News in Asia

The annual Vallam Kali, traditional boat races and one of the main tourist attractions in Kerala, India, will kick off tomorrow, August, 10 with the major chundan vallan race. 

Several popular tourist destinations in Maharashtra state, India, are badly affected by monsoon rains and floods. Plan your travel accordingly and check weather forcasts and travel advisories before going.

Singapore Airlines and the airline's regional subsidiary SilkAir expand their codeshare agreement with Vistara, an Indian full-service airline. The agreement now covers international routes, too. 

Thailand's U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport may host an International Airshow in future – at least the UK-based Farnborough International recently concluded a feasibility study for the project.

In January–June 2019, almost 10 million overseas travellers visited Vietnam, a 7.9 percent increase compared to 2018. While results are impressive, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) wants the number of tourists to continue growing.

The eighth edition of Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show, Thailand is scheduled for 21-24 November 2019. Last year, almost 6,000 guests visited the show with the number expected to be 20 percent higher this time.

Duty Free Philippines has opened their first supermarket inside an airport. The duty free supermarket is located in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), at the DFP Arrival Mall, South Arrival Lobby, Terminal 3.

Beaches of El Nido, Palawan infected with a high level of fecal coliform and needing urgent rehabilitation can be improved without closure, the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed last week.

Say 'goodbye' to old good Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand as plans are afoot to give the street a major facelift to attract a more well-being crowd of 'quality tourists'. Police also promises to rid it of its image as a hub for petty crime by foreign nationals.

Strong baht is blamed in dropping numbers of tourists all around Thailand including Phuket, the popular tourism destination in the south of the country dubbed the Pearl of the Andaman. But there is some good news about it for travellers: hotel price drop.

In a bid to promote green tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched ‘Green-a-la-carte’ campaign to attract travellers' attention to ‘Green Tourism’ opportunities in Thailand. 

Bangkok's MRT Blue Line has got longer this week with four new stationed opened westwards from Hua Lamphong station making it more convenient to travel to Bangkok's China Town and Rattanakosin island. 

Following the ban on disposable toiletries at Shanghai hotels effective from July, 1, hotels in Hainan, China are likely to support the initiative from September, 1. 

A regular cross-border freight train has been laucnhed by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) between Thailand and Laos this Thursday.

The organizers have announced the days of the annual Tourism Festival in Shanghai. This year, it will start on September 14 and last till the 6 October.

The Golden Beach Beer City of Qingdao is virtually flooded with beer these days as the 24-day annual Beer Festival is at its height. The event has started on July 26 and will run till August 18.

Mount Tangkuban Parahu’s crater in Bandung, West Java is closed for tourists after eruption on July 26. The area is currently being cleared of the ash and debris and no estimates have been announced regarding its re-opening.

Citilink, a low-cost subsidiary of Indonesia's national flag carrier Garuda, will be temporarily operating its domestic flights to/from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 2 instead of 1C effective from August 15.

While Myanmar is experiencing a rise in numbers of Chinese tourists with the inevitable growth of so called zero-dollar tours, the government is seeking for quality investments for Tanintharyi Region as well as development of sustainable tourism models.

The annual Yadana Gu Spirit Festival, the largest gathering of spirit mediums in Myanmar, falls on August, 23–29 this year, from 1st to 8th Wanning of Wagaung.