News in Asia

Sabah is poised to achieve its target of 3 million tourist arrivals with the launch of two new AirAsia direct flights connecting Shantou and Kaohsiung to Kota Kinabalu on November 16 and 17. 

The "Ozone Forest Road," also known as the "Old Forest Road," stretches 3 kilometers along Phetkasem Road, from Khao Kram to Thap Prik subdistrict, connecting Krabi to Phang Nga. This picturesque route preserves the natural beauty of its Dipterocarpus alatus forest, offering travelers a scenic and tranquil journey.  

China has extended visa-free travel to Poland, Australia, and New Zealand until the end of 2025.

Several Asian countries, including China, Thailand, and Indonesia, have eased entry requirements for Australians by removing some visas and charges and streamlining application processes. This is aimed at boosting tourism numbers post-COVID.

Thailand has extended its free insurance scheme for international tourists until the end of 2024. 

Japan's Tokyo-Haneda Airport has been named the world's cleanest for 2024 by the World Airline and Airport Star Rating program, Skytrax. 

Cambodia has simplified its visa application process. The Cambodia Online Visa, or also called eVisa, offers a hassle-free solution for tourists and business travelers alike.

Cherry blossoms blossomed across Japan, including Tokyo and Kyoto, on Friday, a bit later than usual due to lower temperatures experienced in many areas throughout March.

In the initial two months of 2024, Cambodia experienced an 18% surge in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the same duration in 2023, with Thailand leading the influx, contributing 250,000 visitors, as reported by the Ministry of Tourism.

Kyoto is implementing new regulations for tourists, specifically in its geisha district, Gion. Some private alleys will be off-limits to visitors, marked with bilingual signs and enforced fines of 10,000 yen ($67.97) for non-compliance. 

The Peruvian government has reversed its decision to privatize ticket sales for Machu Picchu following protests that blocked access to the site. Minister of Culture Leslie Urteaga, after meeting with local officials, decided to abandon plans to outsource ticket sales to a private company. 

Thai AirAsia has broadened its route network with the introduction of new services to both Shanghai and Kaohsiung. The low-cost carrier (LCC) will operate five direct flights weekly between Don Mueang (DMK) and Shanghai (PVG), and four flights per week between DMK and Kaohsiung (KHH).

Japan plans to introduce digital nomad visas next month, allowing remote workers to stay in the country for up to six months while working from any location.

Thailand's Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, announced on Tuesday that Chinese nationals will have permanent visa-free access to Thailand starting March 1. 

More Japanese citizens are opting to travel abroad compared to a year ago, although the numbers still reflect a significant decrease from the pre-COVID era. 

According to a recent study in the global travel industry, international travel trips are projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024, showing a 3% rise compared to 2019 and reaching over 2 billion for the second time in history.

Songkran in Thailand, the traditional Thai New Year festival was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

China is testing a visa-free regime for citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia for a year, the country's foreign ministry said.

To boost the tourism sector further, Vietnam is now considering visa-free entry for Indians and Chinese.

Vietnam Airlines has confirmed its return to daily flight frequency from London Heathrow to Vietnam this winter, with daily nonstop services beginning on 29 October 2023.