China enjoying golden era in travel as e-commerce soars
China’s e-commerce sector continues to shine. According to the Ministry of Commerce People’s Republic of China, the trade volume of China’s e-commerce in the first half year reached 5.66 trillion yuan, up 30.1% year on year. Online retail market reached 1.1 trillion yuan, up 33.4% year on year [...]
More Chinese online shoppers than there are people living in the USA
Some 52.5% of Chinese Internet users now shop online, that’s about 332 million in total – and that’s more than the population of the US (313.9 million).That datapoint was shared by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Shang Bing, at Beijing’s annual China Interne [...]
Snow on the hills, sakura on the trees, travel in Japan unearthed
On my last day in Japan, I visited a forest created by a Welshman and tasted tempura made from shitake which had been freshly plucked from the soil.And even though it was late spring, there was still snow in the mountains, sakura on the trees and spring water running down the hills.I also visite [...]
Getai and ghosts breathe life into the new Asia
Believe it or not, I am not going to write about a certain royal wedding that’s taking place this weekend. Instead, I am going to write about ghosts and “getai”.“Getai” is Chinese street opera performed during the Hungry Ghost Month which usually falls around every August. It’s to keep t [...]
From the top, same view but different thinking, I hope
Had lunch at the top of One Raffles Place yesterday, tallest building in Singapore, I am told. Used to be called UOB Centre but now changed to the more fashionable One. Taxi driver moaned on way over, “They always changing names.”The views looking out over the bay are amazing. It still looks lik [...]
From Tane Mahuta to Eiffel: What lies ahead in 2011
So in one week, I went from hugging New Zealand’s oldest tree, Tane Mahuta, to standing at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A somewhat surreal experience actually – one an approximate 2,000-year old living thing whose name means “Lord of the Forest” and the other, a mere babe in the w [...]
Fogel: The hedgehog who believes in sticking to his knitting
Early September in Beijing. A Christmas jingle is playing in the lobby lounge of the GeHua New Century Hotel. Glenn Fogel, executive vice president of corporate development of Priceline, and I are having a chat over coffee.We looked at each other and laughed at the surreality of it. It’s what I lo [...]
Five start-ups to pitch at WITovation Entrepreneur Bootcamp
Five finalists will pitch at the inaugural WITovation Entrepreneur Bootcamp being held on October 18.Representing a range of business ideas in the digital travel space, they comprise start-ups such as ComeSingapore, Forget Boundaries, Yopir, Tourz and Eco Travel.Each company will have the opportunit [...]
Firefly wings down south
Firefly, Malaysia’s community airline, has been in the news lately due to its aggressive push in adding hubs and destinations, as well as increasing its aircraft fleet.The airline’s latest move is to designate Johor as its southern hub with the delivery its new fleet of Boeing 737-400 aircraft o [...]
Firefly flies into Foursquare
Firefly, Malaysia’s only community airline, has made history of sorts by being the first company in the country and the second airline in the world to have a page on Foursquare, the location-based social network.Checking in to Firefly on Foursquare reveals useful tips near the airport or destina [...]
