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With 85% of its Population Vaccinated CHINA to open Borders…
A message from the ICT, Costa Rican Tourism Institute; the Foreign Trade Promoter, Procomer and the Costa Rican Coalition of Development Initiatives, Cinde, will serve to attract digital nomads.
The intention is that Costa Rica be promoted with a single message in this new type of segment or travel category, based on all the general advantages that the country has (sun and beach, mountains, friendly people, rich food and culture) and adding specific elements for them (connectivity, more agile procedures and a law that supports their stay in the country.
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For Trejos, the three entities, under the umbrella of the Essential Costa Rica country brand, are currently coordinating the message they will give on their platforms and activities, as part of the preparation to attract this type of traveller, who will be able to stay in Costa Rica for one year, according to the new law.
This preparation of Costa Rica to receive digital nomads happens while sources from the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners explained that the regulation to the law is in the process of being revised by the Ministry of the Interior.
Zhuhai Opera House Guangdong, China
The vaccination rate of the total Chinese population is expected to reach over 85% by early 2022.
This would mean any cases of COVID-19 are likely to not be serious and in line with the usual deaths related to seasonal flu and therefore the opening of borders is expected to begin.
For the 7th year running, Chile has been awarded the best adventure tourism destination in South America, by the WTA (World Travel Awards).
Chile also won the award for the best romantic destination for the Atacama desert, the driest non-polar area in the world, a vast expanse of land that includes the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquimbo, in the north.
On the fringes of the Atacama desert, famous for its dune landscape and for astro-tourism, Chile is also recognised for the emblematic Torres del Paine Park, in Patagonia, in the south of the country, a popular national and international destination.
Thailand hopes to link the Thai-Chinese highspeed railway line with the Laos-China Railway.
The construction of the China-Thailand highspeed railway project has slowed in progress but with the potential to link Thailand’s Nong Khai Province with Vientiane Capital, Laos, through the Laos-China railway, could allow for faster growth.
The connection will enable visitors from China to visit Laos, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries by high-speed rail.
Construction of the Laos-China Railway linking the Lao capital of Vientiane to the Chinese border over a distance of 427km began in December 2016, linking 5 provinces including Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Vientiane Province, and Vientiane Capital.
The historic railway is scheduled to open on the Laos National Day on 2 December.
The Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), the Hong Kong SAR Government’s strategic partner in promoting the wide and strategic use of design and design thinking, is to set up a new Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to coordinate the development of the creative industries in the Hong Kong SAR, thereby helping to reinforce Hong Kong’s development as an International Cultural and Arts Exchange Centre for China under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.
Hong Kong offers a unique East-meets-West creative atmosphere and is ideal as Asia’s city of culture and creativity. The Government is to work on 5 directions, including developing world-class cultural facilities and a pluralistic cultural environment; strengthening connections with overseas arts and cultural organisations; enhancing cultural exchange and co-operation with the Mainland; leveraging technology; and nurturing talents.
JAPAN STILL REMAINS CLOSED DESPITE LOW VIRUS CASES
As much of Asia begins to open up, Japan still has its borders closed to foreign visitors and will remain like that for some time, despite a big drop in virus cases in recent weeks.
Japan has also shut out foreign students and business travellers with the only exception being for those involved in the recent Olympic Games.
Foreign international tourism will not begin to revive for another one to two years, despite 73% of Japanese being fully vaccinated; a much higher rate than in other Asian countries. While quarantine has been eased in some areas, oversea travellers still need to spend 10-days in quarantine.
Domestic tourism is still the focus for the government with discounted travel and accommodation around the country. Japan’s international tourism took off in 2014 and by 2019 contributed 7.1% to GDP.
The target for 2020 was 40 million people. Due to the pandemic, tourism revenues fell to 4.7% of economic activity, while employment in tourism and travel, including people working at hotels, airlines, travel agencies and restaurants catering to tourists, fell to 5.4 million from 5.7 million.
