All routes leead to China
WHILE travellers usually
prefer the most direct
route to a destination,
operators say clients are often
open to making a stopover
en-route to China.
Alet Steyn, business
development manager of
Wendy Wu Tours, says many
clients make use of the
stopover in Hong Kong or
Singapore to extend their
holidays. “Cathay Pacific is our
main carrier to China. It has
good connections and a lot
of clients prefer to stop over
in Hong Kong on their way
back. We also make use of
Singapore Airlines,” she says.
Singapore Airlines, says
market development manager,
Sally George, operates daily
flights between Johannesburg
and Singapore as well as four
times a week from Cape Town
(via Johannesburg). Further,
she says the airline operates
to four destinations in China
while its regional wing, SilkAir,
operates to eight cities.
According to Theresa
Szejwallo, md of Trafalgar
South Africa, most clients
prefer to fly directly to China
but some fly with the Gulf
carriers, using this option for a
stopover.
Chien Liou, md of Dragon
Holidays, finds that most of
the company’s clients opt for
Emirates when travelling to
China because of the “highly
competitive airfares and
low fuel levy. Convenience
of multiple daily flights in
and out of Johannesburg,
plus services to and from
Durban and Cape Town have
increased the popularity.”
Chien adds, however, that
those interested in a stopover
in Hong Kong choose
Cathay Pacific.
“Passengers have little
choice of direct flights to
China with SAA being the
only airline to offer a direct
flight to Beijing. Many China
tours feature Beijing-in and
Shanghai-out, so passengers
would still have to get back
to Beijing from Shanghai.
Hong Kong is by far the most
popular stopover choice on
the China routes,” says Chien.
Another good option for
travellers is Air Mauritius.
Says regional manager,
Southern Africa and Latin
America, Carla da Silva: “From
where Mauritius is located
geographically, connectivity
from Asia via Mauritius
to Africa is viable for the
traveller.”
Carla adds that the
connectivity is good in terms
of seamless connections and,
where there is no connectivity,
a free stopover is offered.
“The air fares are extremely
competitive, starting at
R3 900pp,” she adds.
For the time being, airlines
on this route carry more
Chinese tourists visiting
South Africa, than South
Africans travelling to China.
Carla says the numbers are
currently indicate a 60/40
split between inbound and
outbound.
Some inbound operators,
however, are predicting a drop
in the number of tourists
visiting SA as a result of
the biometric visa being
introduced, and its ‘apply
in person’ requirement.
But Carla says South Africa
remains a gateway to Africa.
“I do not see a challenge
because the requirement for
labour, expansion and
demand for Chinese
investments is growing.”
Free stopover from MK
AIR Mauritius offers a free
stopover package for flights
to Beijing. With rates from
R9 500 per person, clients
can travel from South Africa
to Beijing with a stopover in
Mauritius, staying at some
of the island’s top resorts.
LUX* sets sights on China
LUX* Resorts & Hotels
has announced the
LUX* Tea Horse Road
(LUX* Chamadao) as the
foundation of its planned
expansion into China.
It was conceived as a
30-room luxury boutique
hotel, situated on two
neighbouring sites in the
heart of Lijiang Ancient
Town – a Unesco World
Heritage Site – with phase
one consisting of 10 rooms
opening on September 9.
Phase two, with 20 rooms,
is planned to launch in mid-
2015.
LUX* Lijiang will be the
first in a circuit of regional
luxury boutique hotels.
Initially located across
the south-west provinces
of Yunnan and Szechuan
and bordering Tibet, the
complete circuit of individual
properties and bespoke
experiences will be known
collectively as the LUX* Tea
Horse Road.
The ancient passageway
of the Tea Horse Road is a
legendary trail, stretching
from Pu’er, in the teagrowing
region of Yunnan
Province, to Lhasa, the
Tibetan capital. Here
Chinese tea was traded for
salt and Tibetan horses.
Paul Jones, ceo of LUX*
Resorts & Hotels is leading
the conceptualisation and
design of the development.
“China’s economic progress,
continued stability and
the growing ease of travel
have made the country
increasingly attractive to
trend-setting travellers who
are looking for unspoiled
destinations rich in original
and genuine experiences.
Last year's prices from Dragon Holidays
DRAGON Holidays has not
increased the prices on
its Join-In tours since last
year.
For example, the seven
night Imperial & Modern
tour is available from
US$1 090 (R11 658);
nine-night Best of China
from $1 750 (R18 718),
12-night Classic China and
Brilliant China both from
$2 490 (R26 633) and
the 15-night Grand China
from $3 450 (R36 901).
The prices are land only,
although internal flights in
China are included.
Agents earn 10%
commission on the listed
prices.
Spacial offfers from Wendy Wu
WENDY Wu is offering three
special packages, valid
for travel until the end of
November.
From R30 165pps, the
11-day fully inclusive China
Experience includes visits
to Shanghai, Wuzhen, Xian
and Beijing. The In Pursuit
of Pandas tour is a 10-day
fully inclusive holiday priced
from R30 645pps. Some
of the highlights include
Beijing, Xian and Chengdu.
The 15-day fully inclusive
Glories of China tour includes
Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo,
Xian and Beijing and is on
sale from R38 290pps.
The packages include return
international economy class
airfares and airport taxes on
Cathay Pacific, compulsory
tipping, domestic flights
within China, transportation
by modern air-conditioned
vehicles, accommodation,
meals, entrance fees, guides
and daily tours, China visa
fees for SA passport holders
and a Wendy Wu Tours travel
wallet per family.
SQ operates A380 to Beijing
SINGAPORE Airlines’
customers flying to and
from Beijing will now be
travelling on the A380.
From August, the airline
deployed the aircraft on
flight SQ802, departing
Singapore at 08h30 and
arriving in Beijing at 14h40.
The return flight departs
Beijing at 16h35, arriving
in Singapore at 22h55. The
471- seat A380 replaces
two flights that operated
with smaller aircraft.
Beijing is the second city
in China to receive the
Singapore Airlines A380
after Shanghai. The aircraft
is also deployed to Hong
Kong, as well as Frankfurt,
London, Los Angeles,
Melbourne, Mumbai, New
Delhi, New York, Paris,
Sydney, Tokyo Narita and
Zurich.
China: a good spot for leisure travel
STILL predominantly a
business travel destination
for South Africans, China
offers some great sights and
experiences for leisure trips.
Sally George says Singapore
Airlines mainly sees corporate
traffic between South Africa
and China, but that there is
a growing interest in leisure
travellers interested in the
cultural aspects of the
destination.
“More families with children,
friends, couples and single
travellers are joining our
tours,” says Alet Steyn. She
says travellers are looking for
a destination that can offer
fun as well as a combination
of cultural and educational
experiences.
Theresa Szejwallo says
Trafalgar’s leisure market to
China is still small but that
the destination is a wonderful
choice for repeat business
clients seeking something
a little different. “We find
that past guests who have
seen most of Europe and
Northern America, then look
for a holiday that offers all the
Trafalgar Insider Experiences,
combined with an exciting
new destination.” China, she
says, appeals to the more
sophisticated and adventurous
traveller.
Chien Liou says South
Africans invariably include
Beijing in their plans to see
the Forbidden City and climb
the Great Wall. “The Summer
Palace and Temple of Heaven
are other great attractions. The
Army of Terracotta Warriors at
Xi’an is now as popular as the
Great Wall.”
Chien says China is a luxury
niche market travel offering
and that passengers in that
bracket settle for four-star
accommodation.
Alet says some clients
combine business and
leisure travel in China. “We
are also getting a lot of
business travellers attending
conferences and trade fairs
in China and then extending
their stay afterwards to see
more of China,” she says.
The best times of year to
visit China – with comfortable
temperatures and the least
amount of rainfall – are May
and September.
