46 REGION ASIA Chinese
46 REGION ASIA Chinese Tourism – What a Year it Will Be! 2016: Year of the Monkey, and also China-US Tourism Year Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama recently declared 2016 to be the year of China-US Tourism. This declaration recognises both US tourism to China and China visitation to the US. 2016 is also the Year of the Monkey, and the February tourist rush from China came as Chinese tourists were celebrating Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California celebrated the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures during the Happy Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure. The event included guest performing groups, local artisans, Disney characters, and special food and merchandise. The celebration welcomed talented dancers and acrobats from China’s Shenzhen municipality for a special performance. Another celebration was held at Universal Studios in Los Angeles with an event promoting China-US Tourism year 2016, in partnership with the Chinese Consulate of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. Universal Studio has made its Spring Festival celebration an annual event as Chinese tourists become its largest source of international visitors. China will invest 20 percent more in its tourism industry in the coming year, compared to 2015, with the goal of increasing the industry’s annual revenue will by 10 percent. Investment is expected to rise to 1.2 trillion yuan (0 billion), with projected revenue expected to reach 4.55 trillion yuan (2 billion). Chinese are expected to make 4.38 billion trips for tourism within China this year, up 9.5 percent over 2015, and revenue from their travels will rise by 11 percent year on year to 3.8 trillion yuan (0 billion). A total of 263 million tourist trips are expected both inbound and outbound from China in 2016, up 5% over 2015. Overall, tourism is playing an increasingly important role in China’s economy, accounting for about 10.8 percent of total GDP growth and 10.2 percent of national employment in 2015. Hall 26C / Stand 310 Guangzhou Fernsehturm © FVA China ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 10 th March 2016 www.itb-berlin-news.com
© Thomas Keller HOSPITALITY / RESTAURANTS / BARS WHERE TO GO IN Berlin CLUBS / EVENTS / SHOPPING / CULTURE Under the heading of “Visit Berlin’s Highlights”, Berlin Highlights presents the German capital’s most popular attractions at ITB Berlin. The idea was born at ITB Berlin 2011, when leading organisers from the art world, the cultural scene and tourism in Berlin joined forces with the idea of creating the “Berlin Highlights” seal of approval that would guarantee an unforgettable experience for visitors to the capital. A high level of quality and service is important in order to become a partner of Berlin Highlights. Travellers can find everything they need to know about Berlin Highlights at a glance in “Mein Berlin Guide”. In addition to practical tips the traveller’s guide contains The Best of Berlin a bonus card and information on competitions with a chance to win prizes. With the bonus card, visitors can obtain gifts from associated partners, including a pocket guide from the Dalí Museum or a “Berliner Weisse” beer, served on the sun deck on a tour of the River Spree or of the bridges of Berlin by the pleasure boat operator Reederei Riedel. Visitors to the stand of Berlin Highlights will be handed the guide, written in two languages, free of charge. It contains extensive maps, including of Berlin’s S-Bahn and U-Bahn transit systems. Smartphone users can also obtain “Mein Berlin Guide” with all the features, in the shape of the free Berlin Highlights app, available for Android and iOS, which includes the bonus function and offline maps. Visitors to ITB Berlin can find out more about the wide range of available services on the combined stand of Berlin Highlights, which is organised in close cooperation with VisitBerlin. The following partners are represented on the stand: the asisi Panorama ’The Wall’, Dalí – the exhibition on Potsdamer Platz, Deutsches Currywurst Museum Berlin, Gärten der Welt in Marzahn-Hellersdorf, which next year will be hosting the International Garden Exhibition, IMAX in the Sony Center, Oldie Käfer Tour Berlin, the Olympic Stadium Berlin, PanoramaPunkt, Reederei Riedel, Spy Museum Berlin, Top Tour Sightseeing and Verband der Stadtführer Berlin. Hall 12 / Stand 101 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 10 th March 2016
