PATA Weekly Asia Pacific Snapshot: Mar 6 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, Thailand visa-exemption agreement takes effect; more Thai tourists expected to visit China. People's Daily Online (Mar 1) China's Spring Festival sees over 7.2B inter-regional trips; accelerates outbound travel recovery in Q1 2024. CGTN; ForwardKeys (Mar 1)

Travel Updates:  East China city's tourism continues to flourish after holiday period. CGTN (Mar 2) Number of round-trip flights between China, US to increase; China aviation oil H2 profit up 182% to US$39.1 million amid air travel recovery. China Daily; The Business Times (Feb 29) 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 SAR gets hefty tourism development funding boost, to recover 70% of pre-pandemic levels by 2024. TTG Asia; BNN Breaking (Mar 1) Tourist spending in Hong Kong SAR expected to drop 16% this year despite possible 35% uptick in arrivals: HKTB. HKFP (Mar 1)

Travel Updates:  HKSAR Jan retail sales rise 0.9% as tourism perks up. The Business Times (Mar 1) Mastercard partners with Octopus to improve travel payments in Hong Kong SAR. The Paypers (Feb 29) 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: Fukushima sees record foreign visitors in 2023, Chinese Taipei leads with half the total. BNN Breaking (Mar 2) Expedia CEO said the OTA giant is strengthening investment to Japan, developing a new marketing campaign. Travel Voice Japan (Feb 29)

Travel Updates: Kazakhstan and Japan discuss resumption of air travel. The Astana Times (Mar 2) Kansai International Airport paves way to make Japan "tourism kingdom". ANI News (Feb 28) 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: Gangwon's Donghae city offers KTX travel packages throughout March. The Korea Times (Mar 5) Online shopping rises 12% in January on record travel demand. The Korea Times (Mar 5)

Travel Updates:  Korea (ROK)'s Jeonnam province extends visa exemption for Vietnamese tourists. VnExpress (Feb 28) 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) Group tourists from three Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Phillipines and Indonesia can travel without a visa to Korea (ROK)'s Jeonllanam-do province through Muan international airport until March 2025. Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam (Mar 5) Full information from Korea Tourism Organization >

Destination Headlines: Greece-Mongolia air services agreement boosts connectivity and tourism. Greek City Times (Feb 29)

Travel Updates:  Mongolia launched global tenure for $1.3B Ulaanbaatar Metro Rail project. Metro Rail Today (Mar 1) Travel Policy Updates:  Maldivian nationals will be exempt from visas when travelling to Mongolia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Jan 15) 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Consular Department >

Southeast Asia

Destination Headlines: Indonesia tourist arrivals rise 16.19% Y-o-Y. Trading View (Mar 1)

Travel Updates:  Sandiaga Uno wants Gorontalo to enter UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Tempo.co (Feb 28) Garuda Indonesia increases domestic flight frequency to attract foreign tourists. Tempo.co (Mar 2) Travel Policy Updates:  Indonesia reduces golden visa investment requirements. Indonesian National Police (Feb 2) The Bali Provincial Government has applied a new tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per person to foreign tourists entering Bali. The tourist levy is separate from the e-Visa on Arrival or the Visa on Arrival. Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Mar 5) Full information from Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia >

Destination Headlines: Malaysia attracts five new international Airlines in first two months of 2024. Travel and Tour World (Feb 29) Tourism Malaysia welcomes airlines, tourism agencies for collaboration via GSPC grant. The Sun (Feb 29)

Travel Updates:  Malaysia hotel room rates to rise by 30% from March. VnExpress (Feb 28) Malaysia, Thailand among most visited by Chinese tourists during New Year: report. VnExpress (Feb 28) 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: Taylor Swift’s concerts soar Singapore tourism with 2373% surge in tour bookings. The Independent Singapore (Feb 29) Singapore’s tourism sector gets S$300 million boost to develop new offerings. CNA (Mar 1)

Travel Updates:  Singapore’s plan for flight levy linked to green fuel adoption unlikely to dent air travel demand. SCMP (Feb 29) Strong outbound demand expected at Singapore’s first major travel fair for 2024. TTG Asia (Mar 1) 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's tourism rebound boosts airline profits, shatters records on SET. BNN Breaking (Mar 4) Thailand attracts nearly 6 million foreign tourists in first eight weeks of 2024; plans to double Suvarnabhumi airport’s annual capacity to 150 million passengers. Vietnam Plus; Thailand Business News (Mar 2)

Travel Updates:  Thailand's employment rises in Q4 on increased tourism; commercial property sector set to thrive. Reuters; BNN Breaking (Mar 4) Livestream from Phuket to sell tourism products draws 15M Chinese viewers, generates THB 150M. National Thailand (Feb 29) Travel Policy Updates:  The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington announced an increase in visa fees for individuals from New Zealand intending to visit Thailand. The new fees will be effective from March 19 onwards. The Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington  (Mar 5) 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: Australia expands 10-year visa scheme to Timor-Leste and ASEAN to boost tourism, trade ties. BNN Breaking (Mar 5) Aero Dili elevates Timor-Leste's global reach with direct flights to Singapore. BNN Breaking (Mar 4)

Travel Updates:  Lao PDR - Timor Leste bolster cooperation in trade-investment, agriculture, energy, and tourism. Vietnam Plus (Mar 1) Travel Policy Updates:  All terrestrial border posts are functioning as normal. PCR test for incoming passengers are not required, but relevant document proving complete vaccination is required. Individuals who present symptoms of COVID-19 or SARS-Cov-2 upon arrival are still obliged to get medical examinations at the health facility by the isolation unit at entry points. Individuals who are tested positive are subject to therapeutic isolation mandatory at individual’s residence or designated accommodation facilities available in the country or at isolation health facility upon recommendation by the isolation unit. Tourism Timor-Leste (Apr 25, 2023) Except for Indonesian, Portuguese, and United States nationals, advance "Visa Application Authorization" is required. Indonesian nationals can apply on arrival at any border post, including land borders and Dili airport/sea port. Portuguese, US, and Timorese (using Portuguese passports) enjoy visa exemption for tourism. Timor Leste Custom Authority (Aug 14, 2023) Full Information from Immigration Service of Timor Leste >

Destination Headlines: Vietnam among top 10 graduation destinations of 2024: Lonely Planet. VnExpress (Mar 4) Vietnam receives nearly 3 million int’l visitors in first two months. SGGP (Feb 29)

Travel Updates:  Vietnam-Singapore flights sold out during Taylor Swift shows. VnExpress (Mar 1) 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) Tags: PATA