Destinations News: Travel Weekly Asia

Destinations News

Visitors to Boracay urged to book approved hotels.

Airlines warn Boracay visitors: pre-book your hotelsAirlines have cautioned tourists headed to Boracay island to book their hotel rooms ahead of the destination’s reopening on...

Sorry, beach closed at Maya Bay.

Look, but don’t tread on Maya Beach, says TATThailand’s world famous Maya Beach may have been shut down to protect its environment from too much love, but the Tourism...

About 670,000 Chinese submit visa applications per month at mainland consular offices.

Thailand backtracks on visa fee waiver planEarlier this week, Thailand announced that travellers from 21 countries will not need to pay the fees required to apply for...

A total of 1,203 people were booked to visit Similan Islands during Wednesday’s crush.

Similan Islands reopen — but tour staff unaware of visitor limitBy now, it is routine for Thailand’s Similan Islands to close for five months, which allows the area to recover from tourist...

This move is part of the government’s efforts to woo back tourists, especially those from China.

Thailand waives visa-on-arrival fees for two monthsVisitors from 21 countries typically need to pay a fee to obtain visa-on-arrival in Thailand. However, according to a report on...

The move will reduce workload at diplomatic departments and immigration control ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Japan to offer e-visa to tourists starting April 2020Japan has a lofty goal of hitting 60 million visitors per year by 2030. In order to facilitate that, the Japanese government...

At least 60 rescuers and soldiers are involved in the operation.

Bad weather delays rescue of injured tourist in Thai national parkIt has been two nights since a tourist fell off a 30-metre cliff in Thailand’s Khao Laem National Park. However, due to bad...

DOT chief wants people to explore the food of the provinces.

Food key to tourism promotion, says DOT chiefTourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat says food is key to promoting Philippine tourism.

Thailand’s prime minister orders crackdown on fake news hurting the country’s tourism industry.

Thailand launches probe into ‘fake news’ hurting tourismThailand’s Prime Minister has called for a crackdown on what he claims is “false news” distributed by unnamed people whose...

The author posing with the life-size cut-outs of soldiers at the 3rd infiltration tunnel.

Dispatch, Korea: Visiting the DMZ in optimistic timesAcross Seoul’s city centre in September high rises were draped with huge banners calling for peace and marking the date of the...

Palawan faces extra scrutiny from environment watchdog.

Philippines tightens watch over tourist areasThe Philippine government will keep a close tab on key tourist areas ahead of the reopening of Boracay island.

Tokyo “continues to thrill” says Conde Nast.

Conde Nast readers pick the world’s best citiesJapan’s Tokyo and Kyoto have taken the top two spots in the Conde Nast 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards for best world cities.

PNG earthquake briefly triggering a tsunami alert before authorities gave the all clear.

More tremors, more panic as earthquakes rock Indonesia, PNGIndonesia and Papua New Guinea has been rocked by deadly earthquakes.

Handmade baskets at Bali Art Market in Ubud.

Bali’s artisans in line for world recognitionGianyar regency in Bali is being evaluated for listing as a World Craft City.

Boracay, Philippines’ most popular beach destination, has seen better days.

Boracay preps for ‘soft open’ on October 15Boracay, which was closed in April 2018 due to overtourism, is preparing for a ‘soft open’ on October 15, 2018 — even if it is...

Deoksugung Palace, Seoul.

Seoul attractions: New projects to boost capital’s appealSeoul is determined to crush the perception that it is nothing more than a low-cost, shopping-centered travel destination.

Boat Lagoon Pier, Phuket.

Thai tour boats now subject to extra scrutinyThailand’s Marine Department believes progress is being made in improving Phuket’s tour boat safety following a number of...

Thailand cracks down on foreigners overstaying their visas.

Police hunt for teenagers involved in deadly attackPolice in Bangkok are continuing to hunt for gang members involved in a deadly shoot-out on Sunday evening. Several arrest...

Two Indian tourists, one aged 42, the other 28, were fatally shot.

Tourists caught in the crossfire of Bangkok gang warfareAn outbreak of gang violence has ended in the deaths of two foreign tourists in a Bangkok street.

Hong Kong’s hotels saw a spike in occupancy rates during the national holiday week, averaging nearly 90 to 95%.

Full-house: Hong Kong draws a bumper crop on holiday weekMainland tourists who flocked to Hong Kong during the recent the National Day “golden week” holiday forked out close to...