This is an email response I received from a concerned British citizen who had personal experience of trying to arrange a British visa for a Chinese friend. Having just read your article “Why are the Chinese not coming? They go where they feel welcome” I thought I’d briefly share my experiences of trying to organise a trip to the UK for a mainland Chinese friend who works in Hong Kong.
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Reply to my article on Chinese getting visas and visiting the UK from a frustrated citizen
Steeply downward sloping charts splashed across the 2009 Hotel Intelligence Report by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels China come as no real surprise – 2008 and 2009 have been uncommon years all round for China’s hospitality industry. The annual report reviews China’s hotel industry across 13 key markets: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Sanya, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Xi’an.
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‘Downward Sloping Curves’ Characterise New China Hotel Industry Report
To encourage more Chinese to visit the country, South Korea’s Ministry of Justice has announced that it will reduce the number of documents that Chinese tourists need to submit for visa applications. According to the new rules, Chinese citizens now only need to submit credit card statements for the last six months or a copy of an active bank account, and proof of ownership of either a vehicle or real estate or certificate of income. Owners of exclusive credit cards, such as gold or platinum cards, only need to submit credit card statements from the last six months.
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South Korea Simplifies Chinese Tourist Visa Procedure
The first draft of China’s Tourist Safety and Security Approach is now open for comments from tourism practitioners and is expected to be implemented this October. Several related regulations on travel security issued previously by the China National Tourism Administration will be abolished at the same time. The new Approach has clearly prescribed the rights and obligations of tourists, tourism services and product providers, and tourism administration departments at multiple levels to ensure tourist safety and security
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Tourist Safety and Security Approach To Be Implemented In October – China Hospitality News
While in the White City , one can only dream of traveling to the origins of Bauhaus right this year, when it is celebrating its 90 years anniversary ! The modern traveler can check in now at Bauhaus B&B in Dessau , and guardian.co.uk has a beautiful modern itinerary in Dessau! Here’s an interesting project for 2010, the International Summer School – Young people build the future , hmmm … adding Dessau to our wish list! More info: World Heritage Bauhaus Sites Bauhaus Dessau : Guided tours of the classical modernism 2009 – 90 Years Bauhaus in Weimar: Guided Tours Bauhaus Year 2009 at a Glance Bauhaus 1919 – 1933 From Weimar to Berlin The European Henry van de Velde Route: An Architectural Trip through Thuringia and Saxony Europe Travel: Germany to Commemorate Bauhaus Anniversary Modernicus: Celebrating 90 Years of Bauhaus Spiegel: Celebrating 90 Years of Bauhaus Spiegel: Photo Gallery: 90 Years of Bauhaus
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Bauhaus 2009
Rajasthan’s population includes many tribals, who today constitute 12% of the population of Rajasthan , nearly double the national average. The main tribes of Rajasthan are the Bhils and the Minas and other smaller tribes include the Sahariyas , Garasias and the Gaduliya lohars . Garasia Dancers of Rajasthan The tribes share common traits, which seem to link their past together but it is the differences in their costumes and jewellery, fair and festivals that set them apart from one another
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Walar, Gawari – Famous Dances of Bhil and Garasia Tribal Communities in Rajasthan
Recently we reported that hotels in Taiwan were complaining about the budgets and behaviour of Chinese visitors. But in this economic climate, cheap tourists are still better than none, and Taiwan realises that China will be the major source of income for its tourist industry. Once this tourism trade becomes completely deregulated, it will not longer be an outbound tourism issue, but a domestic tourism issues
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Taiwan’s Tourism Chief Heads for China for Talks on Upgrading Service
Udaipur, a city set amidst the Aravalli Ranges of Rajasthan and known as the Venice of the East , was voted the world’s best city for travelers in 2009 in an online poll by Travel and Leisure magazine, trumping last year’s winner Bangkok. City Palace, Udiapur Rajasthan Udaipur Became First South Asian Hot Spot With this achievement, the Lake City has become the first south Asian hot spot to get the prestigious title. Known for its picturesque lakes, Udaipur is also called ‘the city of lakes’.
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Rajasthan’s Lake City Udaipur Gets The Prestigious Title of ‘Best City of The World’
WELCOME TO TANZANIA, KENYA, UGANDA AND ZANZIBAR Babu Tours & Safaris is registered and incorporated as a Limited Company,, under the companies Decree, revised laws of Zanzibar. Its directors have been working in this industry for more than 10 years now. As a local Tour Operator with office based in Zanzibar Stone Town, we are designated to carry out all ground operations
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Excursions Zanzibar, Vacation in Zanzibar, hotels, Zanzibar Holiday Packages
We highlighted a couple of times already the move to the region for a more responsible tourism. The region is indeed suffering badly from a degradation of its ecosystem, from potential sea level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events to an increase in disease. Therefore the region has launched a so-called Caribsave program where tourism boards, tourism operators and partner are planning to: – Model regional, national and destinational climate-change potential – Assess vulnerabilities – Measure and evaluate knock-on impacts on tourism and livelihoods – Inform and develop regional policy – Develop, implement and monitor adaptation and mitigation strategies – Build capacity and transfer skills through design and implementation of initiatives – Create the world’s first ‘Carbon Neutral’ tourism region Lots of goals and targets then , we will keep you posted on the outcome..
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Caribbean en route for a greener tourism
As ever at this time of year, we are hectically busy preparing for the schools to close – in fact, some have already broken up for the summer. There are also lots of new leaflets and brochures available, including (but certainly not limited to): Manchester Events, Chirk Castle, Echo Arena What’s On Summer 09, Brimstage Maize Maze and the Cywain Centre Bala.We are delighted to report that 2009 is
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A Successful Summer for LDS Tourism and Clients
Hotels in Bath may see a boom in trade after a surge in demand for the city’s latest visitor guide has been noted.Bath Tourism Plus printed 80,000 copies of the guide, which details recommended accommodation, shops, restaurants and attractions, in January and has so far received 6,000 requests for the booklet, 18 per cent more than in the same period last year, reports the Bath Chronicle.The Bath Visitor Guide underwent a revamp for its latest edition and it now boasts new branding and photography of the city’s sites.Jane Hull, the firm’s travel and trade conference manager, told the publication: “We were delighted with the end result and have received positive feedback from our members and customers.”Northumberland Tourism has recently launched its own guide, featuring days out and attractions in the region. It is available for free in Tourist Information Centres across the county and details outdoor activities and National Trust and English Heritage properties nearby.
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Demand for Bath tourism guide increases
Hotels in London could be busy this year if booming tourism numbers from 2008 are any indication of this year’s visitor levels. Data released by Visit London highlights that more than 26 million visitors headed to the capital last year, spending some £10.5 billion. It is thought that this increase in visitors, which was 550,000 more than the previous 12 months, was prompted by the fall in sterling’s value against the euro and dollar, in addition to more people taking domestic holidays due to the recession.
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London attracts 26m visitors in 2008
“Quang Nam – Heritage Journey” Festival 2009 will take place in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province from June 4 to 7, 2009 with many special programmes. Song Hoai Square : “Painters and Hoi An Old Quarter” fine art festival; “Prize-winning works about Hoi An” photographs exhibition; “Vietnamese eyes – Vietnamese smiles” exhibition for competition photos Old house – 46 Nguyen Thai Hoc St : The movie week on Hoi An; “Hoi An Landscape” photographs exhibition; “Chu Dau Pottery” exhibition An Hoi Sculpture Park : “Hoi An – in a Ha Noi artist’s heart” photographs exhibition Time Programme Place June 4, 2009 8h – 17h30 The 2 nd Old vehicles parade & Quang Nam-Heritage Journey Hoi An-My Son-Hoi An 19h – 21h “Skillful waiters” contest An Hoi Sculpture Park 19h30 “Vietnamese folk songs – folk dances of North-Central-South” exchanges Song Hoai Square June 5, 2009 19h30 Disguising gala evening of Vietnamese ethnic groups and other countries Hoi An Old Quarter 19h30 “Korean folklore arts” performance Song Hoai Square June 6, 2009 17h30 – 19h “Thu Bon aspiration” closing ceremony Go Hi – Cam Thanh (Live on VTV1) 19h30 – 21h30 Hoi An Legendary Night Hoi An Old Quarter June 7, 2009 8h – 17h30 Fishing village festival Cua Dai Beach In additional, “Quang Nam – Heritage Journey” Festival 2009 also has promotional activities and special tours to meet tourists’ demand Promotion Tourist products Free admission for visiting Hoi An Old Quarter during the 4-day festival Visiting Hoi An Old Quarter by “Miss Universe” pedicabs. “On the way of heritages in Quang Nam Province” tour Streets for walkers and folk games
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“Quang Nam – Heritage Journey” Festival 2009
The resort town of Sa Pa, in northern mountainous Lao Cai Province, will host a Culture – Tourism Week from April 30 to May 3 in a move to attract more visitors. The week will bring together a wide range of activities highlighting rich and distinctive aspects of the province’s diverse ethnic cultures, including an art exhibition entitled “Colours of mountainous areas,” a gastronomy fair featuring the Muong ethnic group’s cuisine, and an orchid fair. Festivals depicting traditional festivities celebrated by local ethnic people, the cultural lifestyles and sports of the minorities will be highlights during the event
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Sa Pa to host culture-tourism week on holidays
Vietnam’s sea tourism potential will be under the spotlight at a festival scheduled to take place in Paris from April 28-29. The festival, the first of its kind in France, will be jointly organised by Vietnam Airlines and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and aims to introduce the country’s premier landmarks and tourist sites to foreigners, and realise the government’s goal to maintain economic growth, stimulate demand, and boost consumption and service exports. Twenty-five tourism management agencies from sea tourism-rich provinces and cities, such as Khanh Hoa and Danang, will join leading hotel, travel and coastal resort businesses at the festival
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France sea tourism festival spotlights Vietnam
The festival “Vietnamese Craft Village 2009” will take place from March 24-29, 2009 at 29/3 Park in the central city of Da Nang, gathering 60 typical craft villages in Vietnam. The festival will be divided into specific areas, including an area for craft villages and area for food. The zone for craft villages will display traditional products of famous craft villages in Vietnam, such as stone-made fine-art products from Non Nuoc village in Da Nang, sedge mats from Cam Ne village, fish nets from Tho Quang village, pottery products from the villages of Bat Trang, Chu Dau and Bau Truc, bronze-made products from Phuoc Kieu and Phu Xuan villages, lacquer products from Thach That, Thu Dau Mot, wood products from Dong Ky, Kim Bong and Tien Son, silk from Van Phuc and Ma Chau, rattan and bamboo-made products from Ha Nam and Tra Vinh, brocade from Dong Giang and northwestern provinces, folk paintings from Dong Ho and Sinh villages, palm-leaf conical hats from Chuong, Go Gang, ornamental trees from Nam Dinh, horn-made products from Ha Nam province.
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60 reputed craft villages to join craft village festival
It has been all hands to the deck over the past couple of days with the monthly delivery of What’s On in Chester & Cheshire to hotels, attractions and other leisure facilities in the City and surrounding area. The glossy A4 magazine is a free guide to eating, drinking, shopping and entertainment in the area – although it will be downsizing to a “chic and petite publication” next month with a “
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The Only Way is Up For Tourism in North West England
More leaders are taking the path of ecotourism … The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has presented a report commiting to a green industry , together with a few global leaders including Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, the patron of the The Cambridge University Programme for Sustainability Leadership, and Robert Webb, General Council British Airways (photo) JC Baumgarten, head of the WTTC, stated that “This report represents a collective effort and is a joint message for the Travel & Tourism industry”.
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Prince Charles among other leaders for a more sustainable tourism
We have mentioned the reunion of Green Globe and Green Certification in an earlier post: http://blog.greenty.com/2008/11/green-globe-and-green-hotel.html The dual certification program has just announced its first joint certified tourism attraction certification: Tennessee’s Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls is the US deepest commercial cave and largest underground waterfall open for public viewing. It has been named as a “Top 7 United States Natural Wonder” together with Yosemite, Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon and Sequoia National Forest
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A green attraction in the US, and that’s Green Globe certified