Destinations News: Travel Weekly Asia

Destinations News

A new ethnobotany garden has opened in Singapore Botanic Gardens.

An ethnobotany garden? (You heard that right)A new ethnobotany garden, the first of its kind in Singapore, has opened at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which explores how...

Seven new marinas are being planned for Thailand’s gulf coast.

Buoyant outlook for Thailand’s marine tourismMarine tourism along Thailand’s gulf coast is expected to grow as the government readies with plans for seven new marinas.

Sababay wines have won international awards.

Bali’s homemade wine steps onto the international stageA Bali winery that sources its grapes from local farmers will soon open to the public, complementing its recently launched...

Bali and Beyond Travel Fair puts focus on village tourism.

Indonesia tourism urged to fix weak linksIndonesia’s Minister for Tourism Arief Yahya has called for an “Indonesia Incor-porated” approach to meet the challenge of...

“Merli” was created in a bid to reach out to families with young children.

STB makes a splash with MerliThe Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has unveiled a new illustration based on the Republic’s national icon to appeal to families...

Tour guides urged to play larger role in sustainability efforts

Tour guides urged to play larger role in sustainability effortsTourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said responsible and sustainable tourism is critical to the destination’s growth...

MCA warned Terengganu’s Islamic enforcers against taking advantage of bikini-clad tourists on the pretext of monitoring them

Islamic enforcers warned not to ogle bikini-clad tourists.Malaysian political party Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) has warned Terengganu’s Islamic enforcers not to take advantage...

Minpaku providers must restrict bookings to 180 days per year.

Japan cracks down on Airbnb operatorsJapan in March announced a crackdown on home sharing – known locally as minpaku – by requiring those who rent out rooms to be...

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.

Mediterranean tourism campaign underwayFrance, Monaco and Spain have collaborated to launch the Mediterrenean Luxe tourism campaign.

Wellness tourism a growth area for the Philippines.

Philippines sets its eyes on medical tourismThe Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) wants to relaunch the destination as a wellness spot this year.

The giant Goddess of Mercy statue at Nanshan Temple overlooks Sanya’s beautiful beaches.

Sanya on Hainan Island now offers 30-day visa-free travelSanya is the southernmost city of Hainan Island, China, peppered with beautiful tropical beaches along its coast. Under a new...

New lease on life for Boracay.

Boracay island to reopen in OctoberBoracay island will reopen as scheduled in October this year, six months after the Philippine government closed it down for...

Cebu, a top ESL destination in the Philippines.

Philippines boosts ‘English as Second Language’ programmeThe Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) said it was working on a roadmap for its English as Second Language (ESL) programme...

The Family Vacation

The Family VacationCruise companies are channeling their efforts to chase after one of the most in-demand passenger segments, the family...

A ferry on Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Ferry passengers still missing at Lake TobaAt least 128 passengers are still missing from an overloaded ferry that sank in Indonesia’s Lake Toba on Monday (June 18) amid...

Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred chefs show off their wares.

Hong Kong, Bordeaux sign promotions pactThe Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Bordeaux Greats Events—Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de Bordeaux Métropole on Wine...

Some of the 500 tour operators in Taiwan who pledged their support for the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s crackdown on unlicensed rentals.

Taiwan to promote safe and premium accommodationsThe Taiwan Tourism Bureau is cracking down on unlicensed rentals in an effort to provide safe and premium accommodation for...

El Nido, Palawan, a key growth destination for Philippine tourism.

Tourism giving Philippine economy a boostTourism is slowly but surely becoming a major sector in the Philippine economy as the inbound sector contribution grew by 44%...

Tourist arrivals to Thailand have slowed to 6.3% from a average of 10% in previous months.

Thailand saw slower tourist growth in May 2018Thailand’s tourist growth saw a significant drop from an average of 10% in earlier months to 6.3% in May, according to Thai...

A view of Queenstown, New Zealand. Tourist arrivals have risen by nearly a third in the past three years to 3.8 million in the year to April.

New Zealand to begin taxing tourists from mid-next yearTourists to New Zealand will be charged a special tax under new government plans announced on Friday (June 15) to cope with the...