Asia News

Japan reopens to individual tourists,
On September 7, the government will allow tourists from all countries to enter Japan without joining a guided tour. However, travellers must make travel and accommodation arrangements via travel agencies.

Thailand introduces new 10-year long-term resident visa for foreigners
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to advise that applications opened on 1 September, 2022, for Thailand’s new ‘Long-Term Resident (LTR)’ visa, which offers multiple benefits for holders, including a 10-year visa (extendable) and permission to work in the kingdom.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announces signing for Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya
Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya will be the fourth Hotel Indigo-branded hotel in Japan, following Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora which opened in 2020, and Hotel Indigo Karuizawa and Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen Garden, both of which opened earlier this year.

Strong Typhoon Hinnamnor prompts evacuation orders in Okinawa
Powerful Typhoon Hinnamnor continues to approach Okinawan islands, with strong winds prompting local authorities to order evacuations and airlines to cancel flights.

2023 travel expo set in Feb.; more booths expected: PTAA
The continuous staging of travel fairs since borders reopened proves that the tourism sector is on its way to recovery, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said Friday.

China Airlines to Purchase 16 New Boeing 787-9
China Airlines, the Taiwan-based carrier, announced the purchase of 16 Boeing 787-9 passenger aircraft fitted with the General Electric GEnx engine today (8/30). Deliveries are expected to commence in 2025 and the next-generation aircraft will become the mainstay of the medium-capacity wide-body fleet

World’s Longest Canal Open to Tourists in N. China’s Cangzhou Downtown Section
The Cangzhou city downtown section of the world’s oldest and longest man-made river, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, is open to navigation for tourism on September 1 and will give visitors a chance to appreciate the masterpiece of ancient China’s artificial waterway

Hong Kong Officials Target End to Hotel Quarantine in November
Hong Kong is targeting an end to hotel quarantine in November, ahead of a summit of global bankers and an international rugby competition, even as a resurgence in Covid-19 cases prompts health officials to push back on the plan

Thailand expects FTAs to touch 10 million in 2022
Thailand expects to get 400 billion baht (USD 10.9 billion) from Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in the second half of 2022. This is post easing of most Covid-19 restrictions and increase in the number of leisure tourists coming to the destination.

PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road Reopens on 7 September 2022
PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, Singapore, part of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, is pleased to announce the reopening of its newly renovated hotel that offers a unique locale in the ethnic district of Little India, ideal for both corporate and leisure guests alike.

Korean Air to launch Budapest route and resume flights to Dubai, Phuket and Chiang Mai
Korean Air will launch its inaugural flight to Budapest, Hungary from October 3. The airline will operate a 269-seat Boeing 787-900 once a week on Mondays departing from Seoul Incheon at 11:25 am and landing in Budapest at 5:05 pm. The return flight leaves the next day at 7:15 pm and arrives in Seoul Incheon one day later at 12:50 pm. There will also be an extra flight on Saturday October 29.

Malaysia Airlines inaugurates direct flight between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore
Malaysia Airlines marked another milestone in its network expansion plan by introducing a new direct flight between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore which commenced operations on 27 August 2022.