Weekly Asia Pacific Snapshot: Saudi allows 180-day stay for UK visitors; UAE extends VoA to 6 more nations; and more

 

Where the sky meets the earth, you'll find Aseer. Nestled in the southwestern peaks of Saudi Arabia, Aseer maintains a remarkably cool, crisp climate all summer long. Trek through dense juniper forests at Al Soudah, visit the newly restored, vibrant Tuesday Market (Souq Althulatha), live the culture at the local Sound of Abha Festival...More than 100 distinct bookable experiences await you at this spectacular destination this summer. ⛰️☁️ #DiscoverAseer: Mountains, clouds, and endless adventures >

Northeast Asia

Destination Headlines: Ten million cross-border passengers: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport strengthens global gateway role. China Travel News (Jun 29) China-Japan flights to drop 57% in summer travel peak amid geopolitical tensions. SCMP (Jun 25)

Travel Policy Updates:  Tencent trials TenPayGo app as foreign visits to China rise. Jing Daily (Jun 28) Full information from The State Council, China >

Destination Headlines: JTB to acquire major Asian DMC ‘EXO Travel’ to expand its global business. Travel Voice Japan (Jun 25) Agoda sees surge in Japan festival travel interest. Travel Daily Media (Jun 25)

Travel Updates:  Japan set to raise foreign visa charges fivefold from July 1; Filipino travellers exempt from higher Japan visa fees. Travel Tomorrow; TTG Asia (Jun 29) Japan tourist hot spot Hakone aims to implement accommodation tax. The Straits Times (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  The Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA) will require foreign tourists exempt from visa requirements to input entry related information before traveling to Japan. The government plans to implement this new system in fiscal 2028. The Mainichi (Mar 10) From March 2, 2026, walk-in visa submissions will be phased out at VFS Global centres in Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad and Puducherry. VisaHQ (Feb 23) Full information from Japan National Tourism Office >

Destination Headlines: Korea (ROK) launches K-Chicken Belt to boost gastronomy tourism. The Korea Times (Jun 29) Foreign arrivals in Korea (ROK) surpass 10 million, on course to new high. Inquirer.net (Jun 25)

Travel Updates:  Asiana Airlines to leave Star Alliance in December 2026. Travel Daily News (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  A verification code entry step will be introduced to ensure valid user authentication upon submission of the e-Arrival Card. Ministry of Justice, Korea (Apr 29) Chinese citizens who have previously visited Korea (ROK) can obtain multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years. For residents of major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, the validity period has been extended further to 10 years, doubling the previous limit. The Korea Bizwire (Mar 31) Full information from Korea Tourism Organization >

Destination Headlines: Sands China surpasses 15.7 million MICE visits in Macao. Travel Daily News (Jun 24)

Travel Updates:  Eligible travellers can pass all 3 Macao-mainland joint checkpoints document-free. The Macao Daily Post (Jun 26)

Southeast Asia

Destination Headlines: Phnom Penh to host inaugural Muslim-Friendly Tourism Forum and Fair 2026. Khmer Times (Jun 29) Cambodia sees 54% rise in domestic tourism. Khmer Times (Jun 26)

Travel Updates:  The PGA announces landmark partnership with Cambodian resort. Golf Business News (Jun )

Destination Headlines: Philippines steps up domestic tourism drive amid softer Korean arrivals. TTG Asia (Jun 25) DOT launches ‘Discover More to Love’ campaign. Philstar (Jun 28)

Travel Updates:  Dubai-Manila flights resume as Philippine Airlines announces October restart. Gulf News (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  Philippines launched e-visas for Bangladeshi citizens from 8 June, allowing online application. Dhaka Tribune (Jun 8) The Philippines will allow Chinese nationals to enter the country visa-free for up to 14 days beginning January 16, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday. Under the new policy, Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines for tourism or business purposes may avail of the visa-free entry privilege. ABS-CBN (Jan 15) Full information from Tourism Philippines >

Destination Headlines: One becomes two as Thailand splits tourism, sports ministry. Travel Weekly Asia (Jun 29) Foreign travellers drive 96.6% of Thailand’s mid-year hotel bookings. The Nation (Jun 27)

Travel Updates:  Thailand launches cross-border QR payment functionality for tourists. Travel + Lesiure (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  Thailand's Cabinet has resolved to cancel its 60-day visa-free scheme, which previously applied to 93 countries. Following the cancellation, these countries would return to their previous visa categories, most of which allow about 30 days. The Nation (May 19) Full information from Thai Embassy >

Destination Headlines: UNESCO recognises Nino Konis Santana as Timor-Leste’s first biosphere reserve. Islands Business (Jun 27)

Travel Updates:  Timor-Leste welcomes Aero Dili’s new Darwin service. Islands Business (Jun 27) Travel Policy Updates:  Timor-Leste and Vietnam exchanged agreement on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports. Vietnam News (Jun 9) Full information from Immigration Service of Timor Leste >

Destination Headlines: Chinese tourists' Vietnam travel searches rise by 164%: Agoda. VnExpress (Jun 25)

Travel Updates:  Ninh Binh now has its first international hotel. Travel + Leisure (Jun 30) Vietjet increases summer capacity by 30% across Vietnam. Travel Daily News (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  Travellers entering, exiting or transiting through Vietnam will be required to submit health declarations starting July 1, 2026. Xinhua (May 21) Vietnam and Timor-Leste exchanged agreement on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports. Vietnam News (Jun 9) Full information from Vietnam National Authority of Tourism >

South Asia

Destination Headlines: Rajasthan records 61.99 million tourist visits in Q1 2026. Media India Group (Jun 29) India ranks 8th among world’s top tourism economies, projected to reach 4th in next decade. The Statesman (Jun 28)

Travel Policy Updates:  Effective June 29, India waives tourist and medical visa fees for Fijians. High Commission of India, Suva (Jun 30) India resumed issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshi nationals from June 28. Gulf News (Jun 25) Full information from Ministry of Tourism, India >

Destination Headlines: Sri Lanka world’s top trending wellness travel destination for 2026. Daily News (Jun 29) June tourist arrivals down 7.5% Y-o-Y; crosses 1.11M visitors YTD; CBSL revises tourism earnings to $1.36B. Daily FT; The Morning (Jun 27)

Travel Updates:  Vietjet opens bookings for first-ever direct flights between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Daily News (Jun 26) Travel Policy Updates:  Sri Lanka confirmed a free 30-day tourist ETA visa for citizens from 40 countries. VisasNews (May 24) Hong Kong SAR passport holders will be able to obtain a visa on arrival in Sri Lanka, provided they apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization in advance. The Standard (HK) (Apr 13)   Full information from Department of Immigration and Emigration >

The Pacific

Destination Updates: NSW tourism hits new heights: visitor spending break records. Sydney Times (Jun 29) Australia’s inbound tourism recovery gains momentum, says ATEC. Travel Daily News (Jun 29)

Travel Updates:  Travel brands pivot to offline marketing as Australia cracks down on youth social media. Travel Daily Media (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  ​The Australian Government will temporarily restrict Iranian Visitor (Subclass 600) visa holders who are outside Australia from travelling to Australia. The Arrival Control Determination will be in force from March 26, 2026 for six months. Department of Home Affairs Website (Mar 25) Australia activated Section 84B ‘arrival-pause’ power on March 18, 2026, making visa grants conditional on real-time border controls. VisaHQ (Mar 19) Full information from Department of Home Affairs, Australia >

Destination Headlines: New tourism tax to support Fiji Airways. FBC News (Jun 26)

Destination Headline: Pent‑up demand lifts Hawaii travel ahead of Fourth of July; outlook still mixed. Hawaii Tribune-Herald (Jun 25)

Destination Headline: Visitor arrivals increase in May.  Samoa Observer (Jun 29)

Travel Updates: Solomon Airlines launches direct flight to Papua New Guinea starting Jul 7.  Travel and Tour World (Jun 27)

The Americas

Destination Headlines: Canada hotels record strongest rate growth since 2024. Travel Daily News (Jun 29) Tourism spending edges up in Q1 2026: Statistics Canada. Retail Insider (Jun 25)

Travel Updates:  Vancouver tourism boosted as RItz-Carlton's Luminara made its first call at Canada Place. Travel and Tour World (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  Travellers can now stay in Canada for longer periods without repeated extensions– typically up to one year when they demonstrate sufficient funds and a clear exit plan. VisaHQ News (Jan 6) Starting on May 26, Indonesian and Malaysian citizens who have held a Canadian temporary resident visa (TRV) in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa—and have therefore previously been screened by Canada or the US—may be eligible to apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to or transiting through Canada by air. People who already have a valid TRV can continue to use it to travel to Canada. Government of Canada (May 25) Full information from Government of Canada >

Destination Headlines: Australian soccer fans drive near-100% surge in US travel bookings. Travel Weekly (Jun 25)

Travel Updates:  Delta is extending its pause of service from Atlanta to Tel Aviv (TLV), with service suspended through Dec 18. New York JFK–Tel Aviv flights are scheduled to resume Sept6. Arabian Business (Jun 27) Travel Policy Updates:  Beginning January 21, 2026, Bangladeshi nationals approved for new B-1/B-2 visitor visas will have to post a U.S.$15,000 “departure bond” before they can travel to the United States. Only visas issued on or after January 21 will be subject to the bond. VisaHQ (Jan 20) The visa bond programme is being expanded to apply to a total of 50 countries on April 2 and will require foreign nationals from these countries to post a bond of up to $15,000 before receiving B1 or B2 visas for business and tourism in the United States. The bond will be returned to visa recipients who return home in compliance with the terms of the visa and the bond or does not travel. The 12 new countries include:  Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, and Tunisia. U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua (Mar 18) Full information from U.S. Department of State >

Europe, West Asia, Africa

Destination Headlines: Foreign tourist visits to Bosnia's Serb Republic up 5% in May. SeeNews (Jun 29)

Travel Updates:  Sarajevo-Ploče train returns, tickets to cost around €15. Total Croatia (Jun 25) Travel Policy Updates:  Bosnia and Herzegovina renews summer visa-free Entry for Saudi, Bahrain and Oman for a second year. Passport Index (May 12) Full information from Tourism BiH >

Destination Headlines: Berlin named top opera destination for 2026. Travel Daily Media (Jun 29) Berlin Airport prepares for 3.7 million summer holiday passengers as airlines expand network. Aviation24 (Jun 30)

Travel Policy Updates:  Germany has removed a Schengen Airport Transit Visa (Type A) requirement for Indian nationals travelling through its international airports like Frankfurt and Munich. BTN Europe (Jun 4) Full information from German Federal Foreign Office >

Destination Headlines: Saudi tourism spending hits US$22B in Q1 2026. Connecting Travel (Jun 24)

Travel Updates:  Minor Hotels brings NH Hotels & Resorts to Saudi Arabia. Travel Daily News (Jun 30) Travel Policy Updates:  Effective July 1, holders of all types of UK passports can enter Saudi Arabia under an eTA with multiple entries and to stay for up to 180 days, either consecutively or across multiple visits within one year. The authorisation also permits travel to Saudi Arabia for a range of purposes, including tourism, short-term study, and business. Saudi Press Agency (Jun 25) Full information from Saudi Tourism Authority >

Destination Headlines: Dubai hotel recovery: Visitors to return before room rates do, says Accor. Gulf News (Jun 25)

Travel Updates:  UAE visa-on-arrival scheme extends to six more countries. Travel + Leisure (Jun 29) Travel Policy Updates:  Nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya, and South Africa holding ordinary passports, along with their accompanying family members, are eligible to obtain a 14-day or 60-day visa on arrival, provided they hold a valid residence permit issued by the USA, a EU member state, the UK, Singapore, Japan, Korea (ROK), Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. Gulf News (Jun 25) Effective June 25, eligible passport holders hailing from the Philippines can travel to Dubai and the other emirates without prior visa arrangements. Time Out Dubai (Jun 25) Full information from UAE Government Portal >

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