China - Joint plan to encourage tourism

Photo taken on June 3, 2018 shows Wusi Square in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. The 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit is scheduled for June 9 to 10 in Qingdao.

Member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are expected to sign a joint action plan for 2019-20 during the two-day summit in Qingdao to further boost tourism, a senior Chinese official said on Friday.

The new plan aims to offer more abundant tourism products, improve services, better secure the legal rights and safety of tourists and introduce new technology, such as big data analysis, said Xue Yaping, director of the tourism promotion and international cooperation department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

"SCO member countries are close neighbors," he said. "Their tourism features complement each other and thus create huge potential for the market."

Great achievements have been made in tourism in recent years. In 2017, China attracted 3.61 million international visits from citizens of other SCO member countries, up by 11.75 percent year-on-year. That included 1.67 million from Russia and about 800,000 from India, ministry data show.

On the other hand, Russia received 2.3 million visits from China last year, and India and Kazakhstan each received about 200,000, according to the ministry.

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With the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese tourists have shown an increasing interest in Central Asia, which is along the primary route of the ancient Silk Road, Xue said.

However, the relatively complicated visa application procedures of Central Asian countries are sometimes a bottleneck, he said.

"More measures will be taken in the coming years to simplify visa application and customs procedures under the joint action plan," Xue said. "And we'll develop more tourism products to 'connect the dots', enabling Chinese visitors to travel to multiple Central Asian countries within one trip."

In addition, more "package products" that include the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan will be promoted in other SCO countries.

Since the China Railway Express to Europe has become a freight artery connecting many Chinese and European cities in terms of logistics, the rail network, which crosses Central Asia, can also be used for tourism to offer visitors abundant experiences.

"Such a cooperative platform (under the SCO) is mutually beneficial," he said. "We can understand each other's actual needs through more dialogue."

In May, top tourism administrators of SCO member countries met in Wuhan, Hubei province, where a draft was made for such a joint action plan.

Though Xue said there will be no specific target for the number of mutual visits within the next two years, he emphasized that comprehensive cooperation in tourism will have long-term effects.

Source- ChinaDaily

Chinese tourists just can't get enough of #Thailand

Tourism is the gift that keeps on giving in Thailand, thanks especially to China.

Visitors from the world’s most-populous nation surged to a record 1.2 million in February, swelled by the Lunar New Year holiday period, Tourism Ministry data released Wednesday in Bangkok showed. The kingdom expects 38 million tourists overall this year, including more than 10 million from China.

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Thailand’s relationship with Chinese tourists has sometimes been rocky. Visitor numbers collapsed toward the end of 2016, when the Thai administration cracked down on operators bringing in large groups from China on cut-price holidays. Those curbs were eventually eased and numbers have since rocketed.

Tourism is worth about a fifth of the Thai economy and has been an important growth driver for the military government that took power almost four years ago. But the boom is clogging infrastructure and threatens to take a bigger environmental cost on the beaches attracting so many visitors.

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Source - TheJakartaPost

Authentic Ayutthaya comes to life at Japanese Village’s Virtual Reality Street Museum

                             Smart technology enriches history, offering unforgettable, immersive experiences in celebration of 130th anniversary of Thai-Japanese diplomatic relations.

Thailand and Japan are celebrating the 130^th anniversary of official diplomatic relations with a Virtual Reality Street Museum, located at the Japanese Village in Ayutthaya province.  

Created as an integral part of the permanent exhibition and multimedia of “Yamada Nagamasa (Okya Senabhimuk) and Thaothongkeepma” in the exhibition hall next to the Chao Phraya River, the Virtual Reality Street Museum features an innovative experiential showcase and is complemented by historic information about the former capital of Ayutthaya, the roles of the Japanese Village, and the international fabric of society at the height of the Ayutthaya period. 

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, 

“Ayutthaya is one of Thailand’s most visited destinations, with both Thais and international guests appreciating the rich tapestry of Thai heritage that is brought to life in the area. The Virtual Reality Street Museum at the Japanese Village will be a valuable addition to this, by bringing history into the 21^st century.” 

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The newly-opened Virtual Reality Street Museum provides visitors with an immersive VR Theatre equipped with the latest VR Scope Technology, offering a spectacular 360-degree view of historic Ayutthaya, which was considered one of the most important trading posts connecting the East and the West by facilitating the exchange of trade, culture, politics and diplomacy.  

With Ayutthaya and the Japanese Village at the heart of the exhibition showcase, the advanced technology portrays an engaging story through 96-million-pixel resolution computer graphics, which depict the naval trade journey of Yamada Nagamasa that established the relationship with the 17^th century Siamese Kingdom, and set the foundations for the flourishing relationship today.  

Through the Street Museum’s technology, visitors can scan a QR code with their handheld devices; such as, smartphones and tablets to enjoy the vast landscape of the Japanese Village both today and from the 17^th century through virtual reality on their screens, with audio guides available in three languages: Thai, Japanese and English.   

TAT is also supporting the VR Street Museum by providing a glimpse into the Ayutthaya way of life. Experiential market life is on display inviting visitors to enjoy an Ayutthaya culinary experience inspired by recipes of the renowned Thaothongkeepma (Marie Guimar) – who was a cook in the court of King Narai the Great; such as, Thong Yip, Thong Yot, and Foi Thong.  

With the Virtual Reality Street Museum now open for visitors, tourists can easily add this immersive technological experience to their historic Ayutthaya itinerary.

Source - TheNation

#Indonesia - Baduy Dalam celebrates harvest, closed for three months

Those interested in learning more about the Baduy Dalam tribe, which resides in Leuwidamar district, Lebak regency, Banten, may want to schedule a visit outside of February, March and April.

"There are limitations and rules concerning visitors to Baduy Dalam. During the month of Kawalu between February and April, the three kampungs of Baduy Dalam, namely Cibeo, Cikartawana and Cikeusik, are closed to visitors," one of the tribe's figures, Ayah Mursid, told KompasTravel at the cultural village on Saturday. 

Home to natural attractions and well-preserved local traditions, the Baduy village or also known as Kanekes village, is divided into two parts. One is where the Baduy Luar tribe lives, and the other is home to the Baduy Dalam people.

During the Kawalu month, which is the harvest season, the people of Baduy Dalam will conduct a series of rituals. 

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"The Kawalu rituals begun in February and end in April. It's like Idul Fitri in Islam," said Ayah.

In Baduy Dalam, people are also not allowed to cross the yard, bathe using soap or take pictures.

During Kawalu and other times, foreigners are prohibited from entering the areas of Baduy Dalam. They are only allowed to explore Baduy Luar. 

The Baduy Luar village is always open to both domestic and foreign tourists throughout the year, including between February and April.

The two tribes wear different types of clothing. The people of Baduy Dalam usually don a black and white outfit, a fabric known as samping, and a white headband.

Meanwhile, the Baduy Luar villagers usually wear a black top and blue batik. The latter is usually used as a samping and headband as well.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Laos is the Youngest Nation in Asia

As many parts of the world prepare to cope with large aging populations, sparsely populated Laos remains the youngest nation in Asia.

According to a report y the Jakarta Post, Asia will boast the oldest population in the world in coming decades, with Japan already topping the world’s elderly population at 33.1 percent.

South Korea takes second place, with an aging population growing faster than any other nation. The aging population in South Korea is expected to increase from 18.5 percent to 31.4 percent by 2030, and the country now has  more older people than younger people for the first time.

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Laos’ neighbor Thailand is the third most rapidly aging country in Asia. The Land of Smiles is set to see population growth of 26.9 percent, with one quarter of the population being a senior citizen by 2030.

China’s population will shrink as ripples of the nation’s one-child policy take effect, while Sri Lanka and Vietnam are set to see growth in their aging populations.

Meanwhile, India has a relatively young population, with only 8.9 percent of the population being older.

Laos, however, will remain the youngest nation in Asia, expected to have just 8.1 percent of the population aged 60 and over by 2030.

Source - Laotian Times

Lunar New Year shines across Asia - The Year of the Dog

From Beijing to Jakarta, dragon dance and dog lanterns ring in the colorful spring festival.         

Folk artists perform a lion dance ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring festival, at Taierzhuang Ancient Town scenic area in Zaozhuang, Shandong province, China.

People visit lantern decorations for the upcoming Chinese New Year in Yu Yuan Garden in Shanghai, China.

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People walk past lantern decorations for the upcoming Chinese New Year in Yu Yuan Garden in Shanghai, China, 

Men perform a dragon dance ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

A man prepares lanterns and decorations for sale at a market ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in central Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

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