News in Asia

This month, Ubud will host the fifth edition of the annual Ubud Food Festival. The yummy event is calling all foodies to the island on April, 26–28. 

Lombok is safe to visit, the Indonesia Tour and Travel Agency Association (ASITA) assures the public. A series of earthquakes of the last year resulted in sharp decline in tourist numbers but the island is back to its normal life again and is desperately in need of tourist support.

Myanmar is going to welcome one of the country's most important festivals – Thingyan. Between April, 13 and 16, a four-day water fight takes place throughout the country to celebrate New
Year. For locals it is also one of the busiest periods for travelling across the country and abroad. 

The Department of Archaeology and National Museum in Bagan has recently disclosed interest expressed by a Chinese company in building a theatre in the heritage zone of Bagan, Mandalay Region, Myanmar. 

Cebu Pacific is going to launch several new direct routes from its rapidly growing hub. Between August and October 2019, the airline will add at least four new direct routes from Clark, Philippines: one international flight to Tokyo and three domestic flights – to Iloilo, Bacolod and Puerto Princesa.

Bangkok will soon have a new landmark at the major Silom-Rama IV intersection. A mixed-use project by Dusit Thani and Central Pattana (CPN), 'Dusit Central Park', is expected to be completed in 2024.

The official inauguration of the link between Cambodian and Thai railway systems is expected to take place on April, 22. The two railway systems are already connected and it is only the official launch that lacks to get cross-border trains started. 

Cambodia's first national museum devoted entirely to the Kingdom’s economic and financial development opened in the capital yesterday. It makes visitors acquainted with the history of Cambodia's money and economy from the first century to the present day.

IRCTC, a subsidiary of the government owned Indian Railways, has prepared a special summer treat for travellers. A package named Marvel of the East is a 5 nights 6 days travel itinerary that can be joined on June, 11 only. But you can always tailor-make your trip following the same route and choosing your preferred means of transportation.

Indian Railways has announced the launch of a special summer train that will serve the route between Udaipur and Pune from April, 9, till June, 25, during the high season to meet the demand for transportation between the two destinations. 

The New York Times published a list of 52 destinations worldwide worth visiting in 2019. Da Nang is the only destination in Vietnam that made it up to the ranking.

A UK global public opinion and data company, YouGov, ranked Vietnamese food among the 15 most popular cuisines in the world. And we cannot disagree here!

The Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines is considering adding two new destinations in the Eastern Visayas to the country's cruise tourism sites map.

Three people’s organizations (POs) – the Liberty Eco Adventure Park, Palompon Eco Park, and Palompon Tour Guides Association – in Palompon, Leyte, in the Eastern Visayas, the Philippines, received PHP1.5 million in the frames of the post-Yolanda Comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Project for tourism.

If you were wondering which airlines are best in each country of Asia, now we've got the results of TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice chart. Have a look – it may help you choose the air carrier to your next destination!

One of the most popular and colourful festivals of the festival calendar in Thailand is almost here. Songkran will be widely celebrated across the country between April, 7 and April, 21 depending on the region with the major festivities taking part between April, 13–15. Here are some ideas where to head to for the most joyful parties.

No, it is not famous sakura trees we are speaking about. Rosy trumpet tree, or Tabebuia Rosea, is often dubbed 'Bangkok sakura' for its branches covered all over with gentle pink flowers – from almost white to saturated pink – during the blooming period. And it can be observed right now!

The Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) is going to issue 1.4 million micro-insurance policies to cover accidents that may happen during long Songkran holidays period in Thailand.  

Announced earlier this year, two new routes by Bangkok Airways from Chiang Mai are now fully operational. Now you can fly direct from Chiang Mai to Krabi, in the south of Thailand, and to Luang Prabang, in Laos.

The waiver of the visa-on-arrival fee for visitors to Thailand may be extended for another three months until July, 31 in order to ward off an economic slump during the transition to a new government and to boost tourism during low season months.