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Πέμπτη 20 Μαρτίου 2025

Weekly Asia Pacific Snapshot: US mulls travel ban on 43 nations; Australia launches LGBTQIA+ tourism accreditation; and more.

 

The list of featured destinations in this newsletter will rotate weekly, the remaining destinations can be found on our webpage.

Northeast Asia
Destination Headlines:
  • China's January-February refinery output up 2.1% on holiday travel, new refinery. Reuters (Mar 17)
Travel Updates: 
  • Russia and China work on simplifying mutual tourist trips. TV Brics (Mar 14)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Starting Feb 10, 2025, ASEAN visitors can visit Xishuangbanna, a city in southwestern Yunnan Province, visa free for up to six days. Xinhua (Feb 10)
  • Starting Mar 17, 2025, Libyans will be able to apply for Chinese visas online. Visa Guide (Mar 7)
Destination Headlines:
  • Arrivals up 7% in Jan/Feb 2025, driven by short-haul visitors – but figures still down 30% compared to 2019. HKFP (Mar 16)
  • Hong Kong SAR’s multi-entry permit scheme may expand this year, a top lawmaker says. The Macao News (Mar 17)
Travel Updates: 
  • MTR Corp to accept China T-Union card for payment from next week. SCMP (Mar 14)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • The visa-free period for nationals of Saudi Arabia to visit the HKSAR will be extended from 30 to 90 days, per January 15, 2025. Govt of HK (Jan 14)
Destination Headlines:
  • Fukui enjoys visitor boost after shinkansen extension. The Japan Times (Mar 15)
  • Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 Aichi/Central Japan will be held in September with a theme of ‘Travel for Discovery and New Encounters,’ expected 100,000 visitors. Travel Voice Japan (Mar 17)
Travel Updates:
  • Japan’s Tokyo to ‘revitalise’ nightlife with US$3.8 million jolt to lure visitors after dark. SCMP (Mar 14)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Japanese government eases visa rules for Chinese travellers, including a new 10-years-valid multiple visa and extension of stays in Japan. Travel Voice Japan (Jan 6)
  • Filipino tourists to Japan are advised to file visa applications 2 months before arrival due to rapid increase of visitor numbers. JPN Embassy (Jan 14)
Destination Headlines:
  • Gangwon’s Foreign Tourist Taxi service hails more than 10,000 users; ramp up promotion for Visit Gangwon Year 2026. Korea JooAng Daily (Mar 17)
Travel Updates: Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Korea (ROK) plans to introduce a new “Top-Tier” visa program aimed to attract skilled foreigners engaged in technology and research industries. Visa Guide (Mar 6)
  • Visitors entering Korea (ROK) can now complete and submit the newly-launched online arrival card via www.e-arrivalcard.go.kr, three days before arrival. Immigration Korea (Feb 24)
Destination Headlines:
  • Macao targets long-haul markets with relaunched discounted travel scheme. Asia Gaming Brief (Mar 13)
Travel Updates: 
  • Macao’s first outdoor skatepark debuts at Lisboeta Macau. Macau Business (Mar 13)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Per Jan 1, 2025, permanent residents of Zhuhai City and the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin are able to apply for a "one trip per week" permit for Macao. Under the policy, they can visit Macao once per calendar week, with a maximum stay of seven days per trip. The State Council (Nov 29, 2024)
Southeast Asia
Destination Headlines:
  • 52% of Indonesian population will travel for Eid, peak on March 28. Tempo.co (Mar 16)
Travel Updates: 
  • Airlines soon require proof of paid Bali tourist tax on departure. Loyalty Lobby (Mar 12)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Indonesia launches a new e-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) service for 97 nationalities, including the US, Canada, India, Japan, and Australia. ASEAN Briefing (Nov 25, 2024)
Destination Headlines:
  • Penang sees China surpass Singapore as second-largest source market for tourism, new flight route boosts connectivity. Malay Mail  (Mar 13)
Travel Updates: 
  • Tourism Malaysia introduces a slew of wellness tourism packages. Travel Daily Media (Mar 17)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Malaysia has extended its visa-free entry for Indian nationals until December 31, 2026. Times of India (Dec 22, 2024)
  • All foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Effective January 1, 2024, completion of this MDAC will be mandatory, except for some conditions mentioned in the list. Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jan 1, 2024)
Destination Headlines:
  • Tourism is uplifting livelihoods in the Northern Philippines. Travel Daily Media (Mar 12)
Travel Updates: Travel Policy Updates: 
  • The Philippines has launched an e-Visa system for Indian passport holders. The Economic Times (Dec 9, 2024)
  • Visa-required nationals onboard cruise ship vessels arriving in the Philippines will now be able to secure entry visas faster and more conveniently. Department of Tourism (Jun 16, 2024)
Destination Headlines:
  • STB launches campaign that will give away 60 free flights and one dream “do-over” trip for Americans. Travel Daily Media (Mar 17)
Travel Updates: 
  • Singapore Airlines and Scoot to ban power bank charging on flights from April 1. Travel Trade Journal (Mar 14)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Singaporeans are required to apply for and obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before making a UK trip from Jan 8, 2025. The Straits Times (Jan 8)
Destination Headlines:
  • Thailand picks 4 provinces popular with tourists to host casino-entertainment complexes. CNA (Mar 14)
  • Songkran to boost Thailand’s tourism by 26.5 billion baht. The Thaiger (Mar 15)
Travel Updates: 
  • Govt announces discounted domestic flights for Songkran. The Nation (Mar 15)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Thailand will adopt a new digital immigration system called the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) starting May 1, 2025. This system will replace the paper TM6 form to simplify entry procedures for foreign travellers. Nation Thailand (Feb 1)
  • Thailand has decided to ease rules for long-term visa applicants, scrapping the minimum income requirement and four family members cap for digital nomads and other professionals. VisaGuide (Jan 15)
Destination Headlines:
  • Global OTAs report growing popularity of Vietnam’s tourism brand. Travel Daily Media (Mar 17)
Travel Updates: 
  • Vietnam Airlines to resume Hanoi-Moscow direct flights from May 8. Vietnam Plus (Mar 16)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Visa-free travel agreement between Belarus and Vietnam became effective since January 30, 2025. Nationals of both territories are eligible to travel visa-free to each other’s countries for stays that do not surpass 30 days from the date of entry. VisaGuide (Jan 30)
  • Vietnam applies visa exemption for citizens from 12 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, Korea (ROK), Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland) effective March 15, 2025 to March 14, 2028. Vietnam Travel (Mar 8)
South Asia
Destination Headlines:
  • India’s concert boom drives hotel bookings and hospitality growth. TTG Asia (Mar 12)
  • Northeast India expects 20-25% surge in tourist arrivals in 2025. Travel Trends Today (Mar 12)
Travel Updates: 
  • India's first literary tourism circuit coming up in Kerala soon. Hindustan Times (Mar 15)
  • Uttarakhand's Corbett to host astro-tourism and dark sky conclave. Outlook Traveller (Mar 13)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • The Indian government has launched two special visas for international students: the e-student visa for students and the e-student-x visa for their dependents. Applicants must register on the 'Study in India' portal to apply for these visas, enabling them to pursue higher education in India. Live Mint (Jan 5)
  • India has approved a special 30-day visa-free entry for Thai tourists until 31 December 2025, allowing one or two entries and a stay of up to 30 days without any visa fee. Embassy of India, Thailand (Feb 6)
Destination Headlines:
  • Tourist arrival figure surpassed 506,000-mark by March 12. Raajje (Mar 14)
  • Maldives becomes official tourist destination partner for Liverpool FC. The Edition (Mar 14)
Travel Updates: 
  • Maldivian Airlines to start direct Bengaluru-Hanimaadhoo flights from May 15. News18 (Mar 18)
 Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Effective from August 15, 2024, all outbound travellers from the Maldives will no longer be required to complete the ‘Traveller Declaration’ form.

    Tourist visa was last updated on August 15, 2024. Maldives Immigration (Aug 15, 2024)
Destination Headlines:
  • Nepal seeks better grip on Mount Everest tourism. Nikkei Asia (Mar 15)
Travel Updates: 
  • Pokhara to start international flights from Chengdu starting March 18. MyRepublica (Mar 18)
 Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Nepali citizens travelling through tour package and the members/employees of legal entities/organisations travelling to the golf countries and Malaysia have to take approval from department of immigration prior their visit. DFA (Oct 3, 2024)
The Pacific
Destination Headlines:
  • COVID still impacting Australian tourist economy, says industry council. CMW (Mar 17)
  • Tourism Council welcomes new Tourism Minister March 18. The Mirage (Mar 18)
Travel Updates: 
  • Welcome With Pride: Australia’s first LGBTQIA+ inclusive tourism accreditation launches. KarryOn (Mar 14)
 Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Australia has introduced new updates to the Second Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417), allowing eligible travellers to extend their stay for an additional 12 months. Travel & Tour World (Feb 23)
Travel Updates:
  • Tourism Fiji continues partnership with long-time sponsor. The Fiji Times (Mar 14)
  • GSTC 2025 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference to be held in Fiji. Travel Daily News (Mar 14)
The Americas
Destination Headlines:
  • Canada and Greece sign memorandum of understanding on tourism between the countries. CityNews (Mar 15)
Travel Updates: 
  • Vancouver city council approves electric passenger ferry service. CTV News (Mar 12)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • IRCC extended the temporary public policy allowing for open work permits to be issued to applicants applying for PR, under the temporary resident to permanent resident pathways (TR to PR pathway), as per Dec 17 2024. CIC News (Jan 11)
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has temporarily stopped accepting new applications from groups of five and community sponsors under the PSR Program as of November 29, 2024. This pause will remain in effect until December 31, 2025. Government of Canada (Nov 29, 2024)
Destination Headlines:
  • US mulls travel ban on citizens from 43 countries, including Russia — reports. Euro News (Mar 15)
Travel Updates: Travel Policy Updates: 
  • USA plans to unveil Golden Visa Program initiative, offering residency in exchange for investments of $5 million each, replacing the current EB-5 investor visa programme. VisaGuide (Feb 26)
  • Starting April 11, 2025, USA will start enforcing law that requires Canadians staying in the US territory for more than 30 days to register with immigration authorities. US Federal Register (Mar 12)
Europe, West Asia, Africa
Destination Headlines:
  • Kenya shifts focus on America, China in new move to spur tourism. Capital FM (Mar 13)
Travel Updates: 
  • SalamAir launches Muscat to Nairobi flights. FTN News (Mar 17)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Kenya to revise visa and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) requirements for passengers arriving at the Port of Mombasa to attract more cruise tourists. Travel and Tour World (Feb 24)
  • Kenya grant eTA exemptions to all African countries (except Somalia and Libya), allowing visitors a two-month stay. Govt of Kenya (Jan 21)
Destination Headlines:
  • Saudi Arabia religious tourism surges 55% as Makkah, Madinah flights soar: Skyscanner. Arabian Business (Mar 15)
  • Saudi Arabia set to deliver 362,000 new hotel rooms by 2030. Gulf Business (Mar 18)
Travel Updates: Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Effective February 1, 2025, Saudi Arabia changed visa policy for visitors from 14 countries, issuing only single-entry visas for tourism, business, and family visits, and suspending the previous one-year multiple-entry visas indefinitely. Economic Times (Feb 8)
  • Saudi Arabia scraps meningitis vaccine requirement for Umrah travellers, while polio vaccination is mandatory for Pakistani following surge in cases. Khaleej Times (Feb 6)
Destination Headlines:
  • Huawei and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority collaboration boosts tourism. ZAWYA (Mar 12)
  • Etihad serves 1.6M passengers in February 2025. ZAWYA (Mar 12)
Travel Updates: 
  • Taj-Parent Indian Hotels Company enters Ras Al Khaimah with branded residences. Skift (Mar 12)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • UAE has launched the first phase of the Blue Visa Program, a new long-term visa dedicated to sustainability and environmental action professionals, offering a ten-year residency. UAE Govt (Mar 4)
  • UAE expands visa-on-arrival facility for Indian travellers with valid visas, residence permits, or Green Cards from Singapore, Japan, Korea (ROK), Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, complimenting previous policy that only allows valid documentation from USA, EU member states, and the UK. NDTV (Feb 17)
Destination Headlines:
  • Pamukkale hosts millions of visitors over 25 years. Hurriyet Daily News (Mar 14)
  • Türkiye tops Germany’s summer holiday bookings for 2025. FTN News (Mar 17)
Travel Updates: 
  • Türkiye's 2,000-year-old Roman bath reopens after restoration. Daily Sabah (Mar 13)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Türkiye to extend work permit exemption to 3 years for foreign workers who are able to provide economic, sociocultural, and technological contributions. VisaGuide (Oct 17, 2024)
See All Destinations' Updates

Tags: PATA

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