Thứ Hai, 23 tháng 12, 2013

The mysterious impact of Increasing of price of Hotel in Myanmar

The mysterious impact of Increasing of price of Hotel in Myanmar


To understand the impact of industrial hotel, stealing one hour northwest of Bangkok on the new border with Myanmar in the industry.Chinese tourists are more than 100 000 in Myanmar in 2012. Amazing Growth?

On the roof of the Asia Plaza, a decrepit hotel in the Soviet-style modern one days diving in a swimming regrets his fate. His salary of $ 50 a month "is not enough to feed my family," he complained. A friend said that the only job he had was worse in terms of karaoke club and have sex for pleasure officers the military during the years of brutal military dictatorship.

Political Changement

State withdrew in 2011, and now that the Myanmar opens, move global chains, how to hunt relics Asia Plaza. "After that there was only North Korea," said an officer of the hotel. Currently Yangon, the commercial capital, has some chic rooms, the rates are tripled in two years. But pubs of the city, next to the arms dealer and diplomats, the specialists trained Swiss food and drinks catering schools. Hilton Peninsula, Best Western and Accor have signed agreements buildings. More will follow.

The process is not always pretty. Accor has Zaw Zaw with, a tycoon on U.S. blacklist because of his links with the generals a partnership. "He jokes in meetings that this is a military operation," whispers an Accor Manager. "Everyone laughed, but we do not know if he wants it." But the construction work is in progress. Next to the house of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate who has led the opposition to the military regime, is located on a 400-room hotel, a sea of ​​mud. developed a short drive south of Yoma Strategic Office, a conglomerate, the hotels, buzzing with the Americanized twang of youth Aborigines, who returned from abroad to rebuild their country. "After that there was only North Korea," said an officer of the hotel


The task of managing these hotels with international standards will not be easy. Utilities are ugly when the hotels have their own generators and water filtration systems. Credit cards work irregularly, so that hotels need to manage in a position to bundles of bills. A manager is concerned that the hotel boom will overwhelm the system of communal collection. However, this should lead to more investment.

Manage a Hotel in Myanmar is not that easy

Food suppliers also benefit. Known in a cold room next to his business Ye Htut Win Yangon, as "Sharky" exhibits locally produced ham, each with a name tag from the hotel. Once owners Cocktail - Bar in Switzerland, he returned to a food business that supports 350 jobs start. Cerati Paolo, an Italian, who was trained as a missionary, a company leads of vegetables a garage. Cherry tomatoes and rocket from the war-torn north of the country (its main competitor smuggled into salad Taxi Thailand) buses. It supports 30 jobs and investing $ 200,000 truck and deposits.
 
Big suppliers to pass. In a room full of teriyaki marinade exposure and import French wine, Wang Li Jun, head of Premier Foods Distribution, said he plans to its supply chain to strengthen a level last Myanmar desperately needs.

what are the main problems? 

The biggest headache of new hotels will be to find and train employees in everything from the guests with deodorant Barbary meet. But recruitment is good news for the local population, who see to increase their wages. For example, Myatt Soe Htwe will soon become the first French pastry chef in the country. His family are farmers cow who find the idea of ​​$ 100 meal "crazy." It does not seem that it prepares the taste of food she likes. But if they can expect $ 300-500 per month to earn a decent income in a bad location their studies.
According to an official estimate, the hotel and catering could create more than half a million jobs in Myanmar alone in 2020.
a specialist, hands Kitchen Paris were "slaves of the modern world." But in poor countries, hotel chains offer some of the best jobs around

Thứ Bảy, 21 tháng 12, 2013

Citroen DS5 LS for the Chinese Market

Citroen DS5 LS for the Chinese Market


The revolution is on. Thursday, September 19 , Citroën unveiled at the Louvre, the world premiere of the fourth vehicle in its DS range : the DS5 "LS" . The initials LS mean " luxury sedan " or notchback sedan (with trunk apparent) luxury ...

DS5 LS the Revolution ?

But the revolution is not in the new name or in the presence of a chest, but on the front of this new vehicle .



The famous Citroën chevrons have indeed disappeared. On the radiator grille , the only logo this is " DS ". It took three years for Citroën leaders take this decision. The reason is simple: the new DS 5LS has been exclusively developed , at least initially , for the Chinese market . However, for a year and its launch in China , DS is considered in the Middle Kingdom as a brand in its own right and not a range of Citroën .

PSA strategy

Moreover, to develop DS , PSA Peugeot Citroën is not based on the traditional local partner Dongfeng , but Changan .
a joint venture Changan -PSA ( Capsa ) has just opened in September first plant , with a capacity of 200,000 vehicles , a suburb of Shenzhen where the DS5 will be produced LS, next to the 5 local DS . Until the summer, DS concessions sold only a few dozen DS imported from Europe. But since the fall, the rate increases significantly.
"About 3,000 copies of DS5 have already been ordered, says Yves Bonnefont , the Deputy Director General and head of Citroën DS range . We deliver on average a thousand DS5 produced in China per month. Ramp up faster than we had anticipated. "
Citroën DS5 LS, for the Chinese market .
However, even locally, the DS5 is not a pure Chinese product . It breaks too many codes to position itself as the flagship vehicle of the French luxury in the country.
Indeed, with his chest tailgate, a space at the back very limited , this vehicle is primarily made ​​for drivers. But in China, the silver vehicle owner prefers ... to be driven. The DS5 LS must meet these desiderata . In a very simple line , both wider and longer than a conventional DS5 , this new model is better suited to the usual Chinese luxury codes .

Luxury Code in China

Like its cousins ​​in the range, the new model offers a refined interior and exterior finish: light LED rear chrome decoration on doors, dashboard trimmed in leather , air ionizer , treated plastic parts , seat massage , acoustic comfort , touch screen ... It will have also the latest generation of 160 and THP 200 petrol engines developed with BMW.source
Contrary to what its name might imply , the DS5 LS is not strictly speaking a derivative of the DS5 . Clearly, " we left early to draw," says Bonnefont .
However, to facilitate industrialization , it shares the same technique as the DS5 platform. SUV with future PSA intends to launch in late 2014 , the new model should allow DS to accelerate its development in the country.
For the success of this brand through China. Since 2010, it took nearly 400,000 DS3 , DS4 and DS5 in Europe, but it is still not enough. To go into overdrive , China must take over. By the end of the year , the brand should have 51 concessions in the country, then a hundred at the end of 2014. And entrusted the spring source at PSA , " the next three to four years , we would sell about 150,000 DS per year in China."
Written by Pom


Yves Bonnefont does not intend to make a public commitment on numbers. For the firm IHS Automotive in 2015 , DS could sell up to 55,000 units.
The Chinese market will not be easy for DS ensures Namrita Chow, IHS Automotive. However, as it is still growing , local production will help increase supply and thus cause a change in perception of Chinese consumers



Thứ Năm, 19 tháng 12, 2013

70,000 Chinese tourists in Myanmar

70,000 Chinese tourists in Myanmar



Over 1million travelers have flocked to Myanmar last year , compared with about 816,000 visitors in 2011 .
Income from tourism in the country has shown surprising growth year on year , registering an increase of 67 per cent of revenue. The total tourism income for 2012 was $ 534 million compared to U.S. $ 319 million in 2011.

Foreign investment

Despite reports of infrastructure overwhelmed by the sudden rise in the number of visitors, officials say they are not worried , and remain optimistic about foreign investment in the industry.
"Since the new investment law was passed last year, many foreign investors have asked about the situation ," said Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism manager Khin Than Win CNN, adding that the

Structures in Myanmar

Department focuses on the development of human resources, transportation and hotels. numbers
According to official statistics , there are currently 28,291 hotel rooms in Myanmar. The ministry is working on a project for the development of 5 star Hoang Anh Vietnamese society Gia Lai Hotel .
Thais beat the Chinese for most visitors by nationality. About 90,000 Thais, 70,000 Chinese and 37,000 American tourists visited Myanmar last year.



sources voyagesenbirmanie.com

Visitors are Men

Visitors are mostly men , the male-female ratio visitors to 62 percent to 38 percent. high hopes
The Department expects many more in 2013.
"We expect the growth in tourism to continue further and expect to receive 1.5 million tourist arrivals this year ," said Khin Than Win , citing new visas on arrival as an additional reason for the increasing rapidly. Ed Nations and several other organizations have reported consistent and systematic human rights violations in the country
Early civilizations in Burma included the Tibeto-Burman language Pyu in Upper Burma and Monday in Lower Burma. [12] In the 9th century , the Burmans of the Nanzhao Kingdom entered the high valley of the Irrawaddy , and after the creation of the Pagan Empire in the 1050s , language and Burmese culture slowly became dominant in the countries . During this period, Theravada Buddhism gradually became the dominant religion of the country.

The Pagan Empire fell due to the Mongol invasion (1277-1301) , and several warring states emerged. In the second half of the 16th century , the Taungoo Dynasty reunified the country was for a brief period the largest empire in the history of Asia Southeast. [13] The early 19th century Konbaung Dynasty ruled over an area that includes modern Burma and briefly controlled Manipur and Assam as well .

History of Myanmar

The British conquered Burma after three Anglo - Burmese wars in the 19th century and the country became a British colony (part of India until 1937 , then a colony administered separately). Burma became an independent nation in 1948 , first as a democratic nation, then, after a coup in 1962, a military dictatorship that officially ended in 2011. For most of its independent years, many ethnic groups in the country were involved in one of the longest unresolved civil wars in the world . Meanwhile, newly released statistics from the tourism UnitMyanmar 2012 show a dramatic increase in the number of visitors and revenue incoming travel.more information here

see also Phukket attract Chinese tourist

Visiting and Hiking the Great Wall

The Great Wall is one of the most visited sites in all of China.  Most Group Tours go to the Badaling section of the Wall because it is closest and there is a freeway going there.  Not my most favorite place to visit the Wall often with over 80 or more buses in the parking lot.  My choice has always been the Mutianyu section for most tourists.  The walk or hike is fairly easy as you can see in the photos.  This section has been repaired except for a steep section in the distance where you can see a part that has not been repaired and left as it was found many years ago.   For avid hikers the Simatai section is often visited although steep and more rugged.  If you are interested in doing a one way hike, the Jinshanling to Simatai sections for avid hikers is the most popular hike.  For a more rugged hike that takes about 3 hours, the sections of Huanghua to ZhuangdaoKou Guan is good but expect dense vegetation and rocks to navigate around.   The Great Wall is about 40 or more miles north of Beijing extending out to the Yellow Sea east and west into north central China.  The western section however is difficult to see since it is mostly in ruins.  To get to the Great Wall you can take a bus tour that picks up at many of the Beijing Hotels, take a train to the Badaling section or hire a car and driver for the day with a cost of about $100.  My private tours include a car and driver and you may stay as long as you wish before returning to the city.  I like to take a picnic lunch and enjoy a nice walk on the Wall meeting other tourists and some of the local people.   For more information on the Great Wall, contact me at   interlak@eskimo.com   My name is Dave   My web site is  www.interlakechinatours.com
Click on the photos for a full screen view.




Thứ Tư, 18 tháng 12, 2013

Germany famous for Beer sausages and Soccer in China !

Germany famous for Beer sausages and Soccer in China !


Most Chinese tourists only know Germany for its "beer", "sausages" and "soccer". German tourism bureaus and operators want to expand that knowledge



With the German economy that has made a successful push into China, Germany travel industry has intensified a campaign to attract Chinese tourists to the largest economy in Europe. Christian Ebner said that Chinese tourists seek in Germany.
They spend their newly acquired free money and are already the third largest group of foreign tourists - Chinese business travelers and tourists packet become a lucrative source of revenue for the German tourism industry in trouble .

Figures

Black Forest No trip is complete without a cuckoo clock factory tour Drubba More than 600,000 bookings from China are expected this year , according to the German Centre for Tourism DZT .
And a further easing of travel restrictions is expected to accelerate growth in the coming years .
"Chinese tourists come to Germany to go shopping , and they especially love the clothes," says the Dusseldorf -based Global Refund Corporation , which manages accounts free of duty and VAT for many traders . On average, a Chinese tourist spends more than 200 euros for clothes at a package from Germany , said Global Refund . That totals about € 42 million per year, with a third of that amount spent mainly in Frankfurt, which is the hub for air transport Europe. Cologne and Munich are also tourist destinations for Chinese travelers .

 

the Language

Language is a major obstacle in Germany. While most major hotels and businesses in the major tourist centers in Germany can manage some English , French , Italian or otherwise, hardly anyone speaks Mandarin . "Therefore, the Chinese traveler often feels he or she does not receive the same quality of service that others are doing ," says Stefanie Lyngbye travel agents based in Hamburg Caissa
" And then they have money to spend, they are very particular about where they spend it ," she adds . " They buy their watches in Switzerland and they buy their fragrance in Paris. They will not buy a French perfume in Germany or Italy. " While traveling to other countries plan tend to focus on the sights , Chinese tourist itineraries also include shopping excursions . No trip to the Black Forest is complete with a tour of the factory cuckoo Drubba on Lake Titisee or leaving the factory in Metzingen Hugo Boss .
But there is no compartmentalization when it comes to holidays for Chinese tourists . Unlike Japanese tourists , the Chinese are not interested in visiting Meissner porcelain factory . After all , the Chinese porcelain when Europeans were living in mud huts . That's why they call it " China " , after all.

The campaign

The campaign conducted by the Travel Industry of Germany to attract Chinese tourists to the largest economy in Europe after a major campaign by German companies in China's economy booming with business German , including automakers Mercedes and Volkswagen with chemicals giant BASF seeking to carve out new markets in China . Brand names are important for Chinese tourists , more important than the price tag , the industry sources noted . But this is not the case when it comes to booking a trip to Europe , said this person.
"There is a fierce price war happening in China when it comes to book excursions ," 
she said. 
"Tour groups harass hotels, restaurants and bus operators and aircraft for the best possible deal with the most for their hard earned money. 
" Great expectations are articulated on the lifting of travel restrictions in the coming weeks . Starting in September , most Chinese travelers will need a visa to come to Europe.
"This means that the tourism industry in Germany, with other European countries, is shifting its focus to China ," says Horst Lommatzsch German Centre for tourism.
sources;


 

Thứ Hai, 16 tháng 12, 2013

The New most Uggly Tourists are ... Chinese

The bad Americans terrorized Europeans and Asians with their strong voices and tennis shoes in the years following the Second World War.

Decades later , the Japanese tour groups descended from their air-conditioned flashing peace signs bus as they shot pictures of each landmark known as the laundry on a clothesline in the back. Now it 's time for China to face the weight of complaints.

The complaints are familiar - they gape , they jostle , they avoid the local cuisine , and last year, 83 million Chinese mainland spent $ 102 billion abroad - Americans and Germans overruns - which makes biggest spenders of tourism in the world , according to the World tourism Organization.


Chinese tourists will be 400millions in 2015

Their numbers have their place among the most resentment tourists. Tourists from mainland China, often loaded with money and do not know the foreign means , tumble bus tour with apparently little appetite for breakfast buffet in the hotel and no concept of lining up .
Frustrations with the new tourists were summarized in a Thai online bulletin board last spring , when users posted complaints about Chinese tourists using external voice inside and spitting in public , among other transgressions.
Last year , Thierry Gillier , a French fashion designer who founded the label Zadig et Voltaire , caused a minor scandal when he told daily use women that Chinese tourists would not be welcome at his new boutique hotel Paris . A barrage of international criticism persuaded him to apologize.
Like their predecessors, the Chinese nouveaux riches and helpless with foreign languages ​​, complicated by the historical isolation of their developing country combination .
" What China is a lawless society poorly educated with lots of money will take its toll on the world ," said Hung Huang , publisher of the popular magazine and blogger in Beijing.
Despite these missteps , countries are practically tripping over themselves to attract Chinese tourists. Wedding companies in South Korea seeking to attract Chinese couples with bling- heavy ceremonies inspired by the viral video " Gangnam style .
" A coastal county near Sydney , Australia, is the construction of a Chinese theme park $ 450 million focused on a life-size replica of the gates of the Forbidden City and a Buddhist temple of nine floors. France , one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists already - 1.4 million visitors in 2012 - working to further strengthen its appeal.
Paris officials have recently published a manual for the services sector that offers Mandarin sentences transcribed and cultural tips to better understand the Chinese desires, including this tidbit : "They are very picky about food and wine . "

Guidelines for them

To judge the grunts in the world , these guidelines may be necessary. But the biggest shame seems to come from Chinese colleagues . In May, a mainland Chinese tourist in Luxor, Egypt , discovered a fellow had his own hieroglyphs carved on the wall of a temple 3,500 years . " Ding Jinhao was here ," he said. A photo of the offending scrawl quickly spread on Chinese social media, and outraged citizens tracked down the 15-year -old vandalism. The tumult subsided after his parents issued a public apology.
Embarrassed by the wave of bad press this month , Wang Yang, vice- premier of China , publicly protested against the "quality and livestock " poor Chinese tourists who tarnish the reputation of their homeland. "They make noises in public, zero graffiti on attractions , ignore red lights to cross the road and spits everywhere," he said , according to People's Daily .
Despite his warning , articles with titles like "Chinese bride fights in French Lavender field " continue to appear in the state media .
Ms. Wang, blogger accuses tumultuous rule of the Communist Party uncivilized behavior of China abroad. " There's a whole generation that was taught that you do not pay attention to the toilet or morals because it is considered bourgeois ," she said. While the Chinese are more open to Western ideas now , it does not necessarily cast when really interact with the outside world. "They think , " To hell with the label. As long as I have money , foreign worship my money . "
Most vacationers from mainland China have a great time abroad . In May , Huang Honglin , 53, and his wife paid $ 8000 for a tour of the United States, a country his last visit on a business trip 25 years ago a group of 16 days. This was long before he joined the growing middle class in China as the owner of a trading company

What Chinese think

This time, Mr. Huang had money to burn.
"We went shopping for gemstones in Hawaii and bought Prada bags to New York, " he recalls . Mr. Huang has never reached the chic boutiques of Manhattan. Instead , he traveled an hour north of the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, where many designer stores have recently hired employees who speak Chinese .
His only complaint was that they had to run through the gates before leaving the bus. " There was a short time, it was like war," he said .
According to a report by McKinsey & Company, nearly 70 percent of Chinese luxury consumers buy their balls Tiffany and Hermes scarves abroad to avoid further sales tax on these products at home , which can reach 60 percent . Take Louis Vuitton handbag black " Neverfull " a symbol of status with heavy straps that cost 14,400 RMB in China, or $ 2,335 - more than $ 350 more than the same item within the United States.
In 2007 , China granted the United States " approved destination status ", which opened the doors for Chinese group leisure travel in America from 2008. Last year , 1.5 million Chinese came American shores , to almost 8.8 billion, according to the Commerce Department . Today, nearly 150 travel agencies in the United States have the approval of the National Tour Association , a trade group American, organize trips from China , many of them owned and operated by Chinese Americans.
But the industry has seen a growth crisis . Despite years of meetings in China and decades of towers coaches across the United States, the travel agency AmericanTours International has learned that Chinese tourists have a special touch. On the one hand , people in Beijing and Shanghai can not travel on the same bus.

 Chinese Tourist in USA

"They battled ," recalled a director of business development
Last year, 1500 Chinese "Hollywood to Broadway" bus tour of the company, a 20-day trip cross country for continental with stops that included a Las Vegas casino , bridges County Madison , Iowa, Niagara Falls, the White House and the Empire State Building.

If sites are crowd-pleasers , the nights can sometimes be difficult. " Smoking in hotel rooms is always a problem," said Hentschel, a habit that can cost hundreds of dollars in tourist cleaning bills from the hotel. Then there was the episode last summer, he said, when a group of tourists has caused a scene in a hotel in Cody , Wyoming, after thinking wrongly another busload of fellow had been given preference to breakfast. The police were called to escort them out of town , he said .
Most often , Chinese tourists become victims of unscrupulous tour operators. During a one-week visit to Thailand in 2009 , Qi Lingfeng , 27, was one of several people in his group who refused to register for expensive trips like trips and speedboat concerts. As punishment, he said, the local guide lockouts their hotel rooms. Other guests in the same hotel , he said, were forced to leave their bus for the same transgression.
"It was so crazy , we even thought of calling the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, " he said.
During a group tour of the Siberian city of Vladivostok in January, Chen Xu , 47, a scientist from the coastal city of Xiamen , said "Russian ethnic dance " tour , which cost $ 80, is proved to be a woman in a bikini twirling around a stripper pole .

What parents say ? 

" When the parents saw what was happening , they took their children and left the room , " he said.
Surrounded by many foreign stimuli , many of which aspire to a taste of home and abroad . Nuoyan Xie , 20 , a student at Peking University , said as much during a recent visit to New York. If she enjoys drinking tap water , she said Chinatown was a disappointment.
"I'm really disappointed that this is not like in the movies , where there are lots of lanterns and performances everywhere, " she said.


On the upside, to find an abundance of Chinese food after several days of consuming only western strange concoctions redeemed the neighborhood

sources 
http://touristchinese.wordpress.com/
https://fr-fr.facebook.com/ILoveTravelInChina
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_China


Thứ Năm, 12 tháng 12, 2013

Trains of China

Many people who have never ridden a train or not taken one for several years want to experience riding the trains in China.  Up to 10 years ago the trains all over China were similar to our trains of the 1940's.  Today some of those same trains are used in the more rural areas of China but here you see some of the new trains that have come on line.  The train with the mountains in the background is the new Tibet train that serves Beijing, Xian, Chongqing and Chengdu with stops in between.  I have ridden it from Lhasa to Chongqing for the experience and to advise my customers about it.  It seems just like a regular Chinese train however it does have oxygen equipment in each car as well as individual oxygen masks if needed.  I didn't find a need for them. The Tibet trains seem to always be full and costly.  Food should be taken with you as train food is not especially good.  The train goes all night as well as during the day so scenery is limited to daylight.  I spent two nights and one and one half days during my trip.  Coming from Lhasa because of the altitude we came east from Lhasa, across the plateau to near Xian and then south to Chengdu and finally Chongqing.  Sleepers are two upper and two lower bunks of mixed sexes.  They do have western and Asian style toilets and nice wash rooms.   Do I recommend it?  Not really, I think the new Fast Trains are more exciting as you see in the other photo.  The new CRH3 trains are capable of 350 Kms. per hour although kept down to 185 mph for safety.  They are not available on all routes yet because the rails must be updated to handle these faster trains safely.  I rode one from Chengdu to Chongqing this last year and it was super smooth with no clicking or side way motion at all.  It cuts travel time almost in half from the older standard trains.  Some cities no longer offer air service between them because of the fantastic service offered by the new fast trains as they are called.    If you want an even faster experience you can take the Mag Lev train in Shanghai to the airport that goes 284 mph.  It takes a bus about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to the airport but takes the Mag Lev train just Seven Minutes!!!  For more on trains contact me at    interlak@eskimo.com     

   Click on the photos for a full screen view!






Thứ Năm, 5 tháng 12, 2013

Meeting the Local People in Parks

One of the best ways to meet the local people in China is going to parks.  Parks are full of activities for everyone including children.  Chinese people love seeing foreign children and if you have your own children with you they will certainly enjoy joining in playing games.  Language never seems to be a barrier with children.  It of course helps to have a guide along to translate but you will also find many people speaking English these days and often like to practice their English with you.  Here you see the national pass time of the board game Marjon   Learning to play Marjon is a great ice breaker as you may often be asked to join in a game with them. There are tea houses and snacks served in almost all parks.  Here you also see an orchestra playing in the park.  They are non-professionals who join a club to play music.  You will also find chorus clubs practicing their music in the parks on weekends.  Let my 25 years experience in travel in China help you plan your own tour to China.  My web site is  www.interlakechinatours.com  We are a BBB A+ rated tour company here in Seattle.


China is known for its beautiful parks and gardens and you will find these all over China.  I even have a Garden Tour that I have put together for those interested in  Chinese Gardens and parks.   The park you see here is in Chengdu and also has a Bonsai collection that is hundreds of years old.
Click on the photos for a full screen view.

Chủ Nhật, 1 tháng 12, 2013

Sweden and Switzerland launch joint campaign to help Chinese tourists tell them apart

Sweden and Switzerland have launched a joint campaign to help Chinese tourists say the two countries share .
While confusion is not just a problem for the Chinese, he became a particular problem for those in the Asian nation because the names of the two countries are written the same in Mandarin - Ruidian (Sweden) and Ruishi (Switzerland ) - and start with the same symbol.
In order to dispel confusion, Swedish and Swiss consulates in Shanghai launched a competition on the Swedish consulate website that asks the Chinese to come up with funny ways to help people keep the two separate countries

The two European countries - known for its chocolate , cheese and watches, one for Ikea , Volvo and Seventies pop group Abba - have often been confused for each other among the Chinese .
The problem stems largely from the fact that the names of the two nations are written the same in Mandarin - Ruidian (Sweden) and Ruishi (Switzerland) - starting with the same symbol , as the Consul General of Sweden Victoria Li in China.
In an effort to end the confusion, the Swedish and Swiss consulates in Shanghai launched a competition on the Swedish consulate website , asking the Chinese to come up with funny ways to help differentiate the two countries. Bids may be accepted as a blog , cartoon , photo, short or in another format.
The winner of the best presentation will receive a 12-day trip in Sweden and Switzerland, and is scheduled to report on their impressions of the two countries to the rest of the trip , the website states . Entries will be accepted until November 20.
The organizers have also designed a logo depicting a humorous campaign mounting objects and people associated with Sweden and Switzerland on separate maps of each country.
Map of Sweden with meatballs , a Viking, Pippi Longstocking in the books of Astrid Lindgren, and two cartoon characters male with a heart between them symbolizing gay marriage, which remains illegal in Switzerland. Map of Switzerland has cheese fondue , the Alps and a picture of Roger Federer. China can not be the only country struggling to say Sweden and Switzerland outside . Residents of Spanish-speaking countries are also victims of the confusion that Sweden is spelled " Suecia " in Spanish while Switzerland is called " Suiza .
Sweden and Switzerland are not the only destinations that have caused confusion among travelers. Last month , a British holidaymaker hoped to discover the architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, but wrongly flew across the Atlantic to the tropical Caribbean island of Grenada after an error reservation confusion. Earlier this summer , two American tourists were taken to the wrong continent after an airline has confused two airport codes .
The misunderstanding between Sweden and Switzerland is not the only incident that Chinese tourists were recently in the light. Last month, the Communist Party leaders of Tourism has published a "Guide to Tourism civilized " urging for the first time Chinese travelers to reduce bad behavior , including public displays of nose -picking , swimming pool - dirt and discussion of pork in order to improve the country's image abroad. China was the biggest spender on international tourism last year, surpassing Italy, Japan, France and Great Britain, and is the source of market fastest growing tourism in the world, according to the latest figures from the World tourism Organization earlier this year .



Bài đăng phổ biến