2025.03.28
1. China Eastern Airlines and National Museum of China sign strategic cooperation agreement
Source: China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd.
On December 20, China Eastern Air Holding Company and the National Museum of China signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the National Museum of China.
During the signing ceremony, Gao Zheng highlighted that the National Museum of China, as the country’s cultural hub, plays an important role in safeguarding, preserving, and promoting China’s rich historical heritage. He noted that this partnership between the National Museum of China and China Eastern Airlines represents a new model for advancing cultural development in the new era.
Wang Zhiqing expressed his hope that both parties will explore new ways to integrate cultural, aviation, and tourism development, while fostering practical and effective exchanges and collaborations, with the goal of using culture as a bridge to enhance people-to-people connections and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations worldwide.
2. Unrestricted air corridors: Daily passenger flow of 13,000 at Harbin
Source: China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd.
As the 2025 Asian Winter Games approach, Harbin Taiping International Airport has recently witnessed a surge in passenger traffic. Since February 4, China Eastern Airlines has facilitated the arrival and departure of over 13,000 passengers daily at Harbin, with seat occupancy rates exceeding 90% on several routes, including those to Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.
Currently, China Eastern Airlines operates 30 routes from Harbin, connecting the city to major domestic hubs including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Kunming, as well as international destinations such as Tokyo, Seoul, and Bangkok. The airline averages nearly 80 arrivals and departures per day.
3. Bridging information gap between supply and demand:
Fliggy launches 2025 Outbound Destination Merchant Growth
Source: Online Travel Daily
Fliggy has recently launched its 2025 Outbound Destination Merchant Growth initiative, aimed at providing outbound tourism merchants across China with first-hand industry insights. The plan includes in-person training sessions, resource-sharing programs, and the development of specialized products to drive merchant growth. By offering a deeper understanding of evolving supply and demand trends, this initiative empowers merchants to create tourism products that better align with the current preferences of Chinese consumers.
4. A new chapter in convenience for outbound tourism:
U-Tour Group among the first to qualify under South Africa’s TTOS
Source: U-Tour Spokesperson
U-Tour Group was recently included in the first batch of visa-qualified agencies under South Africa’s Trusted Tour Operators Scheme (TTOS), marking a significant step toward enhancing international cooperation and improving the quality of tourism services. This qualification enables Chinese tourists to enjoy a more streamlined and efficient visa application process when traveling to South Africa. Reports indicate that the newly launched TTOS simplifies group visa procedures for Chinese tourists, which is expected to attract more Chinese travelers to explore the country.
5. InterContinental Hotels Group launches Garner brand in the UK with debut property in Preston
Source: Travel Daily
On March 5, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) introduced its midscale conversion brand, Garner, to the United Kingdom with the official opening of the Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury.
Located in Preston, northern England, the hotel is operated by KRO Hospitality and features 80 guest rooms. Since its global launch in 2023, the Garner brand has expanded rapidly, with over 117 properties already open or in the pipeline. In addition to plans for 56 Garner hotels in the Nordic region, IHG has also announced the signing of initial agreements to bring the brand to Turkey and Italy.