Quick takes

Business travel leads recovery in China

Siew Hoon Yeoh posts a detailed take on the recovery of all types of travel and airline capacity in China. Perhaps most interesting and quite concerning: “Foreign airlines were caught unawares by the sudden reopening and deployed their capacity elsewhere. Besides, they are making so much money in other markets, they are not in a huge hurry to come back to China.”

China to begin issuing all visa types

China stated this week that it would restart issuing all types of visas as of 15th March. “The authorities also said it would honour visas issued before 28th March 2020 that are still within their validity dates.” That is certainly contrary to what BSG has heard from visitors to China in recent weeks.

VIV Asia 2023 proves Thailand is back

VIV Asia 2023, an agricultural show, was held the first week of March in Bangkok. The exhibition featured over 1,100 exhibitors from 57 countries. That international participation bodes well for the peak trade show season coming next month to exhibition markets throughout Southeast Asia and in key markets like Hong Kong.

ASEAN Tourism Ministers approve MICE professional standards

During the recent meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministerial in Indonesia, the ministers approved the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals for MICE professionals and event professionals. TCEB led the work on this initiative.