Vietnam plans to reopen the resort island of Phu Quoc to vaccinated foreign visitors in late November, authorities said, as the country looks to reboot its tourism industry after almost two years of closure.Phu Quoc, which lies around 10 kilometres (six miles) off Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, boasts white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, as well as mountains and thick jungle.It attracted around 670,000 visitors and earned more than US$18 billion dollars from international arrivals

Thai Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha announced Thursday that vaccinated travellers from more than 40 countries will be allowed to enter the kingdom without undergoing quarantine come 1 November, as it readies for a much-anticipated re-opening.The 46 countries and territories are a significant jump from the 10 initially announced last week by Prayut, when he unveiled plans to reopen the country next month.The ballooning list is due to Thailand's urgent need "to stimulate the tourism sector

Thailand is to cut the quarantine for vaccinated travellers to seven days starting in October, officials said Monday, as it seeks to revive its battered tourism industry.Pre-pandemic Thailand attracted nearly 40 million visitors a year, but COVID-related travel restrictions have hammered the sector, contributing to the economy's worst performance in more than 20 years.The kingdom is pushing to reopen despite still being in the grips of a deadly third wave of infections, driven by the Del

The first international travellers touched down Thursday in the holiday hotspot of Phuket under a quarantine-free scheme, as Thailand tries to reboot its battered tourism industry while also enduring its worst coronavirus outbreak.Tourism makes up almost a fifth of the Thai economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic has led to its worst performance since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.The kingdom is pinning hopes for a much-needed revival on the so-called "Phuket sandbox" – a model that wi

A short clip released by a Malaysian news agency went viral recently, showcasing the reality of the country’s hotel industry during the pandemic. In the video, a manager of a hotel in Malaysia’s popular tourist state of Penang was seen carrying a placard up and down the street with “RM3 Only” (US$0.74) written on it.

Thailand is home to landmarks such as those listed under UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, beautiful beaches, and crystal-clear waters. The kingdom is also popular for its wide variety of street food, local delicacies, and vibrant nightlife.Tourism is a primary economic contributor to the country. In 2019, it was reported that foreign tourist arrivals hit a record 39.8 million, which is equivalent to more than half of Thailand’s population.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the world's top tourist draws, from the ruins of Machu Piccu to Thailand's sandy beaches, to a standstill.

A planned travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore was scrapped a day before its launch on Saturday after the southern Chinese city announced a sudden spike in coronavirus cases.The decision is both a blow to the two cities' battered tourist industries but also for other countries who had been hoping the scheme might be a model to replicate during the pandemic.The two financial hubs have both suffered comparatively mild outbreaks with strict social distancing and border measures imp

Among the first sectors sent reeling by COVID-19 were tourism and hospitality. According to the United Nations’ (UN) agency, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), international tourist numbers could plunge by as much as 80 percent in 2020.

Hundreds of passengers were setting sail from Singapore Friday on a "cruise to nowhere" with safety measures in place to prevent coronavirus outbreaks, as the industry seeks to bounce back from a pandemic-induced crunch.Cruises were halted worldwide in March after travel restrictions kicked in and several vessels were hit by major outbreaks, but have now resumed in a few places.The "cruise to nowhere" – starting and ending at the same place, with no stops – has proved a hi