Weekly Asia Pacific Snapshot: Feb 28 Travel Dashboard

 

The list of featured destinations in this newsletter will rotate on a weekly basis. Destinations with any updates regarding a change in travel policies will be given priority to be featured, the remaining destinations can be found on our webpage.

Northeast Asia

Destination Headlines: China's Xizang receives over 2 million tourists during Spring Festival holiday; Spring Festival ignites a domestic tourism explosion. ECNS; BNN Breaking (Feb 24) New Year tourism increases 47% on last year. ENCA (Feb 23)

Travel Updates:  China enhances payment app accessibility for foreigners to stimulate economy. PC-tablet (Feb 25) Trip.com and China Eastern Airlines campaign to attract tourists to China. Hotel Management Network (Feb 21) Travel Policy Updates:  China adopts visa-free travel for Georgian citizens. Government of Georgia (Feb 26) Individual visa programme now includes Xi'an City and Qingdao City, effective March 6. Xinhua (Feb 23)

Destination Headlines: Hong Kong International Airport handled 4.1M passengers and 28,755 flight movements in Jan 2024, 100% and 77.3% Y-o-Y increase respectively. Travel News Asia (Feb 24) Hong Kong SAR aims to double arrivals from India in 2024 and surpass pre-COVID level. The Hindu (Feb 23)

Travel Updates:  Mainland Chinese travel scheme to Hong Kong SAR expanded to 49 cities. HKFP (Feb 23) Monthly firework display and redesigned ‘Symphony of Lights' to spur tourism. The Standard (Feb 26) Travel Policy Updates:  Eswatini nationals will now require a visa for entry into Hong Kong SAR starting January 30th. News Gov HK (Jan 23) "Fly from Hong Kong via Zhuhai" policy, which took effect on Tuesday, allows travellers arriving at Zhuhai Jinwan Airport on the Chinese mainland to travel via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to Hong Kong International Airport to fly to overseas destinations without going through immigration in Hong Kong SAR. The same service applies in reverse, with people flying into Hong Kong SAR from overseas being able to transfer to China cities via the HZMB and Zhuhai Airport without the need to undergo Hong Kong immigration procedures. China News Service (CNS) (Dec 13, 2023) Full information from The Government of HKSAR >

Destination Headlines: Japan welcomes 2.69M visitors in January, matching 2019's record pace. Nikkei Asia (Feb 21)

Travel Updates: JR East Japan has resumed selling regular SUICA cards to foreign tourists. Loyalty Lobby (Feb 25) Japan Airlines joins GSTC spearheading eco-friendly travel initiatives. Breaking Travel News (Feb 22) Travel Policy Updates:  The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam will provide electronic marketing from November 1, 2023. The electronic implementation level begins to be implemented after all the preparatory work has been completed, one after another from a number of Travel Companies designated to organize package tours. Applicable visa type: Single-entry short-term visa with the purpose of traveling within 15 days (Limited to Vietnamese passport holders living in Vietnam). Embassy of Japan in Vietnam (Oct 7, 2023) Japan relaxes visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals for short-term stays. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (Feb 19) Full information from Japan National Tourism Organization >

Destination Headlines: Flights from Korea (ROK) to Japan nearly full on Independence Movement holiday. Korea JoongAng Daily (Feb 21)

Travel Updates:  Korean Air Cargo expands partnership with Vienna Airport. Travel News Asia (Feb 22) Travel Policy Updates:  Korea (ROK) began issuing digital nomad visas from Jan. 1, allowing foreigners to stay for up to two years. VnExpress (Jan 3) The Ministry of Justice in Korea (ROK) reinstated the visa-free entry system for foreign transit passengers starting April 30, 2023. For Filipino nationals, specific cases apply: Visa-free entry for 30 days is granted to individuals with a visa (re-entry permit, permanent residency) for the United States, Canada, Australia, or 32 European countries (details in the attachment) who transit through Korea (ROK) on their way to these countries. However, those with prior legal violations like illegal stays or denied entry to Korea (ROK) or their destination may be denied entry. When transferring at Incheon International Airport en route to a country not in (1), a three-day tour is possible through a recognised Transit Tourism Program by the Korean government. Ministry of Justice  (Apr 30, 2023) Full information from Korea Tourism Organization >

Destination Headlines: Macao’s January visitor numbers are at almost 84% of pre-pandemic levels. The Macao News (Feb 26) Visitors to Macao in 2023 spent 11% more than they did before the pandemic. The Macao News (Feb 23)

Travel Updates:  New visa policy expands tourism opportunities in Macao – CE. Macau Business (Feb 26) Travel Policy Updates:  All arrivals, regardless of their nationalities, do not require prior approval from the health authorities to enter Macao, nor do they need to present any COVID-19 test result or undergo medical observation upon entry. Health Bureau of Macao SAR Government (Aug 30, 2023) Full information from Macao Government Tourism Office >

Southeast Asia

Destination Headlines: Indonesia eyes 1.2M Indian visitors with visa-free access, extra flights; Taylor Swift concerts to boost tourism spending. The Hindu Businessline (Feb 22) Sandiaga Uno visits Sydney and encourages more Australian tourists. The Bali Times (Feb 25)

Travel Updates:  Garuda Indonesia eyes strategic merger with tourism giant InJourney. BNN Breaking (Feb 25) Indonesian Tourism Fund will encourage more big artists to come to Bali. The Bali Sun (Feb 25) Travel Policy Updates:  Indonesia reduces golden visa investment requirements. Indonesian National Police (Feb 2) Indonesia update the list of countries for Visa on Arrival (VOA) and Electronic Visa on Arrival (E-VOA) Holders. Travellers can enjoy a 30-day stay in Indonesia, which can be extended to 60 days. Directorate General of Immigration (Sep 4, 2022) Full information from Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia >

Destination Headlines: Malaysia become most-visited country in Southeast Asia; passenger traffic at airports throughout Malaysia registers double-digit growth. The Star (Feb 24) Agoda sees spike in searches to Malaysia from China following visa-free-travel introduction. Malay Mail (Feb 26)

Travel Updates:  Malaysia opens new post-study visa option for degree graduates. ICEF Monitor (Feb 21) Sabah welcomes Shanghai flights. TTR Weekly (Feb 22) Travel Policy Updates:  Singaporeans travelling to Malaysia will not be required to fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), which will otherwise be compulsory from Jan 1 for foreign travellers. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia (Dec 8, 2023) The Malaysian government has announced that tourists from China and India will be allowed 30-day visa-free entry from Dec. 1 as part of its tourism and economic revival efforts. Belt and road portal (Nov 27, 2023) Full information from Tourism Malaysia >

Destination Headlines: DoT: Dive tourism earned P73B in 2023. The Manila Times (Feb 25) Hospitality training eyed for 7K tourism workers, village execs. Philippine News Agency (Feb 26)

Travel Updates:  DOT issues guidelines for dental tourism in PH. Inquirer (Feb 27) Travel Policy Updates:  As of July 21, 2023 President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced the lifting of the Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines due to COVID-19.  As stated in the announcement “All prior orders, memoranda, and issuances that are effective only during the State of Public Health Emergency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked or cancelled and shall no longer be in effect. Tourism Philippines (Sep 18, 2023) In an advisory dated Nov. 30, the DFA said the operations of its Philippine e-Visa System in China will be temporarily suspended “until further notice”. Philippine News Agency (Dec 3, 2023) Full Information from Tourism Philippines >

Destination Headlines: Taylor Swift effect: Singapore hotels, airlines see up to 30% spike in regional demand for 6 sell-out shows. CNA (Feb 16)

Travel Updates:  AirAsia enhances connectivity between Singapore and 12 cities in India. TTG Asia (Feb 21) Travel Policy Updates:  Saudi nationals with passports issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will no longer need to apply for an entry visa to enter Singapore from 1 June 2023 (inclusive). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore (May 23, 2023) Singapore and China grant mutual 30-day visa exemptions starting February 9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore (Jan 25) Full information from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore >

Destination Headlines: Thailand bets big on Indian, Chinese markets to meet arrivals target. TTG Asia (Feb 22) Thailand targets sustainable tourism growth and diverse attractions at SATTE 2024. Travel and Tour World (Feb 22)

Travel Updates:  Thailand-Kazakhstan to sign MoU on bilateral visa-free travel in April; explores long-term visa-free scheme with India to boost tourism. Thai PBS; ASEAN Now (Feb 27) Tourists must bring at least 15,000 Baht to avoid being denied entry into Thailand. SAYS (Feb 26) Travel Policy Updates:  Agreement on mutual visa exemption reached between Thailand and China from March 1, 2024. Royal Thai Government (Jan 2) Thailand provides special 90 day visa for cultural exploration - including Muy Thai, Thai dancing, music, & culinary arts. Prime Minister Twitter (Jan 15) Full information from Thai Embassy >

Destination Headlines: Vietnam to offer long-stay visas to attract visitors from high-end markets. VoV (Feb 23) Asia's largest luxury cruise ship brings nearly 4,500 visitors to Vietnam. VnExpress (Feb 22)

Travel Updates:  Two Vietnam beaches among top 10 in Asia: Tripadvisor; Hoi An named Vietnam's friendliest destination: Booking.com. VnExpress; VnExpress (Feb 26) Hanoi airport breaks foreign arrival record; city to build a digital map system for smart tourism. VnExpress; Vietnam Net (Feb 27) Travel Policy Updates:  Vietnam has extended the validity of tourist e-visas to 90 from 30 days, with multiple entries, and tripled the duration of visa-free stays for visitors from certain countries to 45 days. Vietnam Immigration Department (Oct 15, 2023) Mongolia and Vietnam have signed a mutual Mongolia-Vietnam visa waiver agreement. Nationals from these bilateral destinations will be exempt for visa required. Vietnam Immigration (Nov 2, 2023) Full information from Vietnam National Authority of Tourism >