MYANMAR plans to impose a tourism tax on travelers in a move to fund tourism promotion activities without relying on government funds.“I think it will take about six months for the government…
‘Bun Festival’ brings 50,000 people to tiny Hong Kong island
A DOZEN climbers in Hong Kong scrambled up a 60-ft (18m) tower covered with plastic buns in an annual contest won by the first man and woman to reach the top with the most buns plucked off the colu…
Guam moves to capture Asia Pacific’s MICE market
Guam, affectionately known as “small Hawaii”, is located south of the Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is renowned for its traditional Chamorro culture, tropical beaches…
China Is Building a $3 Billion Medical Tourism Hotspot
China is betting big on medical tourism by building a major new hospital complex on Hainan. Construction of Evergrande International Hospital. Bloomberg On the hilly and tropical island of Hainan, …
$10,000 for one-way ride on Japanese luxury sleeper train
A JAPANESE railway company has launched a new luxury sleeper train with sky views, bathtubs and dark wood interiors, joining the race for well-heeled tourists.The train, which left with 33 passenge…
Southeast Asia Wants to Copy Europe’s Visa-Free Travel
Southeast Asia’s tourism industry is looking to Europe’s models of visa-free travel and Open Skies to boost their own travel and tourism prospects despite isolationist rhetoric and poli…
Plans to introduce car-free policy on Singapore’s iconic Orchard Road
A WEEKEND stroll along Orchard Road, Singapore’s pulsating shopping belt, will demonstrate its immense popularity among locals and tourists.The street is often compared to the popular Ginza d…
As Olympics approaches, Japan struggles with smoking ban
TOKYO risks being one of the unhealthiest Olympic Games hosts in years, as an anti-smoking law exposes deep rifts over tobacco tax revenue, personal freedom and the dangers of passive smoking, whic…
Australia: Govt to develop new international airport in Sydney
THE AUSTRALIAN government said on Tuesday it will step in to build an AUD5 billion (US$3.76 billion) second international airport for Sydney after the operator of the existing hub declined to take …
Cambodia can greatly benefit from community-based ecotourism
CYCLING along the narrow bike paths of Koh Trong, an island just off the coast of Kratie city in Cambodia, visitors are often overwhelmed by the serenity of the small town nestled among towering tr…