Category: Asia

The Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Thailand has announced that foreign golfers with advance arrangements for golfing in Thailand will be allowed to undergo a golf quarantine as an alternative local state quarantine option. During the quarantine period, foreign golfers will be able to enjoy golfing and health-related activities at the golf course at their own expense, thus allowing the opportunity to undergo quarantine and enjoy golfing in Thailand at the same time. Foreign golfers wishing to visit Thailand during this time need to apply for a visa, which can include a Single-Entry Tourist Visa (TR) or ... Read more

Siem Reap province will reorganize the National Cycling Championship and the 25th Angkor International Half Marathon this month after the postponement due to the COVID-19 crisis. The update was shared yesterday by Mr. Nou Chamroeun, Secretary-General of Cambodian Cycling Federation, adding that the 2020 National Cycling Championship will take place on Jan. 23, and the Angkor International Half Marathon 2020 on Jan. 24. The events aim to engage people with sports for their health, friendship, and solidarity, and to mobilize funds for humanitarian activities. In 2019, Angkor International Half Marathon attracted over 10,000 national and international runners from many countries, ... Read more

AirAsia and Penang Global Tourism (Penang State Tourism Bureau) have announced a new collaboration which will offer more travel options and value added services to domestic tourists visiting Penang. The partnership will see airasia.com, the Asean super app pair-up with Penang Global Tourism Board to offer travellers a variety of Penang travel bundles as well as a joint marketing effort. Penang State EXCO for Tourism And Creative Economy (PETACE), YB Yeoh Soon Hin said: “We are observing a positive rebound on tourism activities and we are working towards accelerating the recovery of tourism, supporting jobs and the economy and increasing ... Read more

A big surprise was awaiting visitors at an aquarium in Thailand this week when Santa Claus swam by, carrying a sack full of food and surrounded by scores of curious fish. The aquarium at the basement of the Bangkok shopping mall was not the place, the families were expecting to see Santa Claus, equipped with fins, an oxygen tank, and a dive mask. Children, all excited hopped up and down and pointed excitedly, mesmerized by Santa in a floppy red hat waving while floating above the coral and circled by angelfish. Frenchman Jean-Baptise Richard a frequent visitor to the aquarium ... Read more

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has directed two Resorts World Sentosa hotels, the Beach Villas and Equarius Hotel, to suspend bookings for 1 month from 22 Dec 2020 to 21 Jan 2021 (both dates inclusive) for failing to comply with safety management measures (SMMs). The two hotels are not permitted to accept new bookings for the duration of the suspension. However, they are still permitted to fulfill existing bookings. To date, 10 hotels and hostels have been fined for breaching safe management measures, such as failing to conduct entry screening and/or record contact details of guests that enter their premises. ... Read more

Thailand’s tourism sector continues to safely and slowly reopen welcoming international travellers to the country with special tourist initiatives, while also remaining vigilant by enforcing strict public health guidelines to protect all during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Royal Thai Government recently lifted restrictions on the Special Tourist Visa (STV), which allows entry for tourists from any country or territory worldwide. Prior to this, STV holders were only allowed from low-risk countries. The STV offers visitors an initial 90-day visa with two extensions totalling 270 days. The STV was also extended to allow arrival by private yacht. Thailand also offers ... Read more

BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation, Dhaka) was initiated as a platform to bring together the countries in the Bay of Bengal to discuss and work in collaboration to develop all aspects of 14 main sectors in a country including tourism within the region. The Member States are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. With its Headquarters based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the first Meeting of Network of Tour Operators was held in New Delhi, India in 2017. During this first meeting, it has been decided to hold the second meeting in Sri Lanka. ... Read more

Overnight stay at an airport isn’t unheard of, especially if you miss a flight. But choosing to spend your holidays inside the airport terminal in a tent is something entirely different. With the pandemic severely limiting prospects of overseas holidays, many in Singapore are going “glamping”, or glamourous camping, this holiday season, where they will be staying overnight in luxury tents at the retail and leisure wing of the Changi Airport. Fadlina Musa, a glamper was all excited to say “Usually we go out of the country every holiday but since we can’t travel much and it’s a school holiday, ... Read more

Moviegoers in the Philippine capital, tired of ongoing COVID Pandemic restrictions, will soon be enjoying the taste of Venice, bobbing in front of a big screen in gondolas, maintaining social distancing. Gondoliers dressed in striped uniforms, maneuvers and position each boat in an outdoor canal to watch full-length movies, presenting a rare chance to visit the cinema after almost nine months of lockdown. Patron Violet Gatchalian at the Venice Grand Canal-themed shopping mall in Manila said that “Riding a boat made it a unique experience,”. “It’s also one of the first cinemas to reopen so we wanted to try it.” ... Read more

Tourism Malaysia, earlier last week announced the launch of Malaysia Truly Asia ASEAN Virtual Hunt 2020, its first-ever treasure hunt, run as a virtual event to creatively promote Malaysia’s iconic places, local towns and cities. This new concept is conforming to the new normal for the tourism industry as COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt for international travel. The event is set to virtually connect 30 teams of media representatives from nine countries in Southeast Asia, who participate to feel on the digital experience around Malaysia and grab a total cash prize up to USD 1,000. The event takes place ... Read more

Passengers bound for Nepal’s Janakpur were in for a surprise after they ended up in Pokhara, 255 kilometres away from the actual destination, after a rare flight mix-up by a leading private carrier, according to media reports. The incident happened on Friday to 69 passengers travelling on Buddha Air, The Kathmandu Post reported. The weather was not quite favourable for the flights on Friday so carriers were making use of every available weather window to take the passengers on board as quickly as possible and take off, the report said. Buddha Air’s flight U4505 was cleared to take off for ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has shared the update that the Royal Thai Government is now allowing long-stay visitors from around the world to apply for the ‘Special Tourist Visa’ (STV), previously available only to travellers from countries considered low- to medium-risk for the COVID-19 pandemic. Published in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 9 December 2020, with immediate effect, this latest announcement covers long-stay visitors to Thailand of all types – from tourists to business travellers, investors and others, as well as travellers and crews of foreign yachts. To qualify for the STV, visitors must comply with Thailand’s COVID-19 control ... Read more

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Studio Dragon Corporation – one of South Korea’s leading drama production, marketing, and distribution companies – signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) yesterday to promote Singapore as a destination in South Korea and other regions through the production of Korean dramas in Singapore. The MOU was signed by Mr. CK Kang, Chief Executive, Studio Dragon Corporation, and Mr. Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board. This is the first time that Studio Dragon – the company behind global hits such as Crash Landing on You and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is highlighting an ‘All Good Food Truck’ event, with food trucks from all around Thailand gathering from 17 to 19 December 2020, at the IMPACT Lakeside Muang Thong Thani in Greater Bangkok. The All Good Food Truck happening aims to help food and beverage entrepreneurs glean knowledge from Thai celebrity chefs. That way they can further develop menus to add value to restaurants and food truck businesses while also promoting the positive image of Thai cuisine. Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool,  TAT Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, said, “This event promotes traditional Thai food ... Read more

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri has graciously presented a certificate of appreciation to international social media influencer, Trevor James, also known as The Food Ranger. This is in line with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s (MOTAC) effort in revitalising Malaysia’s tourism sector. MOTAC through Tourism Malaysia has collaborated with Canadian-born food vlogger Trevor James through his social media platforms, famously known as The Food Ranger. James and his wife, Xie Chuiting, moved to Malaysia in 2019 under the Malaysia My Second Home Programme. James has been filming food and travel vlogs since ... Read more