Global Wraps: Travel Weekly Asia

Global Wrap

Pattaya is expecting to draw more visitors this year through a series of festivals such as the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival from May 24 to 25.

Pattaya to cash in on visitor boomPattaya plans to ride the current tourism boom with a series of festivals throughout this year, starting with its 60th...

Visitors have been warned not to approach the volcanic crater of Owakudani after a number of volcanic earthquakes struck on Saturday.

Volcanic alert level raised for Japan’s hot spring townA popular hot spring resort south of Tokyo has raised its volcanic alert level to the highest since 2015, following an uptick...

In 2018, tourism receipts from the India market totalled 66 billion baht, a 16% increase from the year before.

Thailand’s visa fee exemption spurs jump in Indian travellersWhile Thailand’s decision to waive visa-on-arrival fees has done little to boost declining arrival numbers from China, the move...

Maya Bay was suffering from the impact of 5,000 tourists per day.

Now Maya Bay may be closed for up to five yearsThai authorities may close Maya Bay on the Phi Phi Islands between Krabi and Phuket for up to five years to allow coral...

Thailand hopes to tap into the large LGBT-friendly community in Latin America.

Thailand ‘safe’ for LGBT touristsThailand is ramping up efforts in Latin America to position itself as an LGBT-friendly tourist destination.

A view from inside Vessel, which is made up of 154 interconnecting flights of stairs.

Hudson Yards takes off as NYC tourism hot spotNEW YORK -- Since its March 15 premiere, pictures of Vessel, the massive, funnel-shaped hive that serves as the centerpiece of...

Bali governor heeds calls for a peace park.

Land swap deal could solve Bali memorial park riftA controversial project to build a multi-story development at the Sari Club site of the October 2002 Bali bombings that killed...

Homesharing is in Hyatt’s rearview mirror

Homesharing is in Hyatt’s rearview mirrorHyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian told investors Thursday that Hyatt is unlikely to make any plays in homesharing, a day after...

Fewer Chinese visitors arriving in Bangkok.

Thailand visitor arrivals slump as Chinese stay awayThe number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand fell by 3.5 million in March, a decline of 0.7% from one year ago, according...

No peace for survivors of Bali bombings.

No peace for survivors of Bali bombingSurvivors of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people are furious at plans to redevelop the Sari Club site into a...

Laguna Golf Lang Co is indicative of the quality of golf on offer on the Vietnam Golf Coast.

Massive boost for Vietnam Golf CoastAsia’s leading golf tour company, Golfasian, has joined the push to promote Central Vietnam as one of the region’s best places...

Will new departure tax means fewer travellers through Kuala Lumpur International airport?

Malaysia’s proposed departure levy faces oppositionIs paying a RM20 (US$4.80) to RM40 (US$9.70) departure levy to fly out of Malaysian airports a deterrent to your travel?

Foreign travellers exiting Singapore will no longer need stamps of departure on their passports from April 22.

Singapore skips exit stamps for overseas touristsForeign travellers exiting Singapore will no longer need to have their passports stamped from next Monday (April 22) onwards,...

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...

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...

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.