News in Asia

Following multiple requests for rebooking due to flight cancellations, AirAsia has updated its rebooking policy.

From today, Thailand is under a state of emergency. All travels are highly discouraged. Use this time to plan your trips for the 'after-COVID-19' period. We would like to share some resources which inspire us to travel far and wide across Thailand – hope you'll love them, too.

Finally some good news amid the craziness of the COVID-19 story: the Chinese city of Wuhan, which is widely believed to be the place of origin of the current outbreak and the city hit with it the hardest, is planning to remove outbound travel restrictions effective from April 8.

Thailand has declared the State of Emergency which comes into effect tonight at midnight and banned all foreigners from entering the country.

To halt the spread of COVID-19, Thailand declares emergency effective from March, 26, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha sayd today. 

Attention passengers to/from the UAE and passengers connecting via the UAE airports: effective from March, 25, 23.59, all passenger flights in the UAE will be banned.

All national and historical parks in Thailand will stay closed from March, 25 until the situation with the pandemic improves – if you happen to be travelling around Thailand, plan accordingly.

Pattaya, one of the most popular seaside and resort destinations in Thailand, is going to be much quieter these days as many businesses are ordered to close. Does it mean no more swimming – at least, for a while?

Chiang Mai joins the club: all shopping malls in the city will close tomorrow, Monday, 23 at 6.00 pm. They are expected to stay closed till midnight April, 13, or until further note.

Attention those who have Indian Railways tickest for March, 22 and on. The Indian Railways have announced they are cancelling all passenger trains from today until March 31, 2020. Cargo trains will be the only ones to operate as usual.

While any travel, including air travel is highly discouraged at the moment, we have some tips for those who have an emergency and cannot pospone taking a flight.

The Bangkok administration has issed an order for all shopping malls, markets and some other businesses in Bangkok to close from Sunday March, 22. 

In the wake of the Coronavirus some of India's most famous attractions, including the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, were shut down for visitors temporarily.

Attention travellers who have Thai Lion Air tickets for flights after March, 25: the airline is preparing to suspend its operations in the end of the month.

All visitors to Thailand regardless of their nationality are now required to have a medical certificate to confirm they are free from COVID-19 and a health insurance covering medical expenses connected with COVID-19, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced today.

Thai Airways International cancels 32 flights to 12 countries worldwide due to the spread of the COVID-19 and decreasing number of passengers. If you have tickets with Thai Airways for any of the cancelled flights, contact the airline before the end of the month.

One more direct air link is due to be launched in Indonesia in April: Wings Air, a scheduled commuter passenger low cost airline based in Surabaya and a subsidiary of Lion Air Group, will connect Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan with Sampit in Central Kalimantan.

It is confirmed: the Thai New Year, aka Songkran, which normally takes place between April 13-15 is postponed to later dates. The exact dates have not yet been confirmed.

Mandalay's famous Buddha image at Mahamuni Paya needs protection from golden leaves pilgrims put on it, experts say. 

Indonesia's famous Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java, will stay closed for tourists till the end of March. But there are some positive news about the temple, too – read on.