hong kong - Skift

WeChat to Smooth China’s Border Process for Travelers Between Hong Kong and Mainland

Lulu Yilun Chen, Bloomberg

When people pass between Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, they have to present border documents, called permits. A new feature on the popular WeChat app could replace the need for the documents someday, according to a proposal. Here's hoping.

2 weeks ago

China Pushes Back on U.S. Chiding Over Its Order for Airlines

Bloomberg

The U.S. went there — yes, a George Orwell jab at China's order that airlines should not refer to Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as countries. The trade war gamesmanship is never boring.

2 months ago

CEO of WeChat Parent Backs Mobile Travel Docs to Ease Cross-Border Trips

Bloomberg

WeChat is headquartered close to Hong Kong so Tencent Chairman Ma Huateng advocates an electronic ID system and other measures that would enhance the integration of Hong Kong with China for the purposes of trade, commerce, employment and travel. Many in Hong Kong would rather be less-integrated and more independent.

4 months ago

Hong Kong Disney Is Losing Chinese Tourists as Macau Surges

Daniela Wei , Bloomberg

Hong Kong Disneyland is facing greater competition both from Macau, which is improving its family offerings, and from Shanghai Disney Resort. Disney and the Hong Kong government are spending $1.4 billion on an expansion to the theme park, which should attract more visitors.

4 months ago

A Chinese Blockchain Firm Wants to Get Into the Hotel Business

Vinicy Chan, Bloomberg

The more interesting question out of all of this is what this acquisition could mean for the integration or application of blockchain technology in the hospitality space.

5 months ago

Hong Kong Is Top City for International Visitors Despite China Tensions

Pan Pylas, Associated Press

Hong Kong has the benefit of being located next to mainland China, the world's largest outbound travel market. But Greece and Italy, benefiting from turmoil in Tunisia and Egypt, are among the more interesting findings, especially since Greece and Italy were already having trouble managing tourism growth.

8 months ago

Hong Kong Luxury Shopping Gets Updated as Travelers Venture Elsewhere

Daniela Wei and Frederik Balfour, Bloomberg

Hong Kong tourism is forecast to decline this year, copying last year's drop. As mainland Chinese seek new destinations like Japan, retail sales in Hong Kong have fallen for two years. Retailers need to adjust course to counter the tourism decline.

8 months ago

Hong Kong Airlines Wants to Disrupt Cathay Pacific on Trans-Pacific Routes

Brian Sumers, Skift

We think the last thing the Hong Kong-North America market needs is more capacity. This seems like a shaky idea. But remember, Hong Kong Airlines is controlled by HNA Group, a giant conglomerate with deep pockets. You can't count it out.

9 months ago

Mandarin Oriental Receives Bids for Excelsior Hong Kong as Chinese Luxury Travel Evolves

Andreea Papuc, Bloomberg

High-end properties such as Mandarin Oriental's Excelsior in Hong Kong will face room-rate pressure as supply increases, and affluent Chinese travelers take long-haul flights to explore destinations beyond Hong Kong that might not have been on their bucket lists five years ago.

9 months ago

Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport Will Endure as a Global Hub

Colin Nagy, Skift

There's more hub competition heating up in the region, but Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok manages to capture the magic and inspiration of travel.

10 months ago

Asia’s Smaller Hub Airports Are Spending $1 Trillion on Tune-Ups

Angus Whitley and Kyunghee Park, Bloomberg

The huge spending by smaller Asian airports is an identity crisis in-waiting for Singapore and Hong Kong, the traditional hubs of the region. The weakening of Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific doesn't help, either.

11 months ago

A Scenario-Based Guide to Hotels for Business Travel in Hong Kong