News in Asia

The winners of the World Travel & Tourism Council's award 'Tourism for Tomorrow' that demonstrate world-changing tourism initiatives have been announced.

According to Expedia Group the hotel bookings on its websites prevail over other types of bookings which keeps pace with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s latest campaign ‘Open to the New Shades of Thailand’ which follows last year’s very successful ‘Amazing Thailand’. 

Travel operators in the Philippines launch Go South Philippine Islands – a new campaign aimed at attracting active adventurers to the country's southern islands.

About 250 photos of almost 200 photographers have been selected for the international photo exhibition to take place at the Da Nang Museum. 

Malaysia Airlines offers up to 40% discounts on air tickets to some destinations beginning from April 23. Other travel privileges are for reduced children’s tickets, extra baggage and hotel bookings.

Hainan, which is the southernmost island province of China, will welcome tourists from 59 countries, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and the US included, on visa-free basis from May 1. 

Walk Japan tour operator provides authentic tours to get acquainted with the country, its people and culture. 

Located in Ba Ria–Vung Tau province of Vietnam, Con Dao Islands’ Dat Tham Beach is one of the best 10 eco-friendly beaches according to The Independent, the British newspaper.

SkyTeam have introduced digital airport maps presenting a detailed picture of the surroundings on the phone screen – check-in and departure, baggage collection are provided with interactive maps to facilitate orientation at the air hubs the alliance members use for travellers.

After an intense search among 3.400 properties from 91 countries, seven Hong Kong accommodation were named the ‘Most Wanted’ by Hotels.com, five of them are five-star hotels. 

Bun Bang Fai Festival, another name for which is the rocket festival, takes place in Isan, northeastern region of Thailand, with the biggest celebrations in Yasothon, and lasts 3 days around the middle of May every year before the beginning of the rain season and crop planting. 

The second geopark in Vietnam, Non Nuoc Cao Bang, established in 2015, has become a member of the UNESCO Global Network of National Geoparks. It was decided on April 12 at the 204th session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris. 

Ascott is actively expanding its presence in Asia, this year only they have added about 3,400 units in ten cities of China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia. 

A water ferry started service on April 6 in Phnom Penh following the example of Bangkok in having a public river boat transport. 

The Fly & Cruise Programme developed by Tourism Malaysia and TUI Group starts on December 20 this year and continues until March 2019. It will offer direct flights to Langkawi followed by a cruise and is intended for European tourists. 

The number of flights of AirAsia air carrier connecting ASEAN countries has reached ten from Malaysia with the addition of direct routes Penang-Hanoi and Penang-Phuket making ASEAN network more extensive. 

The festival sponsored by Vietnamese construction and real estate group HD Mon Holdings will be held in Ha Noi on 20-14 April and Ha Long City on 27-29 April devoted to the celebration of the national tourism year. 

In a new guidebook Little Chiang Mai in English the Tourism Authority of Thailand is gathering the city’s restaurants and museums, bookshops, running and bicycle routes in a set of five pocketbooks.

The state of Madhya Pradesh in central India, nicknamed the ‘Heart of India’ has got land bank to develop tourism. The money comes from public and private sources. 

Boracay will be closed for Cebu Pacific flights from April 26 for the period of six months. This is done to stop the damage to the once pristine nature of the island which is one of the most attractive holiday destinations in the Philippines visited by more than 2 mln visitors every year.