The tourism industry in Japan is showing signs of a gradual pickup after the novel coronavirus crisis dealt it a severe blow. According to a Japan Times report, many lodging facilities that resumed business after the lifting of the government’s coronavirus state of emergency in May are seeing a gradual recovery in reservations this month, […]
Category Archives: Asia
22
Jun
Jun
Myanmar is expecting to restart domestic tourism in the third quarter of this year, an official from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism told Xinhua on Saturday. Under the COVID-19 Tourism Relief Plan recently launched by the ministry, domestic tourism will resume soon to help the tourism sector recover. The tourism ministry and Religious Affairs […]
22
Jun
Jun
With planes grounded and most tourism on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, one Taiwanese airport has come up with a unique solution to help citizens get their travel fix. Taipei’s Songshan airport will give 90 people the chance to take a tour of their airport and relive the experience of going through immigration, boarding a […]
22
Jun
Jun
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched a new “Holiday at Home” campaign, with the aim of encouraging residents to be a tourist of their own city and rediscover the beauty of Hong Kong with a new perspective. HKTB Chairman Y K Pang said: “Due to the continued stringent travel restrictions and quarantine measures […]
Africa, Asia, News, Round Up
Solar eclipse to dim Africa, Asia today – experts call it the most dramatic Ring of Fire in years
21
Jun
Jun
Sky watchers along a narrow band from West Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, India and southern China will witness the most dramatic “ring of fire” solar eclipse to shadow the Earth in years on Sunday. Annular eclipses occur when the Moon – passing between Earth and the Sun – is not quite close enough to […]
Asia, Aviation, News, Round Up
Garuda Indonesia drops controversial plan to ban face-masks for cabin crew
19
Jun
Jun
Earlier this week, Garuda Indonesia had announced that its flight attendants will forego wearing face masks, thereby attempting to go in a completely different direction to that of every other airline in the world. However, on Friday, the flag carrier said it is scrapping the plan. Garuda’s boss Irfan Setiaputra had previously announced that the […]
Asia, News, Top Stories
Want to enter this country? $3,000 Covid-19 deposit, medical coverage of minimum $50,000!
19
Jun
Jun
Cambodia has imposed one of the toughest entry requirements of any country in the world, by imposing a hefty amount as Covid-19 fees. In its latest bulletin, the Foreign Office of Cambodia (FCO) has stated that foreign travellers must pay a $3,000 deposit as “COVID-19 service charges” at the airport upon their arrival. This “coronavirus deposit” can […]
18
Jun
Jun
Japan’s tourism players are adopting new marketing strategies to remain relevant in the minds of travellers. From moving products online to introducing deals and greater flexibility in bookings, the stakeholders are trying their best to communicate with their potential visitors. For example, Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo has launched The Boutique, a website selling food, beauty products, […]
18
Jun
Jun
Kazakhstan will resume flights to six countries, including some holiday hot-spots, starting from mid-June. Flights to Turkey, China, South Korea, Thailand, Georgia, and Japan will resume on June 20 in a safe manner, Kazakhstan Civil Aviation Committee said in a statement. ‘‘The number of flights on international routes will be operated based on existing intergovernmental […]
18
Jun
Jun
Beijing has urged its residents to not leave the city and closed schools again as authorities scramble to contain a “severe” new coronavirus outbreak in the city of 21 million people. The coronavirus resurgence — believed to have started in the capital’s sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market — has prompted alarm as China had largely […]
Asia, Headlines Slider, News
India keeps talking about domestic tourism, Thailand does something about it
17
Jun
Jun
Thailand’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved three projects with a combined budget of more than 22 billion baht (USD 707 million) to help the country’s reeling tourism industry recover from the coronavirus crisis. The packages are meant to promote domestic travel from July to October. Tourism normally accounts for more than 10% of Thailand’s GDP. International […]
Asia, India, News, Round Up
Air India to repatriate Indian nationals from Maldives today to Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru
16
Jun
Jun
A total of 168 Indian nationals are returning from Maldives today via an Air India flight. The flight will land in two cities – Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru. Passengers had started gathering at Male airport since morning and thanked Indian government for its efforts to evacuate the Indian nationals, All India Radio (AIR) said in a […]
16
Jun
Jun
All travellers entering Singapore from 11.59pm, June 17, will be tested for COVID-19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has said. The test will be scheduled a few days before the end of the 14-day stay-home notice period, at an allotted testing facility, MOH said in a press release. Each person under a stay-home notice will receive information on the […]
14
Jun
Jun
China has decided to introduce the Seventh Freedom of the Air on a trial basis in the Hainan Free Trade Port, in the southernmost tropical island province. This move allows foreign carriers to operate flights between two other countries, without the need to touch down in the airline’s home country, CGTN has reported. For example, […]
13
Jun
Jun
Sri Lanka has cleared a proposal to offer concessionary loans to the hospitality and travel sector to pay salaries during the Coronavirus epidemic. Hotels and travel agencies, registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), would be allowed to get a 5-year loan at a 4% interest rate, to pay a Rs 20,000 salary […]