice Festival

has become one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals

nowadays, along with the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, the Quebec

Winter Carnival in Canada and Norway's Ski Festival. (Reference: harbin.gov)

Brussels: The Visit.Brussels Awards

2014 is coming soon

Each year, visit.brussels rewards the best

touristic initiatives and the projects that

10

contributed to the reputation of Brussels within our borders and beyond.

The visit.brussels Awards ceremony will starts on 26th March.

(Reference: visitbrussels.be)

Paris: tourism launches campaign after shootings

Representatives of the Paris tourist

industry will set off on a world tour next

month to reassure visitors and agents that

the French capital is safe and open for

business after last week's fatal shootings by Islamist militants.

(Reference: reuters.com)

Beijing: awarded as “Top 10 Chinese Tourism Cities”

The “Ctrip Awards Ceremony of Annual

Best Tourism Destination Internet

Selection” was held in Lijiang of Yunnan

Province on January 10. During the

ceremony, Beijing was ranked Top 1 of the “Best Students’ Favorite

Destination”, Top 4 of the “Best Family Fun Destination” and Top 7 of

the “Best Domestic Tourism Cities in 2014”. (Reference: bjta.gov)

11

Wellington: FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015

The FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 starts on

30 May 2015 and concludes on 20 June

2015. Fans that get in early to purchase

venue packs for next year’s FIFA U-20

World Cup will be rewarded with a chance to witness the spotlight shine

on football’s future superstars from less than $20 per match.

(Reference: wellingtonnz.com)

Barcelona: sweetest walking tour

Sign up for the authentic and unique

“Barcelona Sweet Tour”, created by Food

& Wine Tours. An English-speaking

guided walking tour with tastings that will

take you to a selection of chocolate shops, patisseries and cafés in

Barcelona. The tourists will gain first-hand knowledge of the importance

of the cake- and chocolate-making tradition in Catalonia.

(Reference: barcelonaturisme.com)

Hong Kong: 2015 C3 in Hong Kong

C3 in Hong Kong is an annual anime and

manga event for fans of Japanese anime

12

and manga culture. Major Anime publishers, retailers and production

houses bring the authentic Japanese anime and manga culture to Hong

Kong with their latest creations form February 6th to 8th, 2015.

(Reference: discoverhongkong.com)

Rabat and Casablanca: Morocco wants them to become “global

destinations”

Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT) intends to put Rabat

and Casablanca among the world’s most prestigious destinations as

resorts for recreation and culture through the creation of museums,

theaters, libraries, interpretation centers, marinas, restaurants, cafes,

shopping malls, and upscale hotels. (Reference: eTurbo News)

Hyatt: Announces Sales of Five Select Service Hotels

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the sales of five select service hotels

for a total gross sale price of approximately $53 million on January 14th.

As part of the sales, Hyatt entered into franchise agreements with the

purchasers, with all hotels retaining their existing Hyatt Place branding.

Accommodation

Industry News

13

The purchasers intend to spend a total of approximately $6 million in

additional capital expenditures at the hotels. (Reference: marketwatch.com)

Costa Cruises: released sustainability report

Costa Cruises, Europe’s leading cruise company, released its

Sustainability Report for the period from 2012–2013, detailing the

company's sustainability efforts. The Sustainability Report was prepared

in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 3.1 and a full

copy can be downloaded from the Costa Websites. (Reference: eTurbo News)

UnionPay: expands merchant acceptance in Canada

UnionPay International announced on January 6 it deepened cooperation

with Global Payments Inc to enable tens of thousands more Canadian

merchants to accept UnionPay cards, further expanding the local

UnionPay acceptance network. (Reference: unionpayintl.com)

DFS: set to secure extra year on Los Angeles Airport duty

free contract

DFS Group is set to secure an additional year on its duty free contract at

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as the results of delays and

Activity

14

costs related to the revamped Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

In 2012, DFS was awarded a ten-year concession at LAX to develop and

operate the duty-free locations at the airport. (Reference: dfnionline.com)

American Express: Travel Cites London and Santiago as Top

Travel Destinations for 2015

Perennial favorites and exciting new locations are trending this year,

according to customer booking data and findings from a survey of more

than 200 American Express North American Travel Counselors. Topping

the list of trending destinations are London, a lasting favorite enjoyed for

its famous landmarks and culture, and Santiago, Chile, where offering a

range of experiences for travelers wanting outdoor adventures.

(Reference: americanexpress.com)

JTB: cooperate with JAL to provide visitors to Japan with

new domestic package tours

JTB Group (JTB) and Japan Airlines (JAL) announced on December that

they have jointly planned and created new domestic package tours,

Experience Japan “JAL Special Package,” for individual travelers from

overseas to Japan. (Reference: Japan Today)

Agency

15

Club Med: to target Chinese market under new owners

Fosun, the Chinese conglomerate which has won a bidding war for Club

Méditerranée, is banking on China’s growing affluent class and a

shortage of high-end resorts on the mainland to anchor the French

holiday’s group’s growth. (Reference: irishtimes.com)

Ctrip: Surge in vacationing Chinese seniors drives travel

business

Statistics show as much as 40% of the senior Chinese are willing and able

to go on a tour, at home and abroad. Ctrip has special tour products

tailored for the senior, Happy Tours for Parents, hundreds of routes of

which cover home and abroad. (Reference: China Daily)

Kuoni Group: exit from the tour operating business

While ranking in the ‘top five tour operators’ in Europe, Kuoni Group has

put its tour operating business up for sale under a strategic review.,

covering operations in Switzerland, UK, Benelux, Hong Kong/China,

India and Scandinavia. New owners are expected to be found in 2015.

(Reference: Travel Weekly)

16

CITS: ink deal with Cambodia to boost tourism

China International Travel Service Corp (CITS) and Cambodia's Tourism

Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tourism

strategic cooperation, aiming at attracting more Chinese visitors to

Cambodia on December 29th. (Reference: xinhuanet.com)

TUI Group: buys cruise ship Europa

Tui Group is buying luxury cruise ship MS Europa 2 for €278 million in

cash and debt to bolster results at its Hapag-Lloyd cruise business. The

ship, previously owned by Swiss businessman Otto Mihm, was newly

commissioned in 2013. (Reference: travelmole.com)

Hong Kong Airlines: presents 2015 Best Partner Award

Continues Long-term Strategic Alliance with Ctrip.com

Hong Kong Airlines (HKA), an internationally-acclaimed SKYTRAX

4-star airline, presented “Best Partner Award” to renowned online travel

agent, Ctrip.com (“Ctrip”), as a tribute to Ctrip’s outstanding performance

in ticket sales on January 8th. (Reference: hongkongairlines.com)

Transportation

17

Air China: new B747-8 Beijing- New York route debuts

Air China’s Boeing 747-8 aircraft debuts internationally on the

Beijing-New York route on January 7th in New York. The 13-hour flight

will run once a day between Beijing and New York. (Reference: Travel Weekly)

YVR: Officially Opens Newly Expanded Domestic Terminal

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated the opening of the

expanded Domestic Terminal on January 13th. Featuring new gate

capacity, an expedited baggage system, seismic upgrades and a wide

range of new dining and shopping options, the A-B Connector will keep

YVR connected to destinations across Canada. (Reference: newswire.ca)

500,000: Dubai targets more medical tourists by 2020

The number of medical tourists reached 135,000 last year, up from

120,000 in 2013, according to Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The

number is expected to exceed 150,000 by the end of the year, estimates

the consultant Colliers International. DHA has set a target to attract

500,000 medical tourists a year by 2020. (Reference: The National)

Figure Scan

18

1.5 million: tourists arrive in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tourism welcomed the arrival of German tourist Torrance

Jimmy as the 1.5 millionth tourists arrived in Sri Lanka for the year 2014

on December 28th. This is the first time in the history of Sri Lanka

tourism industry 1.5 million tourists have arrived in the island.

(Reference: eTurbo News)

1.7 million: Sustainable tourism growth in Malta

An all-time record for tourism in Malta was registered in 2014. It is

estimated that 1.7 million tourists visited Malta last year. Malta’s tourism

performance has been on the high side when compared to European and

Mediterranean figures. The government need to immediately enhance the

tourism policy covering the period 2015-2020. (Reference: timesofmalta.com)

9.3 million: Paris’s Louvre is the most-visited museum in the

world

The famous Louvre in France received 9.3 million visitors last year,

retaining its title as the most-visited museum in the world. Foreign

visitors represented 70% of ticket sales, with Americans, Chinese, Italians,

British and Brazilians visiting in strong numbers over 2014.

(Reference: ttrweekly.com)

19

43.4 million: Los Angeles hits tourism record for 4th year

Los Angeles has broken its tourism record for the fourth year in a row. All

those visitors helped make Los Angeles International Airport the

second-busiest in the country. About 43.4 million people made LA their

ultimate destination last year — up more than 1 million from 2013.

(Reference: greenwichtime.com)

2.9%: Beijing Capital International Airport Passenger

Throughput up

Beijing Capital International Airport announces that it served 581,950

take-offs and landings and recorded a passenger throughput of 86 million

persons in 2014, up 2.5% and 2.9% year on year. The airport served

49,360 take-offs and landings and recorded a passenger throughput of 7

million persons in December, up 3.6% and 6.7% year on year.

(Reference: 4-traders.com)

7%: Europe’s online travel market will expand in 2015

European online travel gross bookings will march forward at a brisk pace

in 2015. Optimism over Europe’s recovery experienced in the first half of

2014 proved short-lived, as the French economy continued its slowdown

into 2015 and Greece’s fiscal woes continued to weigh heavily.

(Reference: Breaking Travel News)

20

20%: Outbound holiday tourism up in Greece

The bookings by Greeks for European destinations in the period from

Christmas to the Epiphany have risen by about 20 percent from the same

time a year earlier. This is the biggest outgoing tourism flow in the last

five years. (Reference: greeceoutsidein.blogspot.com)

389%: Foreign investment in tourism in Nepal

Foreign investment commitments in tourism sector have increased by

389% over the first five months of current fiscal year. The highest

commitment has come from investors from British Virgin Islands (BVI).

(Reference: eTurbo News)

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