Highlighting remarkable enthusiasm for travel during this holiday period

HANGZHOU, China, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Fliggy, a leading online travel platform and wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988), has released its 2024 National Day Holiday Travel Report, which reveals a significant increase in reservations for domestic four- and five-star hotels, tour packages, and car rentals compared to the same period last year. Outbound travel has shown robust growth, following a strong rebound last year, with bookings rising over 50% year-on-year and outbound hotel reservations rebounding to approximately 120% of 2019 levels.

Zhang Chen, Vice President of Fliggy, said, “Travelers are increasingly looking for unique experiences that offer great value. We are committed to enhancing our platform’s efficiency and expanding our marketing tools to help merchants provide innovative services that meet and exceed customer expectations.”

Affordability fuels demand for ‘value for money’

This year’s National Day holiday travel has been notably more affordable. Fliggy’s data indicates that average prices for domestic flights and hotel bookings have decreased by about 13% and 6%, respectively. For outbound travel, average flight prices have dropped by approximately 19%, while hotel rates decreased by around 3%.

Despite these cost reductions, travelers are prioritizing rich and high-quality experiences. Fliggy reports a nearly 40% year-on-year increase in bookings for domestic four- and five-star hotels during the holiday period. Reservations for travel packages—including flights, hotels, dining, and additional benefits—have also surged by nearly 40%. Outbound travel reflects this trend, with the average order value for vacation products significantly exceeding that of the same period in 2019. Local leisure activities, such as sea snorkeling and helicopter tours, have experienced a marked rise in average bookings compared to last year.

During this extended holiday period, both cruises—offering relaxed vacation experiences—and car rentals—known for their privacy and flexibility—have seen a notable surge in popularity. Fliggy reports an over 40% increase in domestic car rental bookings compared to the same period last year. International cruise bookings on Fliggy have surged by over 130% compared to 2019 in the month leading up to the holiday.

Longer and more expansive travel routes to uncover hidden gems

Tourists are increasingly eager to explore lesser-known destinations due to favorable weather and ample time for exploration. Fliggy’s data reveals that emerging destinations are leading the country in travel bookings, including Wulong in Chongqing, Tashkurghan Tajik in Xinjiang, Lingshui in Hainan, Kunyu in Xinjiang, Shennongjia in Hubei, Nujiang in Yunnan, Beitun in Xinjiang, Ali in Tibet, Yushu in Qinghai, and Pu’er in Yunnan – all celebrated for their stunning natural landscapes and high-quality travel experiences. While these hidden gems are gaining traction, major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Guangzhou remain top choices for travelers.

For outbound travel, destinations within a four-hour flight—such as Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong (SAR), South Korea, and Malaysia—are particularly appealing. Among the top 20 outbound destinations, longer flights exceeding eight hours make up half of the list, including Australia, the USA, France, Russia, and the UK. The fastest growth in tourism bookings was seen in countries like Nigeria, Zambia, Chile, Turkey, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Belgium.

Booming cultural tourism and island getaways

This year’s National Day holiday has seen growth in cultural and entertainment events across China, including concerts, music festivals, sports events, and anime conventions. In Beijing alone, there were 313 commercial performances totaling 1,580 shows. This vibrant arts scene has driven high demand for hotels and attractions nearby. Notable events included a concert by Eason Chan at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center and the WF2024 anime figure exhibition at the Shanghai New International Expo Center—both venues are among the top ten hotel booking districts in their respective cities on Fliggy.

Fliggy’s data also indicates strong interest in cultural theme tours during the holiday. Activities such as traditional Chinese clothing photography (Hanfu), experiences of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and immersive historical site tours have proven particularly popular. Island vacations emerged as a favored choice for outbound travel; among the top ten overseas experiences booked were island vacation packages to Malaysia, Thailand, and Jeju Island, accounting for more than half of the selections made.

About Fliggy

Fliggy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988 (HKD Counter) and 89988 (RMB Counter)), and is one of the leading online travel platforms in China. Fliggy places a strong emphasis on innovation in its products and services, catering to the increasingly personalized and diversified needs of consumers in both China and overseas markets.

Leveraging Fliggy’s advantage as part of the Alibaba ecosystem, merchants can benefit from the vast user base within the Group. Fliggy also collaborates with partners through a full-service management format, helping more merchants, especially small and medium-sized ones, easily and efficiently share opportunities enabled by digitalization.

Fliggy’s long-term strategy is to promote the digital transformation of the tourism industry, using an open platform and mechanisms to help the industry make better use of digital business infrastructure for their operations.

Media Contacts
Fliggy
FliggyMedia@alibaba-inc.com

Paradigm Consulting
Rebecca Liu
fliggy@paradigmconsulting.com.hk
+852 6036 5060

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SOURCE fliggy

Worldwide service enhancements benefit customers shipping to over 35 countries across Asia, Africa and Middle EastDelivery times across Asia Pacific also cut by up to two business daysCompany to add over 200 flights from Asia Pacific to Europe and the U.S. to meet 2024 peak volume demand

SINGAPORE, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — UPS (NYSE: UPS) customers in Asia Pacific can now have faster deliveries to over 35 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East after the company introduced a series of enhancements to its industry-leading air network.

Thanks to a new flight connection at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), packages from mainland China and South Korea will be delivered in as little as two business days to major economies including Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.  

In addition, UPS now offers next-day delivery from leading Asia Pacific economies to Seoul, South Korea, and from Bangkok throughout the region. In Vietnam, customers in Ho Chi Minh City can have next day service to and from select cities in the region. Shipments from Hanoi to selected cities in Australia can now be completed in two business days.

To further support businesses in Hanoi, UPS has introduced Saturday pick-up for Sydney-bound deliveries, allowing for greater flexibility to process orders and boost speed-to-market. Deliveries from selected cities in Australia to Europe can now arrive in as little as two business days.

“These enhancements to our air network, and our additional capacity for the peak holiday season, allow businesses in Asia Pacific to more quickly reach diverse customers around the world,” said Wilfredo Ramos, president, UPS Asia Pacific. “This gives our customers the fast and reliable service they need to grow, stay competitive and build resilience in their supply chain.”

As UPS prepares its air network to meet the surge in volume demand for the peak holiday season, it is boosting capacity for intercontinental routes by adding over 200 more flights connecting Asia Pacific to Europe and the U.S. in the fourth quarter, a significant increase compared to the same period last year. This expanded capacity will enable UPS customers to navigate the crucial peak season more effectively, serving the strong demand between Europe, the U.S. and key trading partners in Asia Pacific.

This is the latest in a series of recent network and facility enhancements UPS has made in the region. Earlier this year the company introduced a new flight connecting the company’s intra-Asia hub in Shenzhen (SZX) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). While in late 2023, UPS announced plans to build a new hub at Hong Kong Airport (HKG).

UPS’s air network operates over 360 daily flights, serving 26 countries and territories within Asia Pacific and more than 200 globally.

For full details of delivery times within UPS’s global network, refer to the UPS time and cost calculator. 

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is one of the world’s largest companies, with 2023 revenue of $91.0 billion, and provides a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 200 countries and territories. Focused on its purpose statement, “Moving our world forward by delivering what matters,” the company’s approximately 500,000 employees embrace a strategy that is simply stated and powerfully executed: Customer First. People Led. Innovation Driven. UPS is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and supporting the communities we serve around the world. More information can be found at www.ups.com, about.ups.com and investors.ups.com.

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SOURCE UPS

LONDON, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MarketsVox, a leading global Forex broker, is excited to announce the launch of its innovative funded trading program, MVFunded. It was designed to assist talented traders with the financial backing they need to thrive, MVFunded offers an opportunity for traders to get access to trading capital while minimizing their personal risk.

MVFunded: New Word in Funded trading programs

MVFunded gives the ambitious traders the opportunity to utilize challenge and evaluation accounts to prove their trading skills in an environment that poses no risk to them. After passing the challenge, eligible individuals are allowed to receive a share of the gains backed by MVFunded.

The aim of the funded trading program is to identify and support skilled traders by providing them with the necessary resources to succeed. The programs that are available for the traders to choose from can be found on the official website of the company – https://mvfunded.com/ . 

Key Features of MVFunded:

Access to Capital: Traders can start with funded accounts and scale up their trading capital as they meet specific performance criteria.Profit Sharing: Successful traders earn a substantial share of the profits generated, providing them with significant earning potential.Advanced Trading Tools: Participants in the MVFunded program have access to MarketsVox’s state-of-the-art trading platform and a suite of advanced trading tools.Support and Mentorship: MVFunded offers ongoing support and mentorship from experienced traders, helping participants refine their strategies and achieve their trading goals.Transparent Evaluation: The program includes a transparent evaluation process to assess traders’ performance and ensure they meet the required standards for funded accounts.

Joe Roeder, CEO and co-founder of MarketsVox, commented on the launch, saying, “We are excited to introduce MVFunded, a program that aligns perfectly with our mission to support and empower traders worldwide. Taking in consideration the need that appeared on the market for the prop firms being available for the traders, MarktsVox saw the opportunity and brought it to life. We believe this program will revolutionize the trading landscape and attract top talent from around the globe.”

How to Join MVFunded

Traders interested in joining MVFunded can apply through the website. The application process involves a thorough evaluation of the trader’s skills, risk management, and trading performance. Successful candidates will be invited to join the program and start their journey towards becoming a professional funded trader.

About MarketsVox

MarketsVox is a premier Forex broker committed to providing traders with a transparent, client-oriented trading experience. With a focus on innovation, reliability, and excellence, MarketsVox offers a wide range of trading products, cutting-edge technology, and exceptional customer support to traders worldwide. This is one of the first companies that offers the full range of products: Copytrading, MAM, PAMM, API trading and now funded program.

Contacts:
Slava Biletska
slava.biletska@marketsvox.com 

Photo:  https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2525737/MarketsVox_Launches_MVFunded.jpg

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