Destinations News: Travel Weekly Asia

Destinations News

Western Japan has begun trialling a multilingual smartphone-based service to provide disaster information to foreign tourists, with plans to launch in Osaka by June.

Osaka to roll out new multilingual app for disaster serviceWestern Japan has begun trialling a multilingual smartphone-based service that will provide disaster information to foreign...

Hong Kong’s iconic 131-year-old Peak Tram is looking to reopen in early 2021, promising shortened queue times and trams with increased passenger capacities.

Hong Kong’s Peak Tram looks to reopen in early 2021On the back of a U.S. $87.2 million (HK$684 million) facelift, Hong Kong’s iconic 131-year-old Peak Tram is looking to reopen...

Beaches still a top holiday travel draw for Thailand

Beaches still a top holiday travel draw for ThailandLearn how Thailand's beach hotels are delighting holiday-goers with the right upgrades and innovations.

“Happy and unfortunate events for centuries have been marked by the bells of Notre-Dame. We can be only horrified by what we see” - historian Camille Pascal.

Notre Dame blaze shocks the world; French president vows to rebuildThe cathedral burned and the people sang hymns.

The first window depicts the storylines of House Stark – whose spiritual home Winterfell is set at Castle Ward in Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Game of Thrones, going but not forgotten in BelfastNorthern Ireland is saying goodbye to Game of Thrones but its impact on the country will not be forgotten for very a long time.

Singapore’s Tuas Checkpoint has launched a six-month trial for a new contactless biometric immigration clearance system that does away with the need to present their passports or thumbprint.

Biometric trial at Singapore’s checkpoint to make clearance a breezeSingapore’s Tuas Checkpoint, one of two land immigration checkpoints, has launched a six-month trial last week for a new...

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. Prime minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc seeks to anchor tourism as Vietnam’s key contributor by 2020.

Ho Chi Minh sells out April and May holiday toursTravel agents are offering a flurry of domestic and outbound offerings for Ho Chi Minh City’s upcoming public holidays,...

Daydream Island, a private island nestled in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The A$100 million makeover of a ‘Daydream’A private island seated along Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has reopened after a A$100 million (US$71.5 million)...

Pattaya beach is fast disappearing, leaving authorities with a major reclamation task.

Here today, gone tomorrow: Pattaya’s disappearing beachOfficials in Pattaya are desperate to find a solution to beach erosion caused by recent heavy rains which washed away large...

North Korea’s marathon has regained foreign visitors, bringing participation to 2017 levels.

North Korean marathon sees rebounding tourist numbersTwice as many foreigners as last year gathered in Pyongyang for the city’s annual marathon, tour agencies said, as reduced...

Under is officially Europe’s first underwater restaurant, based in Norway.

Going ‘Under’: Europe’s first underwater restaurant fully booked for next six monthsFollowing the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort, Europe now has her own...

The National Stadium under construction in Tokyo. It will be the main venue for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Japan stocks up with new hotels and more beer for big eventsIn preparation to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2019 Rugby World Cup, Japan is upping its airlift, hotel capacity and beer...

A smuggling ring was hoping to capture and sell 41 Komodo dragons.

Komodo Island to close after foiling dragon smugglersIndonesia’s famous Komodo island - home of the Komodo dragon – is poised to close to tourists while wildlife officers work out...

The new waterfront promenade area proposed for Resorts World Sentosa.

Take a look at this: Lofty plans for Singapore’s two IRsMore glitzy attractions are expected to join Singapore as part of a S$9 billion (US$6.65 billion) expansion plan of its two...

Pollution from agricultural burning farm fields in Thailand.

Flights turn away as haze blankets northern Thai provincesThick, smoky haze in northern Thailand has reached critical levels with four flights bound for Chiang Mai prevented from...

Chendol, a common dessert dish served in Singapore’s hawker centres.

Singapore dishes up hawker culture for UNESCO bidSingapore has submitted its nomination to inscribe its local hawker culture on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible...

Hanoi’s hotel scene on the uptick

Hanoi’s hotel scene on the uptickRich with history, culture and arts, Hanoi ranks as one of Vietnam’s top leisure destinations, pulling in regional and...

A grill and skewer expert at work on Lau Pa Sat hawker centre's Satay Street, Singapore.

Cross-border street food spat heats upThe heat has been turned up in the cross-border culinary clash between Singapore and Malaysia.

The two-year-old male orangutan in a rattan basket inside the Russian tourist’s luggage.

Drugged orangutan found in tourist’s luggageA Russian man has been detained in Bali following discovery of a drugged orangutan in his luggage.

More Muslim travellers are visiting Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture, which is near to the famed Mount Fuji.

North of Japan’s Fuji is fast becoming more Muslim-friendlyThe northern slope of Japan’s Mount Fuji, which has been receiving a surge in Muslim tourists, has responded by rolling out...