Destinations News: Travel Weekly Asia

Destinations News

Australians will be spending their summer holidays at home.

No exit: Aussies locked in for next few monthsGovernment extends bans on cruise ships, outbound travel.

Despite a 22.4 billion baht (US$0.75 billion) stimulus, the purchasing power of Thais have been weak as economic problems continue to persist pending a Covid-19 vaccine. (Pictured: Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai)

How long can Thailand's domestic pivot last?True fallout will come when domestic tourism subsidy ends, say agents.

Safety first: Finance leaders discuss global economic outlook at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2020. Next year's event will take place in Singapore in May, marking the first time the event will be held in Asia.

World Economic Forum moves to the Lion City in 2021The meeting will be the first global leadership event to address worldwide pandemic recovery.

The roads project is part of the larger Siem Reap Tourism Development Master Plan 2020-2035, which also includes a proposed new city in Siem Reap province.

A breath of fresh air for CambodiaGlimmers of hope for the battered tourism sector, with a major road project and five-star international resort underway.

Mega events over Christmas, countdown and Chinese New Year 2021 will have major physical elements removed.

Mega events off the table for Hong KongFirst the SG-HK travel bubble, now the festive event calendar has been scrapped due to yet another Covid spike.

Both Singapore and Hong Kong authorities remain in close discussion, and the new date for resumption will be reviewed again later this month.

Pop goes the bubble – again2020's out of the window for the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble launch.

Sightseeing flights by Nepalese carriers bring passengers near the world's highest peak.

A window ticket to see Mt Everest, pleaseSightseeing flights around the world's highest peak are soaring again in Nepal.

A data science professor's algorithms were estimated to have caught twice as many positive cases of the virus than would otherwise have been with Greece's limited resources.

Reopening to tourism? It's all Greek to meHow an email to the prime minister and algorithms helped Greece bring tourists back.

Khao Lak is fast turning into a surfer's paradise for Thai domestic tourists.

Thai beach town riding new wave of popularityKhao Lak turns from Western tourist hotspot into a crowd favourite for Thai surfers and influencers.

The Grounds at AIA Vitality Park is Hong Kong’s first socially-distanced outdoor cinema and events space, with appropriately-spaced pods that seat two to four people.

HK gets new stomping Grounds for post-Covid playWhere visitors can go back in time while riding the observation wheel, or catch live events from socially distanced private...

The no-quarantine travel agreement between Singapore and Hong Kong is now delayed by at least two weeks.

Travel hopes dashed as Hong Kong-Singapore bubble put on holdPassengers disappointed over delay in launching bubble flights, but where was demand coming from?

Singapore is keen to form more travel bubbles with other countries, but like dancing, the Lion City needs a "dance partner" to make such agreements possible, said STB chief Keith Tan.

Who else is ready to take the dance floor with Singapore?More travel bubbles on the way, says STB chief

With long-haul travel out of the picture for the time being, the recovery focus is very much on Asia-Pacific for the near future, according to Cronin.

Hong Kong hotels need China—and APAC—to surviveWider border reopening in Asia-Pacific is the only way back to profitability for the hospitality sector, says Wharf Hotels'...

Aerial view of Cape Town and the 12 Apostels in South Africa

South Africa reopens to all travellersThe country will admit all foreign visitors as long as they produce negative Covid-19 test results.

Singapore recognises that Covid-19 insurance coverage is a key factor to revive inbound travel to the destination.

Covid insurance now available for inbound travellers to SingaporeAIG, Chubb and HL Assurance among three insurance providers with travel policies covering Covid-19 related costs.

Bali is currently “a paradise more than ever”, Aussie expat claims.

Bali hoteliers rubbish claims of ‘trash’ reportAllegations of island in ruin are misleading, says BHA.

Bandung's abundance of outdoor attractions appeal to travellers post pandemic.

Indonesia's four regions prepare for tourism comebackBandung, Bali, Bintan and Batam among destinations getting priority treatment under the government's tourism recovery plan.

Pokemon Go tie-up is part of STB's SingapoRediscovers campaign to promote local tourism.

Gotta catch ‘em all in SingaporeSingapore Tourism Board and Niantic team up to lure locals into discovering tourist stops and offerings through Pokémon Go.

Getty Images/Mateo_Pearson

High season's here in Phuket, but where are the tourists?With hopes to save high season dashed, more job losses and business closures are predicted as the destination's economic...

Rawnsley Park Station, Flinders Ranges, SA.

Freed from lockdown, Aussies hit the roadWith overseas travel off the wish list, Australians are taking a ‘Wander Out Yonder’.