Sanya, China: Innovate to Create Diversified Cultural Tourism Industry Chain

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, January 18. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Japan ended 2023 with a record number of visitors in December, capping off a year in which its tourism industry made a significant recovery from the pandemic.

In a landmark achievement, Trip.com Group has been awarded one of the Leading Brands in the 2023 Forbes China Global Brands Selection 30&30 in recognition of its exceptional global growth over the past two decades. Trip.com Group joins the selection in its inaugural year, alongside other industry leaders like automaker BYD, smart home appliance maker Skyworth, and real-time engagement platform developer Agora.io.

Among the last countries to resume tourism activities post-pandemic, North Korea is set to welcome its first international tourists in February, marking the end of its border closure since January 22, 2020. And tourists, especially in Russia, are taking note.

The leading lobbying group for the U.S. travel industry this week claimed inefficient policies like long tourist visa wait times and friction points like lagging security screening technology are causing the United States to lose its competitive edge when it comes to attracting international visitors — not high prices on airfare and hotel rates.

Scott Cooper’s memories fade all too quickly, yet the 66-year-old Australian still travels the world in defiance of his dementia. He and his wife Jill visit their daughter in Canada twice a year, and regularly explore Australia. His home country is one of the few destinations starting to cater to tourists with dementia, which affects recall, thinking, and behavior.

Ahead of the new season of PBS' "Samantha Brown's Places to Love," Business Insider asked Travel Channel host Samantha Brown to share the underrated trips she's most excited about this year.

Jetstar Asia, the low-cost carrier based in Singapore, has appointed John Simeone as its new CEO. Barathan Pasupathi, the outgoing CEO who led the airline for 12 years, will step down from his role on March 1 to “pursue other opportunities.”

On January 8, 2023, China reopened its borders for travel, ending a three-year closure during the Covid pandemic. Most analysts predicted a surge in travel. It didn’t happen. And one year later, the world is still waiting. 

It’s one of the biggest questions in global tourism: What the hell is happening to tourism from China? It’s a question a lot of us tried to answer throughout 2023 after China reopened – on January 8 – after 3 years of lockdown.

ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominent management company in Southeast Asia, is expanding its renowned serviced apartment brand, Shama, with five new properties across Asia. The company recognises the increasing demand for serviced apartments, particularly in the post-pandemic era, and is confident that these new additions will meet the needs of business, leisure, and the growing segment of ‘Bleisure’ travellers. The Shama brand is renowned for its commitment to providing contemporary, stylish, and spacious serviced apartments. Acknowledging and responding to the popularity of serviced apartments for both long and shorter stays, across the domestic and international markets, ONYX confidently introduces five new Shama properties: two in China including Hong Kong, two in Malaysia, and one in Thailand, with opening dates set for 2024.

Visitors to China can have an easier time getting into the continent beginning January 01, 2024. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America released a notice at the end of 2023 stating that the tourist visa (L-Visa) application documents will be simplified. Here’s what travelers should know.