Travel in South Korea

Amid rising diplomatic tensions, India has now slipped to the fifth position for tourist arrivals into Maldives in January, with just over 13,000 visitors, as per the latest data from the Maldives tourism ministry. Russia claimed the top spot for inbound arrivals in the Maldives in January, followed by Italy, China, and the UK.

A consortium led by billionaire Ramon Ang’s San Miguel submitted the highest bid to upgrade the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippines’ main international gateway.

Saudi Arabia will launch a dedicated visa for its World Expo in 2030, which will facilitate “seamless entry from plane to metro to Expo site,” states the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The creation of a new Asian super-airline has taken a step closer. On Wednesday, Japanese regulators approved Korean Air’s proposed merger with local rival Asiana Airlines.

Japan is gearing up to launch a digital nomad visa next month. It will allow citizens of 49 nations, including EU member states, to stay in the country for up to six months.

Travelers headed to South Korea can now make use of a lounge that's not only new but a first-of-its-kind option.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, January 25. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

With a legacy spanning over 100 years, Qantas remains the epitome of pioneering excellence in aviation. Recognized as the world's safest airline and a trailblazer in ultra-long-haul flights, Australia's esteemed flag carrier blends graceful tradition with cutting-edge innovation. 

The new year brings with it opportunities for new adventures. To help satisfy your wanderlust and inspire your next getaway, the UNWTO shares its list of top off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit in 2024 before peak season hits this summer. Escape the ordinary and explore the world’s undiscovered rural treasures offering unique experiences at these charming lesser-known destinations, promising unforgettable memories.

Five years ago, my typical day consisted of work in Downtown Philly at my regular retail job, lunch, and then clocking out to ride the SEPTA to South Philly to take on the evening shift at my seasonal retail job. When I got home, I would shower, go to bed, and do the same thing again the next morning. It was a wash, rinse, repeat routine fueled by my motivation not to return to my hometown in LA.

Los Angeles Tourism is launching its most expensive and far-reaching advertising campaign on February 1 in Paris. 

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

Leading global travel service provider Trip.com Group is embracing new trends and opportunities in the post-pandemic travel landscape, with its CEO Jane Sun sharing insights at the prominent World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland, this week. Ms Sun also expressed optimism about Asia’s continued growth and shared her perspective on its investment potential at the panel discussion titled “Asia – the world’s next growth anchor?”

Six travel startups announced fundraises of more than $208 million this week.

UnionPay, one of the world’s largest payment brands, is embracing a new chapter of development after its global acceptance scope spanned 183 countries and regions and issuance outside the Chinese mainland surpassed 230 million cards recently. Thanks to its 20 years of internationalization efforts, it can contribute more “Chinese solutions” to the global payment industry.

An upcoming Russian tourist trip to North Korea is the first such inbound visit by vacationers there in four years. When people think of that country under the strict dictatorship of Kim Jong Un, they don’t think of tourism. So many will have questions about what kind of travel is possible.

The passport you hold is a powerful tool when it comes to effortlessly visiting countries around the world.And some passports provide far more access than others, according to the Henley Passport Index.The just-released 2024 index shows that for the first time in 19 years of producing the ranking, six countries are tied for the top spot of having the most powerful passports.The countries leading the ranking are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain—meaning citizens from all of these countries are able to visit 194 destinations around the world either visa-free or by obtaining a visa-on-arrival.The Henley Passport Index is the only ranking of its kind and is developed based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index compares 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.While Japan and Singapore have made it into the number one slot for the past five years running, according to CNN, the European countries that are now also ranked number one on the list is a new development.

Among the last countries to resume tourism activities post-pandemic, North Korea is set to welcome its first international tourists in February, marking the end of its border closure since January 22, 2020. And tourists, especially in Russia, are taking note.

Russian tourists could be the first international travellers to visit North Korea since the country's borders closed in January 2020 amid the global COVD-19 lockdown.

A passport is more than permission to travel across borders; holders of the world's most powerful passports have access to different ways of living that other passport holders do not. Heading into 2024, new data reveals not only the passports that give access to the most countries, but also where you might find a better quality of life.

Six countries now have the world's most powerful passport, according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index — but the US isn't one of them.