International travel demand flies high(3)

In addition, Doha-based Qatar Airways has been significantly expanding its operations in China. From Jan 15, the national carrier of Qatar resumed once-weekly service between Doha and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Since Dec 20, the airline has increased its service between Doha and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, to twice-weekly flights.

Qatar Airways is also boosting its network in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with Hong Kong service increased to 11 weekly flights since Jan 16 and Guangzhou service set to expand to four weekly flights starting Feb 15.

"We are proud to demonstrate our ongoing dedication to China by resuming Shanghai, China's financial and economic center, as our fourth passenger destination in the country while increasing Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Hong Kong to help reunite friends and families," said Chan Cheong Eu, Qatar Airways' senior manager for North Asia.

Travel in the post-COVID-19 era has truly emerged stronger than ever before and has shown great progress in recovery, owing to a steady increase in international travel, according to statistics published by the United Nations World Travel Organization.

The start of the recovery stemmed from tourist influx in Europe and the Middle East in the first half of 2022, with both regions accounting for 65 percent of the total worldwide, followed by the United States and Africa.

The resurgence of travel in Asia can be evidenced by the accelerating demand for outbound travel in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea, allowing for a steady and promising recovery in the region. Increased inbound travel in Asian countries also shows promise, making the region's travel industry the first to recover by 2023 in comparison to other continents, according to the UNWTO.

Travel booking site Expedia Group said after China announced the reopening of its borders, the search volume for flight tickets from the United States and Europe to China doubled on the platform.

Additionally, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways began flying to Guangzhou in October, which added to its existing services to Shanghai, which resumed in July 2020, and Beijing, which restarted in June 2022.

"Besides being a modern and rapidly growing city itself, Guangzhou has excellent connections with the Greater Bay Area," said Martin Drew, Etihad's senior vice-president of global sales and cargo.

"The service will further address the huge demand for passenger travel between the United Arab Emirates and China, as well as provide new cargo capacity, building on the formidable people and business ties between the two markets," he said.