Destinations News: Travel Weekly Asia

Destinations News

Japanese Red Cross Narita Hospital is seeing an influx of uninsured patients who are unable to foot the bill for their medical treatments.

Japan hospital’s increasing headache: uninsured patientsAs visitor arrivals continue to see record-breaking highs, a major hospital near Japan’s Narita airport is struggling to cope...

Centara Grand Hua Hin… part of a Gulf of Thailand Riviera?

Thailand keen for its own French-style RivieraMove over Nice, St Tropez and Monte Carlo…the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has given its blessing to the potential...

Cebu is being promoted as an alternative to Boracay island.

Is the Philippines expecting too much after Boracay closure?South Korean ambassador to the Philippines, Han Dong-man, has vowed to work to bring in more tourists, eyeing two million...

Tourist survived by “crawling and scraping” her way through tough terrain.

Korean tourist survives six-day outback ordealA 25-year-old Korean tourist who was lost for a week in far north Queensland survived for six days by crawling through a ravine...

More than 80% of rentals on Airbnb have been dropped ahead of the new minpaku law.

Japan’s unregistered rentals get the bootWith one week to go before the new minpaku law on private lodging services comes into effect in Japan, nearly 80% of listings...

Japan has over 100 active volcanoes, and is used to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Who’s afraid of an erupting volcano? Clearly, not the JapaneseFollowing the eruption of the Kilauea volcano on May 3, international flight bookings to Hawaii (not including the U.S.) were...

Rising visitor figures at Komodo National Park were recorded during the January to April months.

Komodo National Park’s popularity on the riseIn Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara, Komodo National Park has continued to welcome more visitors during the first quarter this...

Comvita co-founder Alan Bougen handles a frame from a beehive.

A sweet, educational outing to New Zealand honeybee hivesIt was a hot, windy January day as our helicopter made its way from the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand, along the coast and...

Walking Street is one of eight streets in Pattaya to be cleared of wires.

Pattaya’s most infamous street to get some beauty treatmentPattaya’s notorious Walking Street is to be cleaned up – but the girlie bars won’t be going anywhere.

Victoria Falls: ‘The Smoke that Thunders’.

UAE investors eye off Zimbabwe for tourism developmentOne of Africa’s best-known destinations – Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River separating Zimbabwe and Zambia - might soon be...

Philippines believes there is great potential for medical tourism.

Time for a check-up? Philippines wants your businessThe Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) wants the government to offer a six-month medical visa to help promote the...

Broken corals are re-attached to bases and planted back on the reef close to Banyan Tree Samui.

BREAKING: Paradise in peril: Thailand moves to protect its islandsA new law aimed at curbing environmental damage will go into effect in July on the Thai islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and...

Victoria Dockside is set to open fully in 2019.

First waves of excitement at Hong Kong’s new global art and design districtOver 1,000 local and international guests got a peek into Victoria Dockside, the US$2.6-billion, three-million square-foot art...

The new Jambatan Harapan is part of plans to turn Penang into a ‘cycling state’.

Wheels up: Penang’s new spiral bridge opens for cyclists, pedestriansMalaysia’s first spiral bridge for bicycles and pedestrians has opened to the public in Penang last week. The Jambatan Harapan...

Dolsan Island in South Korea’s South Jeolla province.

Korea’s islands float youth discountsTravel discounts to Korea’s islands will be offered to Koreans and foreigners aged 28 and under starting June, according to the...

The graph showing the full global rankings of The Henley Passport Index 2018

Singapore surpassed for world’s ‘most powerful’ passportJapan has overtaken forerunner Singapore for the top spot for the world’s most powerful passport, according to the latest...

Crossroads Maldives’ chief operating officer Thiti Thongbenjamas, Chaiyapat Chaturongkul, project consultant, and Chris Humphrey of A+E Networks Asia at a press briefing.

Singha Estate’s mega resort aims to make Maldives ‘affordable luxury’Currently under construction, Maldives’ largest integrated resort development hopes to make a splash as a more affordable and...

Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart Co. will allow tourists staying in Airbnb to collect and return door keys

That’s handy: some Japan stores to allow key drop-offsMajor Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart Co. will allow tourists staying in accommodation rented through Airbnb to...

Hawaii Volcano National Park.

Hawaii volcano: Listen to the experts, says GovernorEven as dramatic images continue to show the spread of lava from the Kilauea volcanic eruption on Hawaii’s Big Island, Governor...

Storm clouds over Panglao Island in Bohol.

Boracay closure turns away European operatorsPhilippine tourism will take a hit in Europe because of the closure of Boracay island, a popular stop for European tourists.