Japan’s latest bullet train is not just faster and smoother. It is also loaded with safety features that can withstand most emergency situations. The N700S — the ‘S’ stands for ‘Supreme’ — entered into service on July 1 and serves the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which links Tokyo Station and Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka. It can run up […]
Category Archives: Asia
02
Jul
Jul
Even though the European Union (EU) announced on Tuesday that South Korea was on a list of 14 countries allowed to travel there, international travel still looks difficult. Anyone arriving in South Korea from overseas is required to undergo a strict two-week quarantine, either at home or at a government-run facility. They cannot leave their […]
02
Jul
Jul
Thailand has announced a new initiative “Rao Thieu Duaykan” (We Tour Together), created as a stimulus for domestic tourism. From July 15, Thai citizens can apply for a government subsidy to cover part of their hotel and dining expenses when travelling outside their home provinces. Those interested in the programme can participate through the Pao […]
02
Jul
Jul
Singapore’s Changi Airport is trialling and implementing a range of new anti-virus measures as it prepares for a gradual resumption of flights in the post Covid-19 outbreak world. Proximity touch check-in kiosks coated with anti-microbial disinfectants, new acrylic screens for counter staff, autonomous cleaning robots with misting attachments, and contactless toilets are just some of […]
01
Jul
Jul
Singapore has announced the gradual reopening of its tourism sector from today. In the initial phase, 13 attractions will be allowed to resume operations. Universal Studios Singapore, Madame Tussauds, Singapore Zoo, Bounce, Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, Jurong Bird Park, River Safari, Zero Latency, Art Science Museum, Casino at Marina Bay Sands and […]
30
Jun
Jun
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has come on board to facilitate the development of a roadmap towards ‘Building a Safer and Resilient Tourism Sector in Sri Lanka: Post COVID-19’, to better assess the rapidly evolving pandemic and its crippling impact on the tourism sector. This national roadmap is intended to catalyse the development of […]
Asia, News, Top Stories
Malaysian tourism associations hope for cross border travel with Singapore and Brunei
29
Jun
Jun
Various tourism associations in Malaysia are hoping that Putrajaya will reach an agreement with neighbouring Singapore and Brunei allowing unrestricted travel between the countries in order to boost local tourism, according to a report by Free Malaysia Today. Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Tan Kok Liang said domestic tourism alone was […]
29
Jun
Jun
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Sunday that tourism businesses in Singapore will be permitted to resume operations in stages from July 1, starting with 13 attractions. STB will also allow domestic tour operators to begin submitting their applications to resume operations. This is part of the resumption of activities in Phase 2 after the […]
Asia, News, Top Stories
Thailand calls for limited inter-regional travel among ASEAN members to revive economy
28
Jun
Jun
Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on fellow ASEAN members to begin discussion about reopening certain limited lines of interregional travel, to begin the recovery from the pandemic’s impact on the regional economy. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping that promotes economic, political, and security cooperation among its ten members: […]
28
Jun
Jun
Losses suffered by Malaysia’s tourism sector has amounted to around RM45 billion, during the first half of this year. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said tourism is one of the economic sectors hit the hardest by coronavirus, and is expected to be the last to recover. To fight the issue and […]
Asia, Headlines Slider, News
India, Indonesia, Philippines are likely to be the laggards in tourism recovery: ANZ Research
27
Jun
Jun
The tourism sectors of India, Indonesia and the Philippines are likely to be the laggards among countries trying to revive the travel industry, a report released by ANZ Research has said. Since most countries are now past the worst of their Covid-19 outbreak, restrictions on travel are being eased and appetite for travel would gradually […]
27
Jun
Jun
Russia’s Energia Space Corporation has said it will take a tourist on a space walk in 2023, under the terms of a new contract with a US partner. Energia has inked a contract with Space Adventures, which promises to take two space tourists to the International Space Station (ISS) that year. “We plan that one […]
27
Jun
Jun
One of Kazakhstan’s top ten travel destinations, the Balkhash Lake shoreline, will have a major “infrastructure renovation” finished by 2025. The Karaganda Region Akimat (administration) plans to build more than 20 new coastal recreation areas, to complete the repair of the Karaganda-Balkhash highway and to reconstruct the Balkhash city airport, the regional akimat’s press service […]
Asia, Headlines Slider, News
Uzbekistan to pay $3,000 to tourists if they contract coronavirus while visiting
26
Jun
Jun
Uzbekistan is initiating a unique approach to restore its tourism industry by paying tourists $3,000 if they contract COVID-19 while visiting. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed an official order regarding this. “These are additional measures for the development of tourism in strict compliance with enhanced sanitary and epidemiological security.” As part of this decree, businesses across the […]
Asia, Aviation, News, Top Three Stories
‘One out of three pilots in Pakistan have fake licenses’, says minister
26
Jun
Jun
More than 30% of civilian pilots in Pakistan have fake licenses and are not qualified to fly, the country’s aviation minister has revealed. Addressing Pakistan’s National Assembly, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said 262 pilots in the country “did not take the exam themselves” and had paid someone else to sit it on their behalf. “They don’t […]