Tag: Travel

BUNS, BEATS & BEYOND: HONG KONG SPRINGS TO LIFE WITH FESTIVAL FEVER

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) — The annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival, one of Hong Kong’s most iconic cultural celebrations, is set to return on May 5 to 6, marking the beginning of a packed spring of traditional festivals, arts showcases, and international sporting events across the city.

Held on the island of Cheung Chau, the festival is steeped in history and folklore, honouring Pak Tai, a sea deity believed to have saved the island from a plague in the 18th century.

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board in a statement, since 2011, it has been recognised on China’s national list of intangible cultural heritage.

Among the highlights of this year’s programme are the Climbing Carnival on April 27, featuring games and performances; the vibrant Piu Sik Parade on May 5, where children dressed as deities and public figures appear to float above the crowd; and the adrenaline-pumping Bun-Scrambling Competition, which takes place at midnight on May 5 to 6, where climbers race up a 14-metre tower to collect the most lucky buns.

In conjunction with Labour Day Golden Week (May 1 to 5), the city will also host a 12-minute drone light show set to music along the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade on May 1, offering a dazzling display framed by Hong Kong’s iconic skyline.

The festival forms part of Cultural Beat, a citywide initiative celebrating Hong Kong’s unique cultural heritage. Other major events include the Buddha Bathing Ceremony at Po Lin Monastery (April 29 to May 5), the Tam Kung Festival in Eastern District (April 29 to May 7), and the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races (June 7 to 8).

Art and culture enthusiasts can also look forward to the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong (May 22 to 25), the French May Arts Festival (ongoing until July 13), and the Chinese Culture Festival (June to September).

New highlights this year include Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA (from May 21) and the Picasso for Asia—A Conversation exhibition at M+, featuring over 60 works by the legendary artist.

Sports fans will not be left out, with the Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong 2025 taking place from June 18 to 22, bringing together six top international teams in a high-energy tournament.

With a diverse lineup of celebrations throughout the season, Hong Kong invites residents and visitors alike to experience its rich blend of tradition and modernity.

— BERNAMA

Aggregating World Heritage Resources to Drive High-Quality Development of Fujian’s Cultural Tourism

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

NANPING, China, Apr. 14, 2025 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

Wuyi National Park

With the theme of “Cultivating Cultural Tourism as the Pillar Industry”, the 2025 Fujian Provincial Conference on the Development of Cultural and Tourism Economy will be held in Nanping City, Fujian Province, from April 17th to 19th.

Shortly before the conference opens, under the guidance of the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, six major 5A-level scenic areas — Mt. Wuyi Scenic Area, Kulangsu Tourist Area, Fujian Tulou (Yongding) Scenic Area, Fujian Tulou (Nanjing) Scenic Area, Taining Scenic Tourist Area, and Quanzhou Mt. Qingyuan Scenic Area — jointly initiated the establishment of the Fujian’s World Heritage 5A Scenic Area Alliance. This initiative lays a solid foundation for Fujian to integrate its world heritage resources, further promoting the province’s goal of becoming a world-renowned tourist destination. It also marks a significant step forward in the province’s pursuit of coordinated and high-quality cultural tourism development.

Mt. Wuyi, as the only World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site and National Park in Fujian Province, is also the distinguished symbol of Nanping, the host of this conference. In recent years, Nanping City has leveraged the strategic value of Mt. Wuyi National Park to enhance its “Greater Wuyi Cultural and Tourism Circle” brand and promote the development of the “Mt. Wuyi Protection and Development Belt”. The city has pioneered the construction of China’s first national park scenic road system and developed a range of themed tourism products, including biodiversity education tours and Danxia landscape photography experiences. These efforts have contributed to the creation of a “Nanping Model” that harmonizes ecological preservation with cultural and tourism development.

In addition, utilizing the resources of Mt. Wuyi National Park, Fujian Province has actively engaged in international cooperation in areas such as cultural tourism, environmental conservation, and biodiversity research with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, harvesting significant outcomes.

World Heritage Sites are treasures shared by all humanity. Fujian continues to make exemplary use of these resources to create a “go phenomenal” effect for its cultural tourism, and generate higher appeal to an international audience. From Quanzhou, the “World Heritage City” known for its Maritime Silk Road heritage, to Kulangsu, the “Island of Music” decorated with diverse global architecture; from the Fujian Tulou, which embodies the wisdom and ingenuity of the local people, to the spectacular natural landscapes of Taining Danxia and the dual heritage status of Mt. Wuyi.

Source: Organizing Committee of the 2025 Fujian Provincial Conference on the Development of Cultural and Tourism Economy

–BERNAMA

HKTB VIDEO SERIES SHOWCASES HONG KONG’S OUTDOOR WONDERS

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) — The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched a new video series, titled “Four Corners of Hong Kong”, featuring four captivating short films that take viewers on a journey to the city’s four corners, namely north, south, east and west, showcasing the city’s breathtaking landscapes and rich ecotourism experiences.

The series also showcases Hong Kong’s diverse scenery that offers an irresistible invitation for visitors to experience the city’s extraordinary natural beauty, with the first full video of the four-part series having been released on the Discover Hong Kong YouTube channel.

The first video takes viewers into the splendour of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark and features awe-inspiring geological wonders such as the rhyolitic hexagonal rock columns, which were crafted over millions of years by nature’s hand.

HKTB in a statement said the remaining three episodes will come one after another throughout the coming fortnight, and the video will also be released on the HKTB’s Xiaohongshu, Douyin and Weibo platforms.

The videos transport viewers on an epic, fun-filled adventure in four spectacular corners of Hong Kong, climbing mountains and diving into the sea, travelling east to Sai Kung, south to Po Toi Island, Stanley, and Ap Lei Chau, west to Lantau Island, and north to Robin’s Nest Country Park.

Each location has its own special charm and offers a distinct outdoor experience, demonstrating the diverse appeal and boundless potential of ecotourism in Hong Kong.

HKTB has also teamed up with celebrities from Thailand and Taiwan who bring a sprinkle of stardust to carry the video campaign to a wider audience. The videos, imbued with the unique charisma of the celebrities, are tailored to captivate worldwide audiences via compelling storytelling and mesmerising landscapes.

In addition, HKTB is also ramping up its efforts to promote outdoor activities and trail-running events to overseas visitors following the runaway success of the TransLantau by UTMB and Hong Kong 100 Ultra Marathon races last year.

Looking ahead, with initiatives targeting key markets, including Mainland China, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, and India, HKTB aims to position Hong Kong as a premier destination for adventure and green tourism.

— BERNAMA

ANTOM, AIRASIA MOVE JOIN FORCES FOR SEAMLESS PAYMENT SOLUTIONS

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) — Singapore-headquartered Ant International announced its payment and digitisation services provider, Antom, with AirAsia MOVE, has signed a partnership agreement to transform travel, including seamless payment experiences on the app.

Under the agreement, AirAsia MOVE will work closely with Antom and 2C2P, a full-suite global payments platform and a subsidiary of Antom.

According to a statement, this collaboration is set to integrate Antom and 2C2P’s advanced payment solutions, including payment orchestration and acquiring for both cards and local payment methods (LPMs), into AirAsia MOVE’s platform.

These cutting-edge technologies will empower AirAsia MOVE to streamline payment methods, reduce cross-border transaction costs and operational expenses, and broaden its consumer base while providing customers with a wider range of preferred payment options.

“Our advanced solutions, including payment orchestration and acquiring for both cards and LPMs, enable AirAsia MOVE to expand its reach to more consumers across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

“By combining our expertise and AI-driven payment technologies, we are committed to improving operational efficiency, enhancing customer satisfaction, and unlocking long-term value together,” said General Manager of Antom, Ant International, Gary Liu.

Meanwhile, AirAsia MOVE Chief Executive Officer, Nadia Omer said: “By integrating Antom and 2C2P’s advanced solutions, we are enhancing efficiency, improving customer satisfaction, and delivering significant cost savings.”

This partnership agreement between AirAsia MOVE, Antom, and 2C2P is part of a strategic partnership announced last March between Capital A and Ant International that covers various areas.

This includes exploring ways to integrate more payment methods and providing acquiring services to Capital A’s platforms, working on digital marketing and sponsorship opportunities to drive business growth, and cooperating in enhancing access to sustainable finance while transitioning to a low-carbon economy for the micro, small and medium enterprise community.

— BERNAMA

HONG KONG-TAIPEI IS 2024 WORLD’S BUSIEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE ROUTE, SAYS OAG

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Bernama) — The Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) route has been revealed as the world’s busiest international route in 2024, according to a latest analysis by OAG.

OAG in a statement said the Hong Kong (HKG)-Taipei (TPE) route is among the top 10 that has seen the biggest growth, reaching 6.8 million seats and a 48 per cent capacity increase between 2023 and 2024, pushing it up from third place last year.

Powered by OAG’s Global Airline Schedules Data, the analysis provides an overview of route performance and trends, both internationally and domestically.

According to the analysis, Asia Pacific continues to dominate the annual rankings, with seven of the top 10 international busiest routes and nine of the top 10 domestic routes.

The analysis also reveals that Cairo (CAI)-Jeddah (JED) follows in second spot with 5.5 million seats, one of two routes operating in the Middle East that have entered the top 10 since 2019, which has experienced 68 per cent growth in five years. Dubai (DBX)-Riyadh (RUH) holds the sixth position with 4.3 million seats and 37 per cent capacity growth since 2019.

Other international routes seeing impressive year-on-year growth are Seoul Incheon (ICN)-Tokyo Narita (NRT), which jumps from fifth to third spot with 30 per cent capacity growth, and Bangkok (BKK)-Hong Kong (HKG), which returns to the top 10 at seventh after placing 11th in 2023.

For the busiest international route in Europe and in North America, New York (JFK)-London Heathrow (LHR) takes the top spot, while Cairo (CAI)-Jeddah (JED) leads in both Africa and the Middle East, and Orlando (MCO)-San Juan (SJU) is the top route in Latin America.

OAG is a data platform for the global travel industry offering an industry-first single source for supply, demand, and pricing data.

— BERNAMA