Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)
(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).
Cherry blossoms come into full bloom in Tokyo. Nippon (Mar 30)
Record surge in international skiers drives tourism growth in Japan: Visa. Travel Daily Media (Mar 31)
Travel Updates:
Japan issues volcanic eruption warning for Southwestern Kyushu. Travel + Leisure(Mar 31)
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)
February sees largest number of overseas visitors, expansion expected in Q3 betting on visa-free Chinese tour group. Maeil Business Newspaper(Mar 31)
Travel Updates:
44 regions from late April to accept digital tourist resident card. Korea.net(Mar 26)
Jeju to launch cruise ship interport in May. The Korea Times(Apr 1)
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)
Korea (ROK) will temporarily abolish visa requirements for Chinese tourist groups, taking effect in Q3 2025 to boost the tourism industry. Visa Guide (Mar 20)
Package tours and hotel occupancy see 3.8% and 5.5% Y-o-Y grwoth in February. Government Information Bureau (Mar 27)
Agoda and Macao Government Tourism Office join forces to showcase Macao's unique charms. The Korea Herald (Mar 27)
Travel Updates:
Macao’s airport has updated its restrictions on the use of power banks. The Macao News (Mar 26)
MGM Cotai wins Macao’s Best Business Hotel at TTG China Travel Awards. Asia Gaming Brief (Mar 26)
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)
Indonesia braces for annual Eid exodus as 146 million travel home. Arab News (Apr 1)
Travel Updates:
Bali gets strict new holiday rules to curb tourist behaviours. Independent (Mar 26)
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)
Amari ushers in a new era of hospitality in Lao PDR. TTG Asia (Apr 1)
Travel Policy Updates:
Lao PDR has introduced visa exemptions for citizens from 36 countries, including key markets such as China, Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Laotian Times(Oct 8, 2024)
Malaysia's air passenger traffic up 6.9% in February, driven by new routes and visa perks. The Edge Malaysia (Mar 27)
Travel Updates:
Malaysia Airlines resumes Paris flights. TTR Weekly (Mar 31)
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)
Singapore had 1.38 million visitor arrivals in February, down M-o-M and Y-o-Y: tourism board. GGR Asia (Apr 1)
Travel Updates:
Singapore Airlines to increase London Gatwick service to daily. Business Traveller(Mar 27)
StarCruises relaunches with Star Voyager’s Maiden Voyage from Singapore. The Economic Times(Mar 27)
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)
Bangkok remains operational; Thailand still expects 38 million foreign tourists this year despite quake, minister says. TAT Newsroom; Reuters (Apr 1)
TAT says Songkran celebrations nationwide to proceed as planned. The Nation (Mar 30)
Travel Updates:
Thailand weighs cut to tourist visa waiver as cons outweigh pros. Nikkei Asia (Apr 1)
Thailand launches Digital Arrival Card system to streamline tourism. The Nation (Apr 1)
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 plans to reduce visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days to curb illegal business activities by foreigners. VisaGuide (Mar 17)
HCMC and Hanoi witness surge in Q1 foreign tourists. VnExpress (Mar 27)
Travel Updates:
Vietnam Airlines resumes flights to Hong Kong SAR, opens new Da Nang-Bangkok route. VnExpress (Mar 31)
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)
Indian travellers' visa applications soar 68% for summer 2025. Fortune India(Mar 26)
Tourism ministry clears two projects worth Rs 169 crore for Kerala under SD 2.0. Hospitality World(Apr 1)
Travel Updates:
Sikkim to host international conclave on tourism development. Hindustan Times (Mar 27)
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)
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)
Sri Lanka 2025 tourist arrivals up 17.5% in March. EconomyNext (Mar 31)
Sri Lanka Tourism launches “A Story for Every Season” campaign to showcase year-round offers. Daily News (Mar 31)
Travel Updates:
LankaPay and Alipay+ to improve cross-border payments for travellers. The Paypers (Mar 26)
Travel Policy Updates:
No free visas for tourists from 35 countries for the time being, and travellers wishing to visit Sri Lanka must still comply with the requirement to obtain, and pay for, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to arrival. VisaNews (Oct 1, 2024)
With effect from September 27, 2024, all Tourist or Business travellers to Sri Lanka can have ETA for entering in to Sri Lanka.
The particular visa-free regime applies to seven nominated countries (China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan) and the rest of the countries may follow the general rules and regulations applicable to Sri Lanka ETA. Department of Immigration and Emigration
ACCC officially green-lights Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways integrated alliance. Travel Weekly(Mar 28)
Travel Updates:
Qantas adds capacity with Darwin-Singapore route. Asian Aviation (Apr 1)
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)
A 7.0 earthquake causes slight damage in Tonga and brief tsunami evacuations. The Canadian Press(Mar 30)
The Americas
Destination Headlines:
Flight bookings between Canada and US down 70% amid Trump tariff war. The Guardian (Mar 27)
Canada and Greece sign agreement to enhance tourism. Travel Week (Mar 31)
Travel Updates:
Air Canada launches new non-stop Ottawa-London Heathrow Airport flights. CTV News(Mar 31)
Travel Policy Updates:
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)
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)
US travel spending shows signs of cooling: Bank of America card data. Skift (Mar 31)
Travel Updates:
Los Angeles Tourism launches "We Love LA" campaign. BW Hotelier(Mar 27)
Travel Policy Updates:
US have applied new changes to Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) waivers, as consular officers must review each NIV waiver request independently. VisaGuide (Mar 18)
US have paused the process of Romania entering the US Visa Waiver programme until further notice. US DHS (Mar 26)
Germany remains top European destination for business travel in 2024, BCD report says. CMW (Mar 27)
Travel Updates:
Berlin and Copenhagen welcome first Ruby Hotels. Rus Tourism News(Mar 31)
Travel Policy Updates:
National visa procedure is going digital. The Consular Services Portal is being launched worldwide on 1 January 2025, enabling people around the world to submit applications for German visas online. Federal Foreign Office (Jan 6)
Third-country nationals require a visa to enter Germany. The short-stay Schengen visa allows its holders to enter and reside in Germany for a maximum period of 90 days within a 180-day period. For stays of up to 90 days, visitors apply for a Schengen visa, and for longer stays, visitors apply for a national visa. Visitors may apply for a Schengen visa from between six months and generally no later than 15 days before their planned trip
*Starting from May 2025, visitors will be required to apply for ETIAS to enter Germany. German Federal Foreign Office (Apr 28)
Saudi Arabia targets international hotel investors with $80B opportunity. Hospitality Investor (Mar 31)
Travel Updates:
Saudi welcomes Virgin Atlantic’s direct flights from London Heathrow to Riyadh. Travel Daily Media(Mar 31)
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)
Türkiye’s Cappadocia shines among foreign tourists, visitor numbers up over 10%. Türkiye Today (Mar 30)
Hotel bookings skyrocket as Türkiye declares 9-day Eid al-Fitr holiday. Türkiye Today (Mar 28)
Travel Updates:
Touristic Diyarbakır Express to resume voyages on April 11. Hürriyet Daily News (Mar 28)
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)
