Asia tips

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Chinese tourists aren’t rushing to get a U.S. visitor visa like they did before the pandemic, according to a State Department official speaking Saturday at IPW, a travel trade conference focused on international inbound travel.

Looking to establish itself as the number 1 online travel agency in Southeast Asia, Air Asia Move, previously known as AirAsia superapp, announced the launch of its ASEAN Explorer Pass on Thursday.

Malaysia is looking to grow its tourism industry by positioning itself as an ideal Southeast Asian cruise destination in the years to come. 

Viking has unveiled a new “Spirit of Mongolia” extension program for guests who sail on one of the line’s new China voyages.

It’s not the longest flight ever available, but it’s long enough.

United Airlines has reportedly indefinitely postponed the launch of two highly anticipated routes just weeks before their inaugural flights were due to take off. 

G Adventures, the world's largest privately owned small-group adventure travel company, has just announced the imminent return of last year’s GX Community Tourism Summit in 2024, to be hosted in conjunction with its non-profit partner, Planeterra, in the vibrant destination of India.

WHY IT RATES: The introduction of Tauck's new journeys in Colombia and Japan in 2025 will offer travelers unique opportunities to explore two culturally rich destinations with expertly curated itineraries, providing immersive experiences and enriching encounters. — Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse Associate Writer

Contiki, the social travel and carbon-neutral tour operator for travelers aged 18-35, announced its first-ever trip to the Philippines this week, offering a 9-day or 13-day island hopping adventure, now available to book for travel in 2024 and 2025. 

The world’s most-visited destination of the year might not be the city you’d expect. 

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.

Fans of The White Lotus are about to see a lot of Thailand in their favorite show. The kingdom will be the set of White Lotus’ third season, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said.

As it prepares for the launch of 19 new properties in 2024, Singapore-headquartered Banyan Tree Group is embracing a sleeker image, rebranding itself as the Banyan Group.

InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, the newest luxury hotel in the heart of Chiang Mai, invites guests to discover the best of northern Thailand with three exclusive experiences that showcase the local heritage and natural beauty of the region.

Central Pattana plc, Thailand’s number one real estate developer and operator of 39 Central shopping centers nationwide, in collaboration with leading public and private partners including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Royal Thai Police and Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA), etc., created a sensational world-class countdown event, reinforcing its reputation as the No.1 world’s entertainment countdown, for more than two decades with a historic moment as hundreds of thousands united to countdown to 2024.

Shanghai Disney Resort and eHi Car Services, a car services provider in the local travel market, announced today that the two companies have entered into a multi-year resort alliance, introducing eHi Car Services as the official car rental sponsor of Shanghai Disney Resort. Under this new alliance, eHi Car Services is set to bring the convenience of its services to guests driving to the magic of Shanghai Disney Resort. 

Tripla, which provides a booking engine to hotels in Japan and Southeast Asia, has acquired a hotel tech company in Taiwan.

The Middle East exceeded its pre-pandemic international tourist arrival numbers by over 20% through September this year, according to the UN World Tourism Organization’s latest data. That’s before the Israel-Hamas conflict started in early October.

The common perception of Bali as a tropical paradise for tourists belies the silent suffering of many of its wildlife inhabitants, according to a damning new investigation conducted by World Animal Protection.

Tours and activities operators in Asia expect at least another 6 to 12 months of pent-up travel demand. However, maximizing this opportunity depends on addressing capacity bottlenecks, especially in markets like Japan.