ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

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).

Τετάρτη 28 Μαΐου 2025

Weekly Asia Pacific Snapshot: Japan sees new visitor arrival record in April; Malaysia approves 103 new flight routes; and more.

 

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



Summer and Thai fruits, a duo that just make perfect sense. Here is your juicy guide to Thai fruits beyond mango, durian, and mangosteen– personally recommended by Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya (Chat), former Deputy Governor for International Marketing from Tourism Authority of Thailand!


🐍 Snake Fruit (Salak)
Rusty red scales hide crunchy bites that flirt between apple and pineapple. A tangy surprise every time.

🍇 Rambutan
Lychee’s punk cousin with wild red spikes. Peel it for a hit of tropical sweetness.

🌕 Longan
The moody jazz club version of lychee. Smoky, subtle, and softly sweet.

🥭 Green Mango
Tart, cheeky, and best dipped in chili-sugar-salt. Street food attitude in fruit form.

🍏 Custard Apple (Not an apple!)
Soft, spoonable, and vanilla-scented. Dessert in fruit form—no effort required.

🍎 Rose Apple (Also not an apple!)
A floaty, yoga-practising pear. Crisp, light, and refreshing on a hot Thai afternoon.

🌼 Jackfruit
A tropical behemoth that smells like bubblegum and tastes like sunshine. Fibrous, fruity, and found in everything from desserts to curries.

Now, if you want to enjoy these fruits like a pro, try these pairings:
  • Pomelo + Riesling = bright & bubbly
  • Mango + fresh coconut water = island harmony
Northeast Asia
Destination Headlines:
  • China now offers instant tourist tax refund in bid to boost consumption. Inquirer.net (May 25)
Travel Updates: 
  • Vietnam, China to resume cross-border passenger train service from May 25. VnExpress (May 22)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Nationals of Uzbekistan will be able to visit China visa-free for a stay up to 30-days, commencing June 1, 2025. Additionally, nationals of China will be able to visit Uzbekistan under the same conditions. The total stay is limited to any 180-day period and cannot exceeed 90 days. VisaGuide (May 15)
  • Nationals of Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay can travel to China visa-free for stays up to 30 days starting June 1, 2025. This can include travel for business, tourism, VFR, exchanges and transit without exceeding 30 days. This is a trial period and will last until May 31, 2026. The State Council The People's Republic of China (Mar 15)
Destination Headlines:
  • Cathay Pacific Airways passenger volume up 36% Y-o-Y. Lifestyle Asia (May 21)
Travel Updates: 
  • Star Voyager homeports in Hong Kong SAR. TTR Weekly (May 26)
  • HK Express launches Hong Kong SAR–Changzhou route to boost connectivity. Travel Daily News (May 26)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Hong Kong SAR citizens are now able to travel to Qatar for 30-days visa-free without needing to obtain a visa-on-arrival. VisaGuide (May 13)
  • 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:
  • Foreign visitors to Japan in April set monthly record at 3.9 million; Osaka set to break record for Chinese tourist arrivals. Kyodo NewsVnExpress (May 25)
  • Japan: High costs deter 92% of Japanese from travel this year. Asia Insurance Review (May 21)
Travel Updates:
  • A manga predicting a natural disaster is affecting tourism to Japan. The Week (May 22)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Japan will begin pre-arrival screening of visa-free travellers starting in FY 2028. VisaGuide (May 19)
  • 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:
  • 2026 Virtuoso Symposium to be held in Seoul from April 15-19, 2026. Travel Daily Media (May 26)
Travel Updates: 
  • Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and KTO to offer 400K coupons for discount lodging in provinces. Korea.net (May 21)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Korea (ROK) launched its "Top-Tier" Visa programme on April 2, 2025 aimed at attracting top talent to Korea (ROK). Visa Guide (Apr 3)
  • 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)
Destination Headlines:
  • Soft loans to be provided to tourism companies. Montsame (May 21)
  • New Ulaanbaatar International Airport receives ACI Membership. Montsame (May 21)
Travel Updates: 
  • Mongolia and Indonesia plan visa-free travel. Tempo.co (May 21)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Visa-free travel to Mongolia for Korean citizens is extended until Dec 31, 2025. News MN (Jan 2)
  • The Immigration Agency of Mongolia has begun issuing invitation-based visas of all 54 categories electronically. Mongolian National News Agency (Sep 20, 2024)
Southeast Asia
Destination Headlines:
  • Indonesia and China sign tourism agreement to boost two-way travel. TTG Asia (May 26)
Travel Updates: 
  • Hiking quotas introduced to help manage tourist numbers on Bali's Mount Rinjani. The Bali Sun (May 21)
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)
  • Indonesia has relaxed its multiple-entry visa protocols allowing for foreign nationals to extend their stay two times at 60 days each. This will allow people to stay for 180 days from the time of entry into Indonesia. Directorate General of Immigration (May 15)
Destination Headlines:
  • Malaysia banks on live events to draw tourists. TTG Asia (May 22)
  • Tourism Ministry ensures improved standards, safeguards for revitalised MM2H programme. Dayak Daily (May 25)
Travel Updates: Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Malaysia and China have agreed to further extend the visa-free agreement for five years until 2031; implementation of the extension will come into effect soon. Embassy of PRC in Malaysia (May 6)
  • Citizens of Kosovo can now visit Malaysia for stays of up to 30 days visa exempt. Visa Guide (Apr 25)
Destination Headlines:
Travel Updates: 
  • Cebu Pacific successfully completes Philippines’ first electric aircraft turnaround. Travel Daily Media (May 23)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • 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:
  • Singapore Tourism Board launches new marketing campaign in China. China Daily (May 22)
Travel Updates: 
  • More flights from Christchurch to Asia as Singapore Airlines adds 23,000 extra seats over summer. The New Zealand Herald (May 22)
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 eyes Formula 1 Grand Prix to boost tourism and inspire next generation. Pattaya Mail (May 25)
  • Bank of Thailand slashes Chinese market forecast by 30%. Bangkok Post (May 21)
Travel Updates: 
  • Travel to Thailand uninterrupted despite increase in COVID-19 cases. Travel + Leisure (May 23)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) launched on May 1, 2025 to replace the paper-based arrival card given to international visitors to Thailand. Thailand Immigration Bureau (May 1)
  • Thailand now requires proof of sufficient funds of foreign bank statement of at least 20,000 THB (600 USD$) or a letter of gurantee of said amount for tourist visa. Pattaya Mail (Mar 18)
Destination Headlines:
  • Vietnam ranked most affordable for backpackers in Southeast Asia. Travel Daily News (May 23)
Travel Updates: 
  • BWH Hotels expands in Vietnam with Best Western Plus Danang. Travel Daily News (May 22)
  • Vietnam approves new airline Sun PhuQuoc Airways. Inquirer.net (May 22)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Vietnam has launched a ten year golden visa to attract tourism and investment. The Nation (May 8)
  • 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:
  • Nearly 40% tourists in FY2024-25 opted for stargazing and astro tourism: JCI. Travel Trends Today (May 22)
Travel Updates: 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:
  • Nearly 100,000 tourists welcomed so far in May. Raajje (May 24)
Travel Updates: 
  • Maldives becomes 8th country benefiting from "Makkah Route" Initiative. ZAWYA (May 27)
 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:
  • IATO and NATTA sign MoU to boost cross-border tourism between India and Nepal. The Economic Times (May 24)
Travel Updates: 
  • Nepal Airlines resumes four weekly flights between Phaplu and Kathmandu. MyRepublica (May 26)
 Travel Policy Updates: 
  • Nepali citizens travelling through tour package and the members/employees of legal entities/organisations travelling to the gulf countries and Malaysia have to take approval from department of immigration prior their visit. DFA (Oct 3, 2024)
The Pacific
Destination Headlines:
  • Cathay Pacific set to resume direct international flights to Adelaide. Glam Adelaide (May 22)
The Americas
Destination Headlines:
  • Travel to and from Canada takes a nosedive: StatCan. Toronto Star (May 24)
  • 2025 Canadian summer travel trends revealed. Airbnb (May 22)
Travel Updates: 
  • Vancouver gets ready to host two massive conventions. BIV (May 23)
  • Permanent "VANCOUVER" sign receives green light for installation before 2026 FIFA World Cup. Daily Hive (May 22)
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 travel intent from Europe ‘drops moderately’ year on year. Travel Weekly (May 21)
  • Record Memorial Day weekend puts travel stocks back in the spotlight. US Global Investors (May 23)
Travel Updates: 
  • Uzbekistan plans to introduce 30-day visa-free entry for US tourists. VisaGuide (May 24)
Travel Policy Updates: 
  • DHS has rescined Romania's designation into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). USDHS (May 2)
  • The U.S. Secretary of State has announced that they will begin to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, this change is to begin immediately. Visa Guide (Apr 7)
Europe, West Asia, Africa
Destination Headlines:
  • Kenya Tourism Board launches new adventure tourism campaign. ATTA (May 23)
  • Kenya set to welcome 6,500 delegates for 15th edition of Magical Kenya Travel Expo. KATA (May 25)
Travel Updates: 
  • Kenyan government gives green light to hotels in national parks. Malindi Kenya (May 27)
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. XinHua (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 launches TOURISE, a global platform to reshape the ‘future of tourism’. Gulf Business (May 22)
  • International arrivals to Saudi surge by 48% in Q1 2025 vis-à-vis 2024. Travel Daily Media (May 22)
Travel Updates: 
  • Saudi Arabia to permit alcohol in 600 tourist locations by 2026. FTN News (May 24)
  • Saudi Arabia launches 50-year tourism roadmap after hitting 100 million-visitor target. Al Arabiya (May 23)
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:
  • Türkiye recognised as one of the world’s most eco-friendly travel destinations by Wanderlust. Daily Sabah (May 25)
  • Türkiye draws 10.6 million foreign tourists in January-April. Hürriyet Daily News (May 23)
Travel Updates: 
  • Türkiye launched "meetinginturkiye" digital platform for comprehensive guide on event planning. MC Asia (May 27)
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)
Destination Headlines:
  • International traveller spend in the UAE to reach a record AED 228B this year: WTTC. Breaking Travel News (May 23)
  • Ras Al Khaimah aims to attract 3.5 million tourists by 2030. Khaleej Times (May 22)
Travel Updates: 
  • Flydubai resumes flights to Damascus after 12 years. The National (May 21)
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 lifts travel ban on travel to Lebanon for UAE nationals. They will need to register with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Twajudi service before departure. UAE MoFA (May 4)
See All Destinations' Updates

Tags: PATA