Chinese tourists used to come to shop, but now they're getting more interested in European culture
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Chinese tourists are big spenders and with the numbers visiting Europe set to soar by nearly 70 percent over the next five years, the countries of the Old Continent are rolling out the red carpet to make the guests feel welcome.
A total 12.4 million Chinese, mostly in guided tour groups, came to Europe in 2017, according to the European Travel Comission. And the Chinese Tourism Academy (CTA) is expecting the number to reach 20.8 million by 2022.
"A few years ago, the Chinese came to Europe solely to do some shopping. Now, they're increasingly keen to get know the culture and the countryside," CTA president Dai Bin told AFP, speaking in Venice, at the launch of the year of tourism between the EU and China.
Festivals, cooking courses... "they want to have personal experiences and visit areas where they don't see any other Chinese," said ETC's executive director, Eduardo Santander.
"They like the cuisine, the music, the blue skies... most of them come from the coast, where pollution is extremely high," Santander said.
And some were surprised that they can "breathe without coughing," he added.
China is the world's biggest market for foreign tourism -- with 129 million Chinese holidaymakers travelling abroad, they account for one fifth of the total number of tourists globally.
And they spend more than twice the amount that, say, US tourists do -- $261 billion in 2016 compared with $123 billion.
- Hot water and credit cards -
Small gestures can go a long way towards making Chinese tourists feel more at ease in Europe, said Jacopo Sertoli, head of Welcome Chinese, a body that awards certificates to tourism companies catering for Chinese customers.
"You can make them very happy by offering them a glass of hot water," he said, noting most Chinese families drink water at that temperature rather than cold.
Chinese language television stations and good wifi in hotel rooms are a good idea while payment methods favoured by the Chinese, such as UnionPay, the only credit card issuer in China, WeChatPay or Alipay are a must.
CTA chief Dai Bin said Europe should reduce the red tape for its Chinese visitors.
"We hope Europe will make is easier for Chinese to get a visa," he said.
"In a number of eastern European countries, for example, it's easy. But it's very difficult in others. And when Chinese tourists visit Europe, they want to visit several countries, not just one," Dai Bin said.
By reciprocation, China would become "more flexible when granting visas and Europeans can stay in Beijing or Shanghai for 144 hours -- or six days -- without a visa," he promised.
According to ETC data, France is the number one desired destination in Europe for Chinese tourists, with 61 percent of visitors hoping to go there, followed by Germany with 37 percent and Italy with 28 percent.
Nevertheless, that picture has started to change in recent years, and travel to eastern Europe is booming, not least because of the easier allocation of visas and the increased availability of cheap flights. The string of terrorist attacks in France and Germany in recent years is also a factor.
In 2016, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Serbia, for example, rose by 173 percent, and numbers were up by nearly 90 percent in Montenegro.
But while "the Chinese are very alert to questions of security, they tend to forget more easily than other tourists," Santander said.
Popular for perceivedly having deep pockets -- a result of the Chinese tradition of giving presents -- Chinese visitors haven't always enjoyed a reputation for their savoir-vivre.
But that's an image which China is itself keen to remedy, with "some tourist agencies offering lessons to customers before they go to Europe," said CTA president Dai Bin.
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"Bahay Kubo, kahit munti, ang halaman doon ay sari-sari" 18 vegetables in the folksong; In the Bahay Kubo Sari-Sari Store/ Shop... for display and sale.
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Shopping & Retail Bahay Kubo Sari-Sari Shop / Store
October 7, 2016 ·
Mr. Nick Quijano, Jr. Editor, ABANTE, Una sa Balita (Attn. Rene) abantetonite@gmail.com, abante@abante-tonite.com, rhen_2@yahoo.com, abante_tonite@yahoo.com, pepz2002@yahoo.com, pcunanan@gmail.com
Bahay Kubo, Kahit Munti
Jose P.M. Cunanan & Elizabeth C. Cunanan
9 October 2016
Farmers & Fishers as New Heroes in the Food Revolution
Greetings to ABANTE Readers, Philippines-wide and Earth-wide from the 2016 AGRILINK ***FOODLINK***AQUALINK @ the World Trade Center, Pasay City held October 6-8, 2016.
In Booths R199 & R200 @ the Hall D were the exhibits of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food, Inc. (PCAFI) in partnership with Bahay Kubo Global System, Inc. and Jumsa Foundation & Development Inc. of Tapulao, Sulu.
Through the joint initiatives and sponsorship of PCAFI Chairman Bgen. Alejandro Escano & President Philip Ong and Bahay Kubo Global System Chairman: Dr. Jose PM Cunanan & President Dr. Venerando Catarroja and Jumsa Foundation President & CEO Princess Jum Unga Angel, the exhibits were displayed to highlight the roles of Farmers and Fishers as the New Heroes in the Filipino Food Revolution.
The tarpaulins portrayed the leadership, history and roles of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food Inc. in local, national and international conferences and fora as well as in the various crop productions and agricultural business.
The theme and set-up of Booths R199 & R200 @ Hall D projected the motif based on the Bahay Kubo as the original Filipino farming system: in one stanza of the folksong with 18 food crops: Bahay Kubo, kahit munti, ang halaman doon ay sari-sari…Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani, sitaw, bataw, patani, kundol, patola, upo’t kalabasa…at saka mayroon pa: labanos, mustasa, sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya…sa paligid-ligid ay puno ng linga.
Higlighting the richness and abundance of the Philippine natural resources, flora and fauna, terrestial and aquatic, additional five (5) stanzas in the Bahay Kubo folksong have been composed to include more vegetables, livestock & poultry, fruit-bearing trees, medicinal & culinary herbs & spices and fishes & marine flora & fauna. (copies available upon request).
The booths and the products projecting the Bahay Kubo design and motif were provided by Jeag Payawal, Jane Laraya, Tita Laraya, Benj Catarroja, Danny Ricohermoso Algafer, Marites Algafer, and from the Jumsa Cooperative of Cavite, Tagaytay City: Dory Ann Veninlila, Betty Sumilig, Angeles Sumilig, Beatrice Arsoval, Evelyn Origines, Carmencita Vellas, Remer Vellas, Jackilou Gestopa, Melvin Gestopa, Benjamin Huerto, Luzviminda Mojica, Kim Briones, Jona Aure, Jasper Aure, Madilyn Abarico, Zenaida Sarno, Editha Bautista..And the Bahay Kubo Apos---kids: Jaira Rivera, Angelyne Payawal, Avy Gale Payawal, Eunica Andry San Pedro, Zeah Erica San Pedro, Rizza Grace Cacedo…
With the Philippine-wide and Earth-wide crises of Food, Farm, Feeds, Fertilizer, F1, Fish, Forest, Flora, Fauna, Floods, Forest, Fire, Funds/ Finance, Feuds: Family, Faith… Feudalism & Federalism… there is need to Focus on Food Production, natural, quality-wise and economy of scale… With these challenges, there is a need to mobilize the Filipino people, nation-wide, the various sectors and local government uinits, individuals and corporations: Mindanao, Visayas & Luzon, in every Barangay, Municipality, City and Province to make the land and aquatic resources to be more productive.
There is need to tap the resources--- land and manpower, skills and training, technology and management, processing and marketing…This is the opportuned time for the FARMS: Filipino Agricultural Revolutionary Movement of Sectors; ARMS: Agricultural Radical Movement of Students; ARMY: Agricultural Reformation Movement of Students…Empowering the Farmers and Fishers, the New Heroes in the Food Revolution is the Filipino competetive advantage in this generation and age.
For more information, contact: Bahay Kubo Global System, Inc, Dr. Jose Pepito Manansala Cunanan, Phone: Smart 0919-9923630; pepz2002@yahoo.com;; pcunanan@gmail.com ;; Facebook: Jose Pepito Cunanan; Anselmo “Moi” Garcia 0908 535 9645, moi.garcia@gmail.com; Rebecca Miranda: 0919 805 1940 rebs_105711@yahoo.com; Roberto Vera Cruz 0918 520 4078 robertveracruz@yahoo.com.ph; Dr. Venerando Catarroja 0999-5016273: venerando.catarroja@yahoo.com; Dionicio Antonio 0932 386 1515 ammani_agri00@yahoo.com;
JUMSA Peace & Development Foundation Inc. & Jumsa Trading Corporation Inc. Princess Jum Unga Angel 0999 455 0910 jumsafoundation@yahoo.com; Radzma Angel 0998 245 6631. 
