Since early 2024, the scheme has been rolled out in stages, adding 11 European countries and Malaysia to the list. This initiative aims to boost business, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

Citizens of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland can enter China visa-free until the end of next year. The trial program allows visa-free stays for up to 15 days.

Despite lifting strict pandemic measures early last year, international travel to China hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, there were 35.5 million foreign entries and exits, compared to 97.7 million in 2019.

China previously offered visa-free entry to citizens of Brunei, Japan, and Singapore but suspended it during the COVID-19 outbreak. It resumed for Brunei and Singapore last July but not for Japan.

Popular destinations among Europeans include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sanya, and Chengdu.

Indonesia waives the $50 visa-on-arrival fee for Australians and introduces a $15 tourism tax for Bali visitors. Tourists can stay for up to 30 days, which can be extended to 60 days.Thailand allows Australians a 60-day visa-free stay, extendable by 30 days, effective from 15 July.

China grants Australians a 15-day visa-free visit for tourists and business travelers, easing previous strict documentation requirements.

Australians can travel visa-free to the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (for under 30 days), South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan (for up to 90 days). E-visas are now available in countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, eliminating the need for in-person embassy visits.

This program provides up to THB 500,000 ($13,650) for medical expenses due to accidents or natural disasters and so on.

Launched earlier this year with a THB 50 million ($1.4 million) budget, the scheme was initially set to end in August but will now continue through December 31. Tourists can claim expenses within 15 days of an incident, with payments made within 15 days thereafter.

The insurance extension addresses rising medical costs for tourists lacking adequate coverage. For example, an Irish tourist faced a THB 6.6 million ($180,131) bill after contracting sepsis from a mosquito bite. The "Thailand Traveler Safety" system allows tourists to register online for this coverage before arrival.

Thailand aims to generate THB 3.5 trillion ($96 billion) in tourism revenue this year, targeting 40 million foreign tourists. The government has introduced new visa measures and scrapped a proposed THB 300 ($8.20) tourism fee.

To combat overtourism, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has urged the development of infrastructure and tourism offerings in less-visited provinces, promoting travel links between popular and second-tier destinations. This strategy seeks to distribute tourists more evenly and spread economic benefits across the country.

Following closely are Seoul’s Incheon International Airport and Singapore’s Changi Airport in second and third place. Tokyo-Haneda Airport has also secured the fourth position in Skytrax's ranking of the world's best airports.

Notably, Tokyo-Haneda Airport impressed with its cleanliness, earning it a global 5-Star Airport quality rating for the tenth consecutive year. Japan dominates the top ten cleanest airports worldwide, with Chubu Centrair Nagoya Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport, and Kansai International Airport following suit.

While Tokyo-Haneda Airport leads in cleanliness, Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha takes fourth place. This highlights the excellence of several Asian airports, including Singapore’s Changi Airport and Seoul’s Incheon International Airport.

Skytrax's list underscores the increasing importance of airport cleanliness post-pandemic. Here are the top ten cleanest airports for 2024:Tokyo Haneda (Japan)Seoul Incheon (South Korea)Singapore Changi (Singapore)Doha Hamad (Qatar)Chubu Centrair Nagoya (Japan)Tokyo Narita (Japan)Kansai International (Japan)Hong Kong International (China)Taiwan Taoyuan (Taiwan)Zurich (Switzerland)This recognition reflects the commitment of airports worldwide to maintain high hygiene standards, meeting passengers' expectations in a post-pandemic era.

Available to travelers from over 100 countries, including Qatar, Spain, and Slovakia, the eVisa can be easily obtained from the comfort of one's home. The online application process provides a user-friendly interface, with prompt customer support available to assist applicants.Minimal paperwork is required; travelers only need a printed copy of the approved eVisa letter received via email and a passport stamp upon arrival. The eVisa grants a 30-day stay upon arrival, with a total validity of 90 days. However, passports must be valid for at least six months from the arrival date.This streamlined process aims to enhance the travel experience for visitors to Cambodia, eliminating the need for lengthy queues at embassies and offering a more efficient solution for obtaining entry authorization.

In Tokyo, the "Somei Yoshino" variety at Yasukuni Shrine, where the Japan Meteorological Agency observes, reached full bloom.

This year's bloom in Tokyo was five days behind the average and 15 days later than last year.

Similarly, Kyoto also witnessed its first cherry blossoms of the season, blooming three days later than the average, as reported by the local weather observatory.

The weather service company forecasts cherry blossoms to appear in northeastern regions in early April and in the northern main island of Hokkaido by late April.

During January and February, the country greeted a total of 988,574 foreign visitors, marking an 18% increase from the 837,446 recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Thailand emerged as the primary source with 247,530 tourists, constituting 25% of the overall arrivals, followed by Vietnam (185,385 or 18.8%), China (109,990 or 11.1%), and Laos (54,546 or 5.5%).

Khieu Thy, president of the Khmer Angkor Tourist Guide Association (KATGA), highlighted a notable rise in international tourists exploring Siem Reap province’s temples in early 2024, featuring a more diverse visitor demographic than during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic when most visitors hailed from neighboring countries.

He noted that the upsurge in foreign tourist numbers has spurred stakeholder job opportunities and income generation, particularly following the tourism sector's near-halt amid the pandemic's peak from 2020 to 2022.

They attributed the growth to factors such as the rebound of global economic activity, promotional campaigns for the country’s tourism, improved road and airport infrastructure, and the establishment of direct flight connections, all attracting more foreign guests.

Public streets in Gion will remain accessible. This measure addresses issues of overcrowding and misconduct by tourists. Previous efforts to protect geisha included distributing pamphlets in 2015 and posting photography restrictions in 2019. Despite these measures, some tourists continue to flout the rules.

Similarly, Mount Fuji's local government has voted for restrictions and fees to manage climbing activities. Despite these localized measures, Japan is actively welcoming tourists, exemplified by the upcoming digital nomad program, which aims to attract foreign visitors to work and explore the country.

Concerns over irregularities and a reported loss of $1.8 million prompted this change. Instead, ticket sales will transition to an online platform managed by the national government, effectively canceling the agreement with Joinnus, a virtual ticket sales firm.

The protests led to a near-desertion of the tourist attraction and the suspension of rail services, severely impacting local businesses. Though rail services resumed shortly after the government's decision reversal, tourism has slowly recovered.

The disruptions prompted travel advisories from the United States, Germany, France, and Brazil, highlighting concerns over essential supplies due to transportation disruptions.

The newly launched Don Mueang - Shanghai service, operated by Thai AirAsia (FD), offers travelers an alternative to the existing Suvarnabhumi (BKK) - Shanghai flights serviced by Thai AirAsia X (XJ).

Santisuk Klongchaiya, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Thailand, highlighted the significance of Kaohsiung as a destination, noting its appeal to both art and spiritual travelers. He emphasized the city's charm and ease of navigation, citing convenient facilities such as its high-speed train service. Klongchaiya expressed confidence in the potential of the Don Mueang-Kaohsiung route to attract Thai tourists and visitors to the Kingdom.

Eligible individuals from 49 countries, including the U.S., earning over ¥10 million annually, will qualify.

Applicants must have private health insurance, and family members can accompany them. The visa won't provide residence cards or government benefits. It's non-renewable, requiring recipients to leave and reapply after six months.

Specific details are yet to be disclosed, but Deputy Minister Imaeda Soichiro's tweet suggests support for the initiative.

The previous policy, initiated in September, was set to expire on February 29. The decision follows negotiations with Beijing to reciprocate the privilege for Thai nationals visiting China.

While the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson did not confirm the announcement, both sides plan to allow tourists to stay for up to 30 days per visit. This move is aimed at reviving Thailand's tourism sector, which suffered a significant blow during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, Thailand hosted 40 million visitors, with 11 million from China. Despite a slow recovery, Thailand saw 28 million foreign visitors in the past year, including 3.5 million from China.

Japan's National Tourism Organization recently reported that the count of outbound Japanese travelers during the initial ten months has surged almost fourfold from the previous year. However, this growth rate is only about half the pace witnessed in Japanese international travel in 2019.

Experts in the travel industry attribute this trend to the yen depreciation. In 2019, one could exchange 110 yen for a dollar, but the exchange rate is around 143 yen — a slight improvement from a month ago. Nevertheless, compared to the pre-pandemic period, it translates to an effective increase akin to a 30% tax on all expenditures.

Despite this, there is an uptick in bookings for Japanese international travel during the New Year period. H.I.S, a Japanese travel agency, revealed that reservations indicate a preference for closer-to-home destinations this year.

According to figures quoted by The Yomiuri Shimbun from the agency, Seoul emerges as the top destination, with Taipei following closely as the runner-up.The third-place finisher is the destination that used to make the top spot for Japanese travelers in the years before the pandemic — Honolulu.

Although outbound travel recovery from China has been sluggish in 2023, reaching pre-pandemic levels is anticipated to take another 12-18 months. Industry experts predict that China will be a crucial growth driver in 2024, with Asia-Pacific markets leading the way in both types of travel.

In 2024, France, the host country for the Olympic Games, will significantly attract international tourists. It is estimated that approximately 11% of all international visitors in 2024 will be accounted for by France.

According to the recently conducted study titled International Travel Trends & Forecasts 2024, it has been projected that by the conclusion of 2028, there will be a notable increase in international travel, reaching a total of 2.8 billion journeys.

Robust expansion is anticipated in 2023, propelled by the Europe and Central Asia region. Despite geopolitical hurdles like a weakened economic forecast and Russian aggression in Ukraine, international travel positively recovered in 2023, exceeding 1.7 billion trips, a 32% increase from 2022.

The growth was mainly driven by Europe & Central Asia, which accounted for more than 50% of total international trips in 2023. However, the Q4 2023 international travel data was significantly impacted by the recent Israel anti-terrorism operation against Hamas terrorists.

Analysts predict that neighboring countries such as Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon will be affected despite their impressive recovery in inbound and outbound tourism during the first three quarters of 2023.

In 2023, industry projections indicate a 22% increase in tourists visiting Israel compared to 2020. However, these positive trends are expected to reverse dramatically in 2024, with a predicted decline of over 40%. Additionally, ongoing travel cancellations to neighboring countries will impede travel growth across the Middle East region.

Among the surveyed participants, India and the US emerged as the top countries where leisure is the predominant motive for international travel. Travel respondents prefer short-haul trips when it comes to their upcoming international travels.

This was announced on 6 December 2023 during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee. The Department of Cultural Development of the Ministry of Culture included the nomination “Songkran in Thailand, the traditional Thai New Year festival” in the UNESCO list.

“In Thailand, Songkran marks the annual passage of the Sun into the constellation Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, which marks the traditional start of the new year,” UNESCO said.

“This happens in mid-April after the rice harvest. It is a time when people reunite with their families and pay respect to the elderly, ancestors, and sacred images of Buddha. Pouring water is an important action during Songkran, symbolizing purification, reverence, and good fortune.”

Songkran in Thailand is officially celebrated as a three-day national holiday from April 13 to 15, although celebrations can last longer — up to a week in some places. For tourists, the Songkran festival offers the opportunity to enjoy a huge celebration when water parties are held on the streets of cities and villages in Thailand.

From December to 30 November, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from these countries can conduct business or travel within China without a visa for up to 15 days. This should help “promote China's high-quality development and opening up,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

Currently, most travelers require a visa to enter China. Rare examples of those exempt include citizens of Singapore and Brunei who enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for no more than 15 days.In March 2020, the country imposed strict travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For three years, China has had some of the world's strictest Covid restrictions, with travel restrictions, multiple lockdowns, and frequent testing requirements. Its zero Covid policy, which had hit the economy hard, was only reversed in December last year. Before the pandemic, tens of millions of foreign tourists visited China yearly.

At a Wednesday conference chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh, he also proposed providing incentives for visitors from wealthy countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, and the remaining 20 members of the 27-member EU, VnExpress reported last week.

Citizens of Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Finland can travel to Vietnam without a visa. And for other countries, it offers e-visas valid for 90 days and multiple entries for people from all countries.

If this visa-free entry policy is implemented, Vietnam will join Sri Lanka and Thailand as a few countries offering convenience to Indian travelers. The Sri Lanka Cabinet has approved the issuance of free visas to persons from India, China, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand as a pilot project until 31 March 2024.

Thailand also announced last month that the government will allow visa-free entry to tourists from India and Taiwan for six months, from November 10 this year to May 10 2024.

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.

The airline operates four weekly flights to Hanoi and three to Ho Chi Minh City. The flights are carefully scheduled with onward connections via Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to multiple destinations throughout Vietnam, Asia, and Australasia, including Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

The only non-stop daily service to Vietnam is operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Return economy fares start at £754.

London-Hanoi schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday flights depart Heathrow Terminal 4 at 11:00, arriving in Hanoi the following day at 05:45. Flights depart Hanoi at 01:10, arriving in Heathrow at 07:15.

London-Ho Chi Minh schedule: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday flights depart Heathrow at 11:00 and arrive in Ho Chi Minh the next day at 06:50. Flights depart Ho Chi Minh at 00:05, arriving in Heathrow at 07:15.

According to Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), Indonesia became the top destination for Australian tourists in 2023, accounting for 17% of all insurance sold.

However, Australian visitors do not simply select yoga and beach vacations; according to SCTI, average indemnity expenses jumped 44% from $706 to $1,017 in 2023, compared to pre-pandemic (2019) travel.

The most prevalent claims among Australian visitors to Indonesia are for Balinese belly treatments (24%), followed by lost phones (10% of total claims submitted in 2023).Additional claims included requests of reef and surfing damages, as well as cases involving monkeys.

Indonesia is the second country with the most claims in 2023, just behind the United States.

The popular annual Rot Fai Loy Nam (floating train) program returns this season with 24-day trips every Saturday and Sunday from November to January, excluding New Year's Eve. The first ride began on Saturday, November 4th. The last ride will be on 28 January.The journey starts at Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok. It stops for about 20 minutes at Lopburi's Pasak Jolasid Dam, Thailand's largest reservoir, for tourists to enjoy the scenery and take photos. Tourists сan have five hours of free time to stroll around the dam or visit nearby flower fields before heading back.

Return tickets cost 500 baht and 590 baht per person in air-conditioned carriages and 330 baht per person in regular carriages. For group tours, private train carriages can be rented.There will be a limited night excursion aboard the KIHA 183 train! Between November and December, 14 tourism programs are available, including 12 one-day and two overnight programs. On November 25 and 26 and December 9 and 10, the day trip will allow passengers to enjoy the magnificent fields of chrysanthemums and sunflowers, a scenic "floating train" ride, and a magical sunset in Saraburi and Lopburi.

For tourists who want to dress up in traditional Thai costumes and visit historical sites, there are two-day trips to Bang Rachan Park in Sing Buri on December 16 and 17, and two more day trips to King Narai's Palace in Lopburi on December 23 and 17. December 24. Both routes will take passengers to colorful flower fields and the Glory of Ayutthaya 2023 fair.

For those tourists who want an overnight stay, there is an overnight trip to Prachin Buri, visiting the ancient city of Si Mahosot and the cosmic fields at Pha Hin Son Viewpoint on November 11-12, and another trip to Chonburi, visiting the margarita and hydrangea fields. Jomtien Beach and Pattaya nightlife November 18-19. Every trip has a capacity of 200 passengers and costs 1,499 baht for a day trip and 3,999 baht for an overnight excursion.