Trip.com works with Malaysia Airlines; More foreign carriers return to Shanghai | Daily Brief-YINGMI audio guide system

Trip.com collaborates with Malaysia Airlines on loyalty program

>> Trip.com, a China-headquartered international online travel service provider with over 1.4 million properties in more than 200 countries and regions, announced a partnership with Malaysia Airlines’ frequent flyer programme, Enrich, which will maximize rewards for its members when making hotel reservations on the platform.

Trip.com chairman: Asia-US travel may only resume next year

>> The full return of international travel is unlikely, according to Mr. James Liang, chairmand of the Trip.com Group, who projected that travel between Asia and Europe, and Asia and the US will not resume until next year. Mr. Liang said that travel stocks have regained 30% to 50% of their losses. And within the next six months, they would probably go up to 80% to 90% of their pre-pandemic levels.

China may not accept BNO as travel papers

>> China said it is con­sidering not recognizing British National Overseas passports as valid travel documents, as the British side has violated its com­mitments on the matter. The UK government earlier issued a policy statement on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa, announcing that it will change the arrangements for BNO pass­port holders and extend their rights of residence. The relevant measures will come into force in January 2021.

Asia Pacific theme parks thrive with dramatic rises in China

>> Disney continues to lead the world's theme parks with nearly 156 million visitors last year as a group, according to the latest TEA/AECOM 2019 Theme Index and Museum Index report. Chinese theme park operator OCT Parks China ranked the third in the global theme park group list after receiving almost 54 million visitors in 2019, trailing behind Disney and Merlin Entertainment. The average attendance growth rate for the top 10 theme park groups in the past year was 4%, while the China-based Fantawild Group alone registered the highest increase of 19.8%.

China’s Top 50 Hospitality Groups Report 2020: Opportunities coexist with crisis

>> Jin Jiang International, with 8,606 properties and 873,177 rooms, was ranked the top hospitality group in China, followed by Huazhu Group and BTG Homeinns Hotels, which had 536,876 rooms and 414,952 rooms respectively, according to the China TOP 50 Hospitality Groups Report 2020 jointly released by China Hospitality Association and its partner organizations.

More foreign carriers resume service to Shanghai

>> KLM Royal Dutch Airlines resumed passenger flights from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Shanghai following the relaxation of travel restrictions by the Chinese government. Apart from KLM, other foreign carriers such as Air New Zealand, Delta, United Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Swissair, Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines have also resumed flights to Shanghai.

China completes a new airport double the size of Heathrow

>> The coastal Chinese city of Qingdao is set for a major tourism boost after the completion of its sprawling new airport – which is twice the size of London's Heathrow. According to CNN, the airport has taken five years to build and comes at a cost of USD 5.8 billion. It was built to replace the overrun Qingdao Liuting International Airport, which is the main airport in Shandong Province. It will enable the city to welcome 35 million arrivals by 2025. But that's only the start.