Emirates Airline and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Tourism Administration today held a route launch presentation, focused on educating key travel trade partners in the UAE and Middle East region about Yinchuan, one of Emirates Airline's upcoming two gateways into Mainland China. The presentation comes just six weeks ahead of the launch of direct air services to Yinchuan and Zhengzhou, scheduled to commence on 3rd May 2016.

On the sidelines of today’s event, Emirates Airline also signed a marketing and tourism agreement with the Ningxia Tourism Administration, which aims to utilize the airline’s global network to further boost inbound tourism to Yinchuan and the greater Ningxia region, and reciprocally to Dubai and the Middle East.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Emirates Airline together with the Ningxia Tourism Administration will put into effect a range of joint marketing activities such as trade familiarisation trips, product presentations, media campaigns, tourism promotion activities, roadshows and workshops, amongst other activities, aimed at deepening tourism cooperation and exchange between the Ningxia Hui Autonomous region and Dubai.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of Li Lingbing, Consul General to the UAE for the People’s Republic of China by Badr Abbas, Emirates Airline's Senior Vice President Commercial Operations for the Far East; and Xue Gang, Deputy Secretary General, The People’s Government of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Commenting on the launch presentation event and the agreement, Badr Abbas said: "By joining forces with the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Tourism Administration we are enhancing our efforts to support the tourism industry and increase our trade ties with the Ningxia region, which will ultimately grow inbound leisure and business traffic. We are confident that our partnership will attract global travellers to enjoy and discover the many attractions that the Ningxia region has to offer."

Mr. Xue Gang, Deputy Secretary General, The People’s Government of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region said: "Upon the opening of Emirates’ new air route connecting to Ningxia, and under the direction of the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Tourism Administration have decided ,with careful study and consideration, to establish an office in the Middle East, and have chosen Hunter International Travel and Tourism as the marketing centre of its tourism administration of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. This will be to promote travel and tourism between the UAE and China."

Utilising a three class configured Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, Emirates’ services to Yinchuan and Zhengzhou will offer new international connectivity for two of China’s fastest growing cities.

Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia, lies to the West of the Yellow River. With a large Muslim population, it serves as a gateway connecting China to the Middle East, and is positioned as a hub for economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchange between China and the region. Zhengzhou, the capital of the Henan Province is the second largest city in central China and a major transportation hub. Zhengzhou’s strategic location has enabled the city to become one of the largest economic hubs in China.

Emirates’ flights to Yinchuan and Zhengzhou will depart on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Dubai as EK326 at 02:45hrs arriving at Yinchuan Hedong International Airport at 13:35hrs. The service will then depart from Yinchuan at 15:20hrs and arrive at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport at 17:00hrs. The return flight, EK327, will depart Zhengzhou at 21:10hrs, arriving at Yinchuan at 22:55hrs. It will then depart Yinchuan at 00:40hrs, arriving in Dubai at 04:30hrs the next day*.

Timings of the new service have been scheduled to allow for seamless connections to many Middle East, European and African destinations

Source:WAM