Baidu Launches Travel Channel

Baidu (Nasdaq:BIDU) has launched a travel channel at lvyou.baidu.com, reports shudoo.com. The channel offers travel news, recommendations for destinations and travel agencies, scenic photos, a related search function and other content, said the report.

Baidu's recently released open search platform is one part of its larger "Aladdin" plan, and more services will be released in the future, reports qq.com quoting Baidu's public relations department. The platform is currently in beta version at open.baidu.com and alading.baidu.com. Baidu CEO Robin Li has described Aladdin as an enhanced search platform that will grab data from currently inaccessible "deep web" sites.

Travelzen's 'Truly Hassle-free' Web Service Transforms China's Travel Industry

Travelzen today announced the launch of a 'Truly Hassle-free' Travelzen.com website that will set new benchmarks in business and leisure travel in China. Guaranteeing both prices and availability, the new site will also eliminate the annoying last-minute increases in quoted prices that have long handicapped the development of China's online travel industry.

The impressive result of 2 years' intensive R&D, the new website will see Travelzen become the first travel provider in China to offer a genuinely world-class end-to-end online travel experience. Leveraging its 'Truly Hassle-free' transaction model, Travelzen.com will free travelers from the outmoded 'find online, pay offline' model still widely used by many Chinese travel agents. With its state-of-the-art technologies and strong global links, the new site represents the dawn of an exciting new era for airline passengers and hotel guests.

Until now, those purchasing flights or hotel rooms in China could never be 100% sure the prices they saw online were actually available because of shortcomings in existing technologies and business models. In guaranteeing both prices and availability, Travelzen.com means travelers will no longer have to suffer these annoying discrepancies.

Shanghai World Expo tickets sale starts in HK

Tickets for World Exposition 2010 Shanghai China started to be sold on Thursday in Hong Kong.

The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, the Hong Kong government and the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd., which is the sole official agent for ticket distribution in Hong Kong, jointly organized a sales launching ceremony on Thursday.

The Shanghai World Expo offers nine different types of tickets under two broad categories including individuals and groups.

Tickets on sale in Hong Kong range from 107 HK dollars (about 13.8 US dollars) to 1063 HK dollars (about 137.3 US dollars). Group tickets were on sale begin on Thursday, while individuals can place their order from July 1.

Egencia hopes to spur online growth in China

The opening of a Shanghai office by Egencia follows a trend of international expansion among US–based Internet travel management providers.

But what is unusual about Egencia’s move is its entrance into a market with such a low adoption rate for corporate travel management technology.

Chinese companies still have a strong preference for paper-based travel management, according to a recent PhoCusWright report, “Corporate Travel management and Travel Practices in China,” which cites the limited use of IT systems management as the top current corporate travel trend in China. More than three in four companies interviewed for the study still use paper forms and a manual process for travel expense reporting.

China expects domestic air travel to grow 10% in 2009

China's aviation industry is expected to post at least 10 percent growth in its domestic passenger traffic this year thanks to government efforts to boost the economy, while international traffic is likely to fall sharply, the country's top aviation industry official said on Wednesday.

China's domestic passenger traffic increased 13.47 percent in February from a year earlier, after registering 20 percent growth in January, said Li Jiaxiang, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

However, international cargo traffic plunged 28 percent from a year earlier, while international passenger traffic dropped 16 percent, Li said on the sidelines of the annual sessions of the Chinese People's Political Consultative

China bars foreigners from Tibet

The month marks the 50th anniversary of the escape into exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

In March last year, Tibet witnessed a wave of violent anti-China protests - the worst unrest there for 20 years.

Tibetan exiles are planning to boycott their own New Year celebrations on Wednesday in protest at Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama has called for Tibetans not to celebrate New Year, or Losar, partly in memory of those killed or jailed in a crackdown after last year's riots.

China 10-night tour, with air, from $959

The Real Deal: Round-trip international airfare to Shanghai with a connecting flight in Beijing on an Air China carrier, ten nights' accommodations, most meals (10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners), transportation by private bus, guided sightseeing tours, and the services of an English-speaking tour guide, from $959 per person — plus taxes starting at $383.

When: Depart on Nov. 5, 12, 27; add $29 for Dec. 3, 10; $300 for March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, July 23, Aug. 6, 20, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; $440 for June 4, 11, 18, 25, July 9; $700 for Dec. 24, 2009. (The early-bird discount takes $300 off listed package rates for departures Nov. 1–30 and $200 off rates for departures March 1–Oct. 31.)

China targets scalpers and ticket offices amid Spring Festival travel scandal

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China has sent five inspection teams to the country's traffic hot spot areas to tackle the ticket scalping and issuing scandal, as millions of Chinese scramble for a ticket back home for the Spring Festival, according to a notice released Monday by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on its website.

The teams will target ticket selling, a problem area identified by an official in a blog posting which has aroused national indignation.

Li Ou, vice mayor of Siping City in northeast China's Jilin province, triggered heated discussion with a blog article on the country's flawed ticket selling system.

China's tourism authority says the number of inbound tourists has dropped for three consecutive months

Authorities tried to use the Beijing Olympics to boost the industry, but the financial crisis has hampered the plan. Most foreign visitors to China come from the United States, Europe and Japan all hit hard by the crisis.

Tong Lei, Chairman of China Int'l Travel Service, said, "From what we know, consumer confidence keeps declining in markets like the United States and Europe. This has put significant pressure on our business."

Jiang Jiannig, CEO of China Youth Travel Service, said, "Economies in major western countries have entered a period of recession. I think the real impact on China's tourism will only truly appear in the first half of 2009."

Ni chi guo le ma? Eating Chinese food in Shanghai

Shanghai is a city of food. While Western restaurants can be hit-or-miss and very expensive, Chinese restaurants are understandably ubiquitous. How to navigate the world of food in Shanghai? Use my favorites list to try out different cuisines – because Chinese food as we know it in the West hardly exists outside of the tourist buffets once you’re here.

Chinese food is divided by cuisine and location. Sichuan food is very different from Shanghai cuisine. People from the north eat more wheat-based food while people from the south eat a rice-based diet. There’s so much to try, you could spend a whole vacation in China just eating.

Suibian chi!

Travel agencies in China suspend Thailand tours

Tours to Thailand have long been popular among outbound travellers. But the recent anti-government protest in Thailand have put a damper on the market. For safety reasons, most travel agencies in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have suspended their tours to Thailand.

Chen Huiqing, Vice GM of Kanghui International Travel Services said "We are concerned about a worsening of the political situation in Thailand. We do not suggest travellers go there for now."

Most travel agencies in neighbouring Guangdong province have also urged residents not to go to Thailand. Many people who signed up for a tour to Thailand have modified their plans to go to Singapore or Malaysia.

Liao Yuexia, Guangzhilv Travel Services said "For those who still plan to go to Thailand, we suggest they delay their tours to Thailand."

China travel warming up

CAISSA Touristic (Group) is one of the biggest German travel agencies dealing with travel to China. When talking about the Beijing Olympics, the Group's chairman Chen Mang said the Olympic is just like a catalyst which will bring China's development opportunities to an all-time high; and warming travel to China will not cool down after the Olympics.

Chen said the Beijing Olympics would urge lots of people who do not know China very well to travel in China; and they would summarily know China through routine travel. Recently, CAISSA has organized a "sales agent group" with airline companies and tourism retailers: those working in the front lines selling Chinese travel packages can enjoy traveling to China themselves. For those who have been to China and know something about Chinese culture, this is a great chance for them to go to China again. They will not only visit the Olympic stadiums, but will also participate in a series of travel programs.

Chen is much more confident about travel to China after the Beijing Olympic.

Flights Begin From China to Taiwan

The first nonstop, cross-strait weekend flights from China landed in Taiwan on Friday morning, in the latest breakthrough in cross-strait relations that are rapidly warming under the island’s new president, Ma Ying-jeou.

The first batch of flights was expected to carry 662 Chinese tourists on package tours from five cities on the mainland, but that number is expected to expand gradually to as many as 3,000 tourists per day.

This is the first time that “ordinary” Chinese citizens will be allowed to visit Taiwan as tourists. Before, only Chinese citizens who were permanent residents of a foreign country, or those with special permission for business or cultural exchanges, could visit the island.

China’s Visa Policy Threatens Olympics Tourism

With the Beijing Olympics less than two months away, hotel operators, travel agencies, and foreign businessmen say new Chinese visa restrictions are proving bad for business, casting a pall over Beijing during what was supposed to be a busy and jubilant tourist season leading up to the Olympic Games.

Chinese authorities acknowledged putting new visa restrictions in place in May — after foreign embassies reported fewer visas being granted and tighter, sometimes seemingly arbitrary, restrictions. The government did not release guidelines detailing the changes in policy; it often does not. But a foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said in May that they would be temporary.

On Monday, Hu Bin, a visa official at the foreign ministry, said the ministry had no statistics on the number of visa denials, but that the new policies were put in place for “security considerations.”

Student travel industry heats up

Summer is bringing more than housing sales. It's also peak travel season for students and families who take advantage of the break in the school year. And travel agents have been taking advantage of the upcoming travel boom, with new tours on offer.

This travel agency is selling several 2- or 3-day tours to destinations like Beijing, Hebei and Shandong Province. These cheaper tours have been specially designed for high school graduates.

Another trip, a 5-day tour to Hainan, costs about 2 thousand yuan, ten percent cheaper than last year.

Westin Hotel’s in China Receive Top Honours

Taking home top honours at the 2008 TTG China Travel Awards in Shanghai, included The Westin Beijing, Financial Street, The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai and The Westin Guangzhou.

The TTG China Travel awards recognizes the outstanding achievers in China’s travel and tourism industry.

From January to the end of February, over 12,600 readers from TTG China, TTG-BTmice China, TTG Asia and TTGmice casted their votes for their favourite travel and trade organizations.

New China visa rules to hit business travel

The new rules require companies to provide proof of hotel reservations, airline tickets, and specific contact information for the entity the American firm is doing business with, said Defa Tong, spokesman for the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. In some cases, business travelers seeking visas will be required to go to the consulate for an interview.

Beijing recruits "Olympic Homestays"

Homestay families will preliminarily charge guests between 400 and 600 yuan per day, and then according to some specifics such type of room and whether the stay includes breakfast, so that the final price is based on an agreement.

The China International Travel Service Head Office (CITS) and the China Travel Service Head Office (CTS) are responsible for propagating information and organizing the reception of foreign visitor groups for "Olympic Homestays." Tourists who live in with "Olympic Homestays" will be part of a tour group which visits Olympic venues; purchases Olympic souvenirs; and dines on local cuisine. At present, travel agents are bidding for 2008 Olympic tickets in hopes of including Olympic competitions as part of their packaged tour, said Zhao Xin, director of the Olympics Service Center of the China International Travel Service's Head Office.

Qingming travel packages meet cool response

The tomb-sweeping day is just two days away. The first 3 day break after the national holiday system was revised would seem to be a good business opportunity for travel agencies, however, many say the travel packages have been met with a cool market response.

Some agencies in south China's Guangdong Province have cut their prices to woo customers. Packages sold at more than 2000 yuan have been slashed to 1500. Many packages have seen record low prices in past festivals. However, registering customers are only 10 percent compared to last year's May Day Golden Holiday.

In Beijing, prices are also equal to off-season rates, and there are still many vacancies in group tours. Railway officials say there will still be a lot of traffic, mainly students or those visiting their families. The travel peak will be seen on April the 3rd and 6th.

Riot police in Nepal bash Tibetan protestors

Riot police in Nepal have brutally beaten unarmed Tibetan refugees, including women, nuns and monks. via Myanmar News.net

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