Direct flights between Shanghai and Buenos Aires will begin in mid-2004. The twice-weekly Aerolineas` Argentinas
flight via Madrid and…
Direct flights between Shanghai and Buenos Aires will begin in mid-2004. The twice-weekly Aerolineas` Argentinas
flight via Madrid and Beijing will take almost 24 hours. But it will still slice about 12 hours off the current travel time between the two big cities in Asia and South America.
The first flight will carry Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and his party on his official visit to China. Travel agents in Argentina expect the direct link to bolster tourism, especially among Chinese going to South America.
Argentinian consul in Hong Kong, Mr Ricardo Forrester, believes the flight from Shanghai will be popular with people from Hong Kong, particularly business travelers.
More than 20 Hong Kong operators already had talks about organising tours to Argentina. Jetour Holiday operations manager, Ms Ann Yip, said the interest was spurred on by the economic recovery in Asia. South American tours of more than two weeks cost US$5,000 per person. Interest and bookings have risen 500 per cent in a year.
Argentina has already granted Hong Kongers visa-free status and there are rumours that Chinese travelers will get similar status.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
