The post China’s visa-free policy seen as olive branch to Japan appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Chinese authorities announced on Friday, 22nd November, the expansion of China’s roster of countries allowed visa-free entry.

This most recent expansion includes Japan and eight other nations, enabling their passport holders to enter and stay in China sans visa for up to 30 days.

The policy takes effect on 30th November 2024 and will be in place until 31st December 2025.

On November 22, Chinese authorities announced an expansion of the nation’s visa-free list, granting a 30-day visa waiver to visitors from nine countries including Japan. This policy will take effect from November 30, 2024, and last until December 31, 2025.

This is seen as a response to widespread calls issued by various sectors earlier this year for the resumption of visa-free entry to China for Japanese nationals.

A direct response

Back in January of this year, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked on how it looked forward to working with the Japanese government to enhance mutual convenience for personnel exchanges.

At the time the remark was made, the countries were in talks regarding a reciprocity principle that would leave Japanese officials in an awkward position.

Since then, Japan has worked to simplify visa application procedures for Chinese nationals seeking to enter the country.

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The post Eurail launches “Journeys that make a difference” campaign appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

As an alternative to Black Friday, Eurail is launching their “Journeys that make a difference” campaign for a second year, encouraging travellers to slow down, savour their journeys and advocate for the meaningful impact travel can have on people and the planet. 

For every Pass* purchased from November 26 to December 17, 2024, Eurail will donate €5 to Intrepid Travel’s non-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, with a maximum donation of €100,000. Alongside Eurail’s contribution, travellers will also be invited to make an additional donation of their own to support organisations dedicated to creating positive change in communities across Europe.

Travel has the power to fundamentally shape our perspective and leave long-lasting impressions. Eurail believes the benefits of travel can go both ways, enriching both the traveller and the destinations they encounter.

The partnership between Eurail and The Intrepid Foundation highlights their natural alignment of values, to empower travellers to make a positive contribution to the places they visit, experiencing the joy of travel, community, and connection along the way.

With conscious travel at the campaign’s core, Eurail is encouraging travellers to join them in making an extra donation directly to The Intrepid Foundation after saving 25% on their Passes. In 2024, donations will benefit organisations such as:

• Cooperativa Coraggio, promotes sustainable agriculture in Italy
• Humana Zagreb, champions sustainable fashion in Croatia
• ReFOOD, addresses the food waste crisis
• Open Arms, aims to protect people fleeing their homes via sea to Europe

In 2023, Eurail gave back to these organisations and others, successfully achieving their donation goal in support of The Intrepid Foundation. The generosity of Eurail’s community of travellers and partners has enabled several impactful initiatives to be implemented by the organisations this year.

Since last year…

Cooperativa Coraggio has procured climate-smart agriculture tools to maintain public lands, organised awareness events on land regeneration and sustainable food production, and supported employment for a vulnerable worker. Humana Zagreb has launched two educational programs and engaged 100 children across 13 schools with workshops, lectures and practical reuse activities. ReFOOD has continued to be entirely volunteer-run as they have facilitated the rescue of 113,572 high-quality meals and prevented 56,786 kilos of bio residues from degrading the shared environment.

Eurail and Intrepid Travel believe that by giving back and advocating for conscious travel – taking the train, choosing lesser-visited destinations, exploring during the off-season and beyond – everyone has the power to positively impact the places they visit and people they meet along the way. Together, our journeys will make a difference – for both individual travellers and the world.

* The 25% off promotion will run from November 26 until December 17 2024 and is applicable for select Interrail and Eurail Passes.

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The post New Taipei City ushers in the holidays with Christmasland 2024 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

New Taipei City ushered in the holidays with the Magical Christmasland Opening Event on 15th November.

City mayor Hou Yu-Ih, together with key officials and guests, led the ceremonial lighting of the attraction, infusing the festivities with a touch of magic. 

This year’s Christmasland introduces a spectacular transformation: the Christmas tree takes the form of a graceful magical angel, casting radiant light throughout the venue. 

Surrounded by dazzling illuminations, the angel’s brilliance creates an enchanting atmosphere of joy and blessings. 

A castle of wonder

Adding to the marvel, an eight-story-high LED castle debuts on the north side of New Taipei City Plaza, serving as both the main stage for performances and an immersive visual showcase that will captivate visitors over 48 days of festivities.

Making its debut at the lighting ceremony, the LED castle’s main show features new magical characters: the Magic Sage, Soul Healer, Sacred Shield Guardian, and Elemental Explorer. 

Each character wields unique magical abilities to help those facing challenges around the world, embodying the spirit of Christmas harmony and happiness. 

Also among the highlights are the Magic Angel and Santa Claus who go on a whimsical adventure filled with wonder and fun. 

Likewise, the Christmas-themed glowing parade shuttle, led by Santa Claus aboard a reindeer train, will make surprise appearances around New Taipei City Plaza’s The City of Magic and Banqiao Station Square’s Magical Paradise. 

Spreading joy and festive cheer, these charming processions are sure to delight visitors of all ages.

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The post Emirates to deploy its A350 to Edinburgh on 3 January appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Emirates has announced it will bring forward its daily A350 scheduled service to Edinburgh starting from 3 January 2025. The advancement of the scheduled service reinforces Emirates’ commitment to providing customers with enhanced travel experiences and greater comfort onboard.

The Emirates A350 will be rolled out to 8 other destinations including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kuwait, Bahrain, Colombo, Lyon, Muscat and Bologna, with more destinations to follow.

Emirates flight EK 23 will depart Dubai at 14:50hrs and arrive in Edinburgh at 19:05hrs, local time. The return flight, EK24, will depart Edinburgh at 20:40hrs and arrive in Dubai at 08:05hrs, the following day.

The airline also currently serves Glasgow with a daily A380 – offering customers 14 weekly flights to/from Scotland.  Including Edinburgh, Emirates serves eight destinations in the UK.

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The post Ras Al Khaimah is the world’s top city for expatriates appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Ras Al Khaimah has achieved a significant milestone in its journey to becoming a leading global destination to live, work and explore, by securing the top position in a survey of the world’s best expat destinations, conducted by InterNations, the largest global expatriate network.

The Emirate secured the world’s number one spot out of 53 cities in the Expat Essentials Index, conducted annually by InterNations as part of their 2024 Expat Insider report. The Index is based on four categories: Admin (how easy it is to get a visa, deal with local bureaucracy, open a bank account); Housing (affordability of housing, ease of finding accommodation); Digital Life (availability of government services online, high-speed internet); and Language (how easy it is to integrate without speaking the local language).

This international recognition highlights Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to creating an exceptional living and working environment for its diverse and growing expat community, in line with the strategic vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Ras Al Khaimah ranked top in the overall Index and also ranked highly for Working Abroad, where the Emirate came second, in addition to ranking 5^th for Ease of Settling In.

Heba Fatani, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office (RAKGMO), stated: “This achievement reflects our dedication to creating a safe, welcoming and thriving community that attracts individuals from all around the world. Ras Al Khaimah’s unique blend of modern infrastructure, spectacular natural environment, rich history and culture, and thriving business and tourism landscapes contribute to its reputation as a leading global destination for expatriates wishing to live and work, establish or manage businesses here.

“In line with this commitment, RAKGMO recently launched Heart of RAK, a comprehensive online platform dedicated to showcasing all aspects of life in the Emirate.”

RAKGMO’s Head of Special Projects, Rouba Zeidan, who leads livability initiatives, added: “Earning the top ranking in this global survey is a testament to the  vibrant community spirit and the collaborative efforts of both public and private sectors to enhance Ras Al Khaimah’s appeal-not only as a premier international business hub, but as a place where individuals and families truly feel at home, thrive and belong.

“Hearing that those who chose to move to Ras Al Khaimah genuinely feel at home is the greatest affirmation of its welcoming nature and beauty. We are continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of our dynamic and growing communities.”

Earning the top ranking in the InterNations 2024 Expat Essentials Index, Ras Al Khaimah is a city where almost three in four respondents say it is easy to find housing: 72% (vs. 45% globally); and when it came to the housing market, local bureaucracy and the language barrier prior to relocating, 69% of respondents did not believe there to be any concerns in these matters in Ras Al Khaimah, compared to 29% globally.

InterNations’s global expat community includes more than 5.4 million members in 420 cities and 166 countries.

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The post Mastercard Academy launches online course appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Mastercard Academy, one of the leading providers of world-class training solutions in the payments space, has unveiled a free online financial literacy course: ‘Master Your Card: Finance Demystified’. Designed in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the course aims to empower individuals with the financial knowledge needed to navigate complex personal finance tools and improve their overall financial well-being.

According to the latest S&P Global FinLit Survey, only 33% of adults – 35% of men and 30% of women – worldwide are financially literate. This means that around 3.5 billion adults, most of them in developing economies, lack an understanding of basic financial concepts.

Mastercard’s financial literacy program removes geographical barriers to financial education and promotes greater access to financial services in line with the company’s goal of connecting one billion individuals worldwide to the digital economy by 2025.

The engaging course features interactive lessons, quizzes and real-world examples across four key areas: electronic payments, budgeting, credit scores and financial security. Available worldwide, the new proposition underscores the importance of education in advancing Mastercard’s mission to power economies and empower people on a global scale.

“At Mastercard, we are dedicated to democratizing financial literacy and ensuring that everyone has access to the tools they need to achieve their financial goals. Our new free online course removes the confusing jargon and cracks the code on everyday finances. This way, it equips individuals, particularly those in underserved communities and young adults, with the knowledge and tools needed to manage their personal finance with confidence, achieve their financial goals and avoid common financial pitfalls,” said Driss Belemlih, Executive Vice President of Customer Delivery, EEMEA at Mastercard. 

Additionally, Mastercard’s customers can leverage the free access to the course to reach the unbanked, youth and gig worker segments in their regions, helping integrate them into the digital economy and establish brand affinity early on.

A report published in The World Bank Economic Review shows that individuals who participate in financial education programs are likely to see a significant improvement in their financial knowledge and adopt more positive financial behaviors.

Mastercard Academy offers access to on-demand and instructor-led training from over 200 experts across Mastercard’s global network. Their comprehensive online learning platform equips the company’s customers and partners – and now also the public – with professional insights, skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the world of payments.

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The post BCD Travel takes home 2 accolades at TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024 – Asia appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

BCD Travel has been recognised in two major categories at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024 – Asia, as it continues to push the boundaries of travel management and fulfil its vision of becoming the most trusted, innovative, and sustainable travel management company.

It was named the Global Travel Management Company of the Year – Singapore for its innovative solutions for travellers, as well as the Employer of the Year – Singapore for fostering a company culture of collaboration, fun, and service.

Under the Global Travel Management Company of the Year – Singapore category, the company was lauded for its efforts to simplify managed business travel, enhancing its services and capabilities to deliver quality solutions.

In 2023, BCD Travel embarked on a significant modernisation of its Contact Center, integrating blockchain technology, chatbots, machine learning, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things. The investment paid off for the company, streamlining its operations by automating workflows, reducing manual processes, and enhancing business intelligence.

“This move aligns with our ‘Build Forward’ initiative, which aims to drive innovation and simplification, ultimately leading to faster response times, better traveller experiences, cost savings, and improved profitability,” said Andrew Yeo, Managing Director, Australia and Singapore at BCD Travel.

In addition to modernising its Contact Center, BCD Travel has also launched the BCD Marketplace, a platform that allows clients to partner with leading technology providers to create customised travel solutions. All partners in the marketplace are thoroughly vetted to ensure they meet the company’s standards for compatibility and reliability in managed travel programmes.

Amidst the increasing demand for partners with aligned sustainability principles, BCD Travel also developed a Sustainability Framework centred around four key audiences: company, people, business partners, and customers — with guiding principles like Beyond Carbon, Mindful Travel, Industry Advocacy, and High Standards.

“Technological advancements include integrating GATE4 Insights and Total Trip Insights with Concur® Travel and Concur® Expense, enabling customers to optimise their travel programmes whilst reducing carbon emissions,” Yeo added.

Just recently, BCD Travel announced the industry’s first end-to-end sustainability offering for corporate travel programmes.

BCD partnered with SQUAKE, a leading climate-tech company, to streamline carbon emission-related action across the various tools and touchpoints in the travel industry. This allows corporate travel programmes to centrally set targets, decide upon sustainability policies to achieve them, and distribute these across online and offline booking channels for each employee.

The technology provider established tooling to provide active nudging and steering tools within BCD agent frontends and online booking tools (OBTs). The tool encourages travellers to travel less and travel better. In addition to making travellers aware of air, train, hotel, and ground transportation emissions using one of multiple calculation methodologies, the tool displays the carbon cost of each trip.

In addition to driving traveller behaviour change, BCD and SQUAKE will provide carbon budgeting, forecasting, and reporting tools to help clients set and manage carbon targets. This is key to complying with regulatory reporting requirements like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

BCD Travel continues to invest in its AgentSource booking platform as well, allowing agents to book travel directly from an aggregated content platform. With its API-first approach, it supports various travel booking sources and applies client-specific configurations, policies, and payment rules. This reduces training time and offers a user-friendly interface tailored to new generations of employees.

Meanwhile, for the Employer of the Year – Singapore, BCD Travel was awarded for its initiatives that allow teams to cultivate a sense of unity and camaraderie whilst contributing to the success of servicing clients.

BCD Travel provides extensive professional development opportunities, including workshops, seminars, and online courses — on top of a new development directory where employees can easily access resources and plan their career paths.

Understanding the need for work-life balance, the company offers flexible working hours and remote, hybrid, or office work options. It also implemented a Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy, allowing employees to work remotely from a location of their choice for up to 60 days per year.

“As many of our APAC employees are part of a global team with colleagues in other regions, to safeguard our team’s work-life balance, a global encouragement is that meetings are not scheduled for APAC on Monday or Thursday evenings, and on Fridays, we don’t do internal meetings,” the company stated.

Open communication is highlighted throughout the company with regular town hall meetings, Q&A sessions with leadership, monthly engagement surveys, the intranet MySource, and the online community Viva Engage.

BCD Travel’s peer-to-peer recognition platform, ShoutOuts, meanwhile enables employees to show appreciation for each other’s contributions. Additionally, employees can win a trip to Mexico via peer-to-peer nominations.

DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) lies at the heart of BCD Travel’s DNA. It established local DEI efforts, responding to the needs of its global workforce, which reflected positively with its very high eNPS score of 64.

“We care for our people and our communities alike. Through our Making a Difference initiative, BCD employees across the globe engage in volunteering and fundraising activities for small, targeted projects that directly benefit children in their local communities,” the company added.

TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards – Asia is a premier awards programme presented by Travel Daily Media. It seeks to honour the pinnacle of excellence in Asia’s travel industry, covering the best hotels, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, travel agencies, booking platforms, and travel technology.

The TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024 – Asia is presented by Travel Daily Media. To view the full list of winners, click here. For more details, please contact Jane Patiag at +(65) 3158 1386 ext. 217 or awards@traveldailymedia.com.

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