Former Director General of Marketing and Communications, CNTA is Speaking at WTM-ChinaContact Conference on Bilateral Tourism Relations with China this November 6th

(PRWEB) October 4, 2006

The upcoming WTM-ChinaContact conference on bilateral tourism relations with China, Chinathe future of Travel is gearing up to be the most comprehensive collection of knowledge and expertise on Chinas tourism sector ever assembled outside China.

A keynote speaker and chairperson of the session on bilateral tourism, Mrs. Shen Hui Rong, has until recently held the position of Marketing & Communications Director General at China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) in Beijing. For over 27 years, Mrs. Shen played key roles in Chinas rapidly developing tourism industry. She implemented Chinas recovery program post-SARS and has negotiated tourism agreements, known as ADS, with overseas destinations. Her work in this area earned her the nickname Ms. ADS.

We have asked Mrs. Shen about Chinas approach to outbound tourism and the role they see it playing in overall economic growth and social benefit to China.

When asked about the future potential of outbound tourism from China, Shen Hui Rong has told us “As usual when something is big in China, the numbers mentioned are staggering. The World Tourism Organization forecasts that China will become the worlds fourth-largest source of outbound tourists by 2020 with more than 100 million departures each year. Outbound travel from China jumped 50-fold in 20 years. In 1997, when the first batch of ADS destinations were approved including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, only 5.32 million trips were made. The number became 16.6 million in 2002, 20.22 million in 2003 despite the SARS epidemic, 28.85 million in 2004 and 31 million in 2005. It is expected that 2006 will still see 34 million overseas trips (10% increase). China has already replaced Japan as Asias number one outbound travel market.”

According to the survey released in the Annual Report of China Outbound Tourism Development 2005, white collar and company managerial staff are the main source of outbound travel, making up half of the market. This is especially the case in Beijing and Shanghai. 80% outbound travellers are aged between 18-50 with high education. 45% of outbound travellers are from three-member families while couples or singles comprise 30%.

The cost of staying/eating in the UK and Europe is quite high. While this is a factor in people’s travel choices, at present the visa issue is still the major barrier for Chinese travellers to Europe. Since last July EU nations carried out a stricter visa policy for Chinese tourists and as a result the number of Chinese tourists to Europe has not increased by much.

At present, the most popular tours to Europe are:

14 days trip to Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy and Holland; 12 days trip to Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican and Austria; 9 days trip to Switzerland, Finland and Belgium or Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

11 days trip to Spain and Portugal; 9 days trip to Nordic countries are the most aspirational products.

Most of the tours are city based if they travel to long-haul destinations but some Chinese golfers like to go to St. Andrews, which is included in tour packages.

Bilateral agreements and cooperation will enhance two-way traffic. The more people travel between two countries, the better understanding each other will attain. This will reduce the differences and cultural gap to further develop friendship between the two peoples.

World Travel Market is an important annual global travel trade exhibition organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, a leader in travel related fairs around the world. This is the first time that WTM is holding a full day conference on Chinas tourism industry. It is cooperating with ChinaContact to produce a high quality event with rich content, high quality speakers and fantastic networking opportunities. It is to be the first time that the theme of bilateral tourism development with China is discussed and analyzed at senior level in Europe. As Chinas tourism sector continues to overwhelm expectations to grow faster than its economy, this topic will remain a hot issue for many years to come. Chinathe future of Travel will continually update the international travel community on the dynamic pace of change in China and the ways that companies and destinations can benefit from this astounding destination / market.

ChinaContact is a dedicated market entry specialist for Chinas tourism sector, involved in consulting, investments, luxury destination marketing and public relations, events management and conference productions.

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Former Director General of Marketing and Communications, CNTA is Speaking at WTM-ChinaContact Conference on Bilateral Tourism Relations with China this November 6th

Anholt Nation Brands Index Q2 2007: Brand China on the Decline

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) September 5, 2007

The findings of the latest Anholt Nation Brands Index (NBI), the first analytical ranking of the world’s nation brands, were released today. The Index, created by government advisor Simon Anholt and powered by global market intelligence solutions provider GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.), revealed that Brand China took a huge hit in the wake of the recent product recalls. Its overall score declined between Q4 2005 and Q2 2007 by 4 percent. While this may not seem like a significant amount, it is nearly double the ground lost by any other country in the NBI. China lost ground in five of the six dimensions that make up the NBI (Exports, People, Governance, Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and Immigration and Investment).

“Faulty and dangerous products are hurting Brand China: evidence from the latest NBI scores shows that global public confidence in Made in China products, previously never very strong, is declining even more steeply,” explains Anholt, author of the NBI report. “China’s economy may be on the rise, but the country’s brand image has taken a wrong turn in the road. The Beijing Olympics could be a bright light for China, but first, the country has to overcome doubts about Chinese governance, mistrust of Chinese products, and sluggish tourism. Whether the Olympics will really succeed in improving China’s image, or simply dig Brand China into a deeper hole, is very much in the balance.”

For Immigration and Investment as a whole, China’s score declined by 11.4 percent between Q4 2005 and Q2 2007. Now, only Israel is less popular than China as a place to live and work. Tourism isn’t doing any better. As a place people are “likely to visit, money being no object”, China dropped more than any other country in the survey, now ranking 27th in the Tourism category.

Greece debuts as NBI guest nation

Greece was ranked 17th in the Q2 2007 Anholt Nation Brands Index, just behind Ireland and in front of Belgium. Greece’s dominant brand dimension is tourism. The Q2 2007 NBI placed it in 2nd place just behind Italy for its tourism appeal. Its people were ranked 6th for the welcome visitors expected to receive. Greece’s ancient heritage is well known and not surprisingly, it was the leading European nation for heritage, both built and cultural. Heritage boosted its score in the culture dimension where it ranked 10th, but it was also seen to have strength in contemporary culture for which it was ranked 8th.

Greece languishes in the middle and lower reaches of the brand tables. Considering its identification with sport during the 2004 Olympics, and its victory in the European Soccer Championships in the same year, its 20th position for sporting excellence is a poor result. Greece’s exports come in at 26th out of 38. In governance, it is the lowest-ranked member of the pre-2003 EU, coming in at 19th place. Greece is not at present a country many people would be attracted to live or study in, and its government has less credibility than most of its fellow EU members.

The current spate of wildfires will probably not affect Greece’s brand image – natural disasters seldom have any effect on people’s deep-seated beliefs about other countries – even if it does impact tourism figures in the short term. However, accusations of poor handling of the situation by government may help to depress Greece’s already weak reputation in this area.

Note to editors: To download a copy of the Anholt Nation Brands Index Q2 2007 summary report, please visit us online at http://www.nationbrandindex.com.

About the Anholt Nation Brands Index

The Q2 2007 Anholt Nation Brands Index polled 26,467 consumers between July 17th and August 10th 2007 on GMI’s online data collection platform. A 200-1,000 representative sample based on age, gender, and where applicable, geographical region, race and ethnicity, was collected in each of 35 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the USA. For further information about the Anholt Nation Brands Index methodology, please contact GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) at info(at)gmi-mr.com or visit http://www.nationbrandindex.com.

About Simon Anholt

Simon Anholt is recognized as the world’s leading authority on the branding of countries, regions and cities. He is a member of the UK Government’s Public Diplomacy Board, and works as an independent advisor to around 20 other national, regional and city governments on brand strategy and public diplomacy. Anholt developed the concept of the Nation Brands Index in 2005. He is founding editor of the quarterly journal, Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, and the author of Brand New Justice, Brand America and Competitive Identity – the New Brand Management for Nations, Cities and Regions. For further information about Simon Anholt, please visit http://www.earthspeak.com or email speak(at)earthspeak.com.

About GMI

GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) is the only provider of integrated solutions for global market intelligence for market research firms and Global 2,000 companies. Solutions include market research software, desktop analysis tools, 24x7x365 service bureau, and one of the world’s largest, highly profiled, double opted-in managed panels, providing reach to millions of consumers in more than 200 countries and territories. Founded in 1999 with world headquarters in Seattle, Wash., GMI has operations on five continents. In 2007, the company ranked #229 in Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 500. For more information, please visit us online at http://www.gmi-mr.com or email us at info(at)gmi-mr.com.

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Anholt Nation Brands Index Q2 2007: Brand China on the Decline

Denver, CO. (PRWEB) November 14, 2012 GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, a leading provider of study abroad programs across the globe promoting academic, cultural, personal, professional, and social discovery, today announced nine new pre-designed faculty-led study abroad courses for universities and faculty seeking quality, affordable and dynamic solutions for taking groups of students abroad. The programs in Australia, New Zealand, and China include short-term, summer, or semester immersion options. GlobaLinks Learning Abroad created these courses to ease the process for universities and faculty who want to lead their students on successful academic experiences abroad but may not have the time or the expertise to plan the entire program, said Cynthia Banks, Executive Director and CEO of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. Our organization brings more than 20 years of leadership in designing, building and supporting customized faculty-led programs. These nine pre-designed courses represent the best-of-the-best of our most popular programs, keeping in mind we also can customize them in various ways to best suit our university clients. The nine pre-designed courses are offered in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in China through partner Next Step Connections in Shanghai, and feature popular academic program areas including engineering, sport, hospitality, business, ecology and the environment, said Steve Luther, Director of Specialty Programs and Outreach for GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. These courses give universities and potential faculty program leaders a superb program outline offering daily field visits, guest lectures, and a host of cultural activities, Luther said. We start with these templates and then add the faculty leaders specialty and interests to truly make it personal and relevant for their groups. Pre-designed faculty-led course descriptions: The Global Sport Experience in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in sport management and business, kinesiology, athletic training, human performance, and related areas. The Global Sport Experience in New Zealand: Appropriate for faculty and students in sport management and business, kinesiology, athletic training, human performance, and related areas. Economic & Cultural Discovery of China: Appropriate for faculty and students in business administration, economics, finance, marketing, commerce, international business and related areas. Tropical Biology and Ecosystems in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in biology, ecology, ecosystems, the environment, and related areas. The Environment and Outdoors in New Zealand: Appropriate for faculty and students in environmental science/studies, outdoor education, recreation and leisure, and related areas. Hospitality and Tourism in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in hospitality, hotel and institutional management, tourism, ecotourism, event management, and related areas. Traditional Chinese Medicine: Appropriate for faculty and students in health sciences, public health, and cultural studies of one of the worlds oldest practiced forms of alternative medicine. Global Engineering Practices in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in engineering, sustainability, construction management, architecture, built environment, and related areas. International Business & Marketing in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in business administration, marketing, commerce, international business and related areas. Hospitality and Events Management in China: Appropriate for faculty and students in hospitality, hotel and institutional management, tourism, ecotourism, event management, and related areas. MBA Global Immersion in China: Designed to offer a short-term international experience for faculty and students in MBA and postgraduate business programs in one of the worlds most booming economies. More options are available, Luther said. Besides these nine pre-designed faculty-led courses, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad also offers other custom-designed faculty-led courses to fit almost any duration and academic area in various countries including Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and China, Luther said. Cost is one of the most important considerations with customized faculty-led programs, and one of the many points of value we bring is through consultation in helping universities decide what is most important to include and what can adjust to keep the costs affordable. For more information, visit the customized programs page of http://www.GlobaLinksAbroad.org. About GlobaLinks Learning Abroad: GlobaLinks Learning Abroad is a leading provider of education abroad and internship programs for college-level students in destinations across the globe. Students from more than 800 universities and colleges across North America choose to study and intern with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad each year in destinations in the Pacific Region (Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji), in Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand) and Europe (Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Scotland, Spain, Wales, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands.) Since it was founded in 1990, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad has sent more than 26,000 students on educational programs worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.GlobaLinksAbroad.org. GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Announces Nine Pre-Designed Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs In Australia, New Zealand and China

Denver, CO. (PRWEB) November 14, 2012

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, a leading provider of study abroad programs across the globe promoting academic, cultural, personal, professional, and social discovery, today announced nine new pre-designed faculty-led study abroad courses for universities and faculty seeking quality, affordable and dynamic solutions for taking groups of students abroad. The programs in Australia, New Zealand, and China include short-term, summer, or semester immersion options.

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad created these courses to ease the process for universities and faculty who want to lead their students on successful academic experiences abroad but may not have the time or the expertise to plan the entire program, said Cynthia Banks, Executive Director and CEO of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. Our organization brings more than 20 years of leadership in designing, building and supporting customized faculty-led programs. These nine pre-designed courses represent the best-of-the-best of our most popular programs, keeping in mind we also can customize them in various ways to best suit our university clients.

The nine pre-designed courses are offered in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in China through partner Next Step Connections in Shanghai, and feature popular academic program areas including engineering, sport, hospitality, business, ecology and the environment, said Steve Luther, Director of Specialty Programs and Outreach for GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. These courses give universities and potential faculty program leaders a superb program outline offering daily field visits, guest lectures, and a host of cultural activities, Luther said. We start with these templates and then add the faculty leaders specialty and interests to truly make it personal and relevant for their groups.

Pre-designed faculty-led course descriptions:

The Global Sport Experience in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in sport management and business, kinesiology, athletic training, human performance, and related areas.

The Global Sport Experience in New Zealand: Appropriate for faculty and students in sport management and business, kinesiology, athletic training, human performance, and related areas.

Economic & Cultural Discovery of China: Appropriate for faculty and students in business administration, economics, finance, marketing, commerce, international business and related areas.

Tropical Biology and Ecosystems in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in biology, ecology, ecosystems, the environment, and related areas.

The Environment and Outdoors in New Zealand: Appropriate for faculty and students in environmental science/studies, outdoor education, recreation and leisure, and related areas.

Hospitality and Tourism in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in hospitality, hotel and institutional management, tourism, ecotourism, event management, and related areas.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: Appropriate for faculty and students in health sciences, public health, and cultural studies of one of the worlds oldest practiced forms of alternative medicine.

Global Engineering Practices in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in engineering, sustainability, construction management, architecture, built environment, and related areas.

International Business & Marketing in Australia: Appropriate for faculty and students in business administration, marketing, commerce, international business and related areas.

Hospitality and Events Management in China: Appropriate for faculty and students in hospitality, hotel and institutional management, tourism, ecotourism, event management, and related areas.

MBA Global Immersion in China: Designed to offer a short-term international experience for faculty and students in MBA and postgraduate business programs in one of the worlds most booming economies.

More options are available, Luther said.

Besides these nine pre-designed faculty-led courses, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad also offers other custom-designed faculty-led courses to fit almost any duration and academic area in various countries including Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and China, Luther said. Cost is one of the most important considerations with customized faculty-led programs, and one of the many points of value we bring is through consultation in helping universities decide what is most important to include and what can adjust to keep the costs affordable.

For more information, visit the customized programs page of http://www.GlobaLinksAbroad.org.

About GlobaLinks Learning Abroad:

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad is a leading provider of education abroad and internship programs for college-level students in destinations across the globe. Students from more than 800 universities and colleges across North America choose to study and intern with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad each year in destinations in the Pacific Region (Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji), in Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand) and Europe (Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Scotland, Spain, Wales, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands.) Since it was founded in 1990, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad has sent more than 26,000 students on educational programs worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.GlobaLinksAbroad.org.

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Announces Nine Pre-Designed Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs In Australia, New Zealand and China