Recommend March 2015 - (Page 61)

asia Wendy Wu is offering new China tours under its Premium Collection portfolio. China's Got it Going On Expect plenty from China in 2015, as this country- rich in history and culture-is front and center with new happenings. deserae del campo If you're not a subscriber to the monthly newsletters released by the China National Tourist Ofﬁce (CNTO), then you should be. Travel and tourism news from the CNTO has revealed a slew of new goings-on, from tourism initiatives to new hotels. Some of these happenings include: n In October, a new $50 million visitor center was unveiled at the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO site located in the desert city of Dunhuang in Northwest China. The 492 caves feature more than 2,000 sculptures and almost 485,000 sq. ft. of ancient murals. n American Airlines hopes to operate a new nonstop ﬂight to Beijing from Dallas/Fort Worth this May. The route will be the ﬁrst nonstop ﬂight between the two cities; and United Airlines recently announced plans to increase ﬂights from San Francisco to Shanghai and Chengdu this summer. n Shanghai Disney Resort is expected to open in spring of 2016. The park will include Shanghai Disneyland, the 420-room Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and the Toy Story Hotel. n In an effort to make travel to China for business and leisure easier, the U.S. and Chinese governments agreed late last year to issue longer-term visas for tourism, business and education. The new policy extends the visas to 10 years. n China is kicking off a new marketing initiative to promote the Silk Road route. The new theme, Beautiful China 2015-Year of Silk Road Tourism, will focus on the Silk Road as the country's newest alluring destination for visitors. Yaping Xue, director for the CNTO in New York, says that tourism to China "continues to grow with renewed interest from North American travelers, particularly in emerging destinations and attractions outside the ever popular sites in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai." He also notes that several "new upscale hotel developments have kept pace with the increase in demand, while ﬂeet upgrades from Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and other Chinese and major local airlines, are making it easier than ever to get to and from China." china tours Ritz Tours' new 10-day China Charm tour leads travelers to Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai (rates start from $1,800 pp with international airfare from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston; JFK departures add $100 to the rate). Highlights include a trek along the Great Wall and exploring Beijing's imperial monuments, such as the Forbidden City, march 2015 37 37-38 AS NewHotels.indd 37 2/24/15 8:24 AM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2015

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Happenings in the Caribbean
GOGO’s Gone and Increased Commissions
Liverpool
Alaska: What’s New
Holland America’s Westerdam in Alaska
Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaii
What’s New in Hawaii
Miami’s Cultural Side
“Ahlan Wa Sahlan” Says Egypt’s Welcome Sign
Family-Focused Caribbean Escapes
Atlantis, Paradise Island
China’s Got It Going On
Parks & Recreation = Family Travel Highs in Costa Rica
Club Med Cancun Yucatan
Los Cabos

Recommend March 2015