The Asia Travel Information category provides up-to-date information on travel formalities in Asian countries such as China, Japan, India, Thailand, Malaysia and other popular destinations. This category is dedicated to publishing information on visas, passports, mandatory vaccinations, travel restrictions and customs regulations for travelers visiting various Asian countries. Articles published in this category will contain useful tips for travelers, information on precautions to take, recent changes in laws and regulations, as well as updates on known incidents that could affect the safety of travelers to Asian destinations.
Kazakhstan plans to extend its visa-free regime to citizens of 100 countries in order to further promote the country's tourism sector. The announcement was made at the Forum on Tourism Development in Kazakhstan, held on September 15 in Aktau.
In a bid to boost a tourism industry vital to its economy, Thailand has decided to temporarily grant visa-free entry to tourists from China. How will this work, and what impact will it have on the tourism industry?
On September 1, Thailand welcomed a new governor for its tourism sector. Ms. Thapanee Kiartphaiboon succeeds Yuthasak Supasorn, whose term of office had expired. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is the official government body that manages all tourism-related activities in Thailand, including the promotion of the country ... Read the article
In an effort to replace Western influence with a more local and traditional identity, India wishes to make known its intention to change its name to "Bharat". This wish comes from the current government led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. This decision would be taken thanks to a constitutional amendment that would pave the way ... Read the article
Sri Lanka, known as a popular tourist destination, recently approved the granting of a Digital Nomad visa. This initiative aims to appeal to independent workers and freelancers from all over the world who are looking to establish themselves in a new location. According to the information available, applicants for the Digital Nomad visa will need to justify an income ... Read the article
On August 24, 2023, the Philippines launched its new e-Visa program, enabling nationals of countries where a visa is required to apply for a visa online. The first tourists to benefit were Chinese in a "pilot" program. They arrived in the country on August 25.
Thailand's new Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has pledged to boost tourism in Phuket by considering a visa extension to 90 days for nationals of certain countries. He also plans to increase capacity at Phuket airport in preparation for a possible surge in international arrivals during the peak season. Read the article
Manohar International Airport, located in Mopa, has been an e-Visa-eligible entry point since August 17. This new international airport in the Indian state of Goa enables tourists and business travellers from all over the world to benefit from this facility when entering India.
The Chinese Embassy in France announced on Thursday a measure that will greatly facilitate the procedures for Chinese visa applicants in France. From August 10 to December 31, 2023, applicants in France for Chinese business (M), tourist (L), family visit (Q2), transit (G) and crew member (C) visas with one or two entries ... Read the article
At the end of July, India and Sri Lanka announced their intention to consider building a land bridge, known as the Palk Strait, to link the two countries. This ambitious project aims to strengthen bilateral relations between these two neighboring nations and facilitate access to the key ports of Trincomalee and Colombo.
Obtaining a visa to travel to China can be a crucial but sometimes complex step. To simplify the process, China visa centers have been set up in several European countries, including France, Switzerland and Belgium. These centers offer services such as visa application registration, ... Read the article
To finance its preservation, the Indonesian authorities have announced that from 2024, Bali will impose a tax of 10 US dollars per holidaymaker.
From July 5 until at least August 2024, Japan Airlines, in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, is testing an innovative new service called "Any Wear, Anywhere", enabling travelers to rent clothes during their stay in Japan. This revolutionary concept enables customers to travel light without sacrificing their style of dress while on the move.
The Philippines has announced that it will expand its electronic visa system (e-visa) in the 3rd quarter of this year to facilitate entry into the country and stimulate foreign investment. According to Jesus Domingo, Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the new system will greatly facilitate the application process ... Read the article
In the first five months of 2023, Indonesia recorded the arrival of 4.12 million international visitors, representing a 4-fold increase over the same period in 2022, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.
In a press release from the South Korean Immigration Service on June 29, 2023, a major announcement was made concerning K-ETA, the electronic travel authorization for South Korea. From July 3, 2023, the validity of the K-ETA travel authorization will be extended from 2 to 3 years.
In an effort to boost tourism, South Korea has begun accepting applications for electronic group visas, also known as e-Group Visas. This new initiative was introduced on June 27, and has opened up a more convenient and efficient avenue for group travel ... Read the article
In response to the global health crisis, Vietnam has decided to extend the validity of its visa waiver and electronic visa (e-visa) in order to boost tourism and attract more international travelers. The new provisions include a visa waiver for stays of 45 days and an e-visa valid for up to ... Read the article
Discussions are currently underway at Indonesian government level regarding a possible increase in visa-on-arrival fees. Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, recently confirmed that discussions are ongoing and that a significant increase, potentially a tripling of current fees, could be on the cards.
Known for its unique approach to development based on Gross National Happiness rather than Gross Domestic Product, the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has long maintained a highly selective tourism policy. To preserve the integrity of its cultural and natural heritage, and to protect the tranquillity of its inhabitants, the local authorities ... Read the article
Indonesia has suspended its visa-free visit policy for 159 nationalities. The decision, announced by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly, follows concerns about disruption to public order and the possible transmission of diseases from countries not certified disease-free by the WHO.
The Kazakh government recently approved a visa waiver agreement with Vietnam, allowing citizens of both nations to travel visa-free between the two countries. The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral relations and encourage tourism, economic and cultural exchanges between Kazakhstan and Vietnam. This measure is ... Read the article
An agreement is about to be reached between the Maldivian government and the European Union on visa-free travel for Maldivian citizens within the Schengen area. As the economic situation of the Maldives is considered stable and prosperous, Europe sees no risk of immigration and will grant this facility in a few weeks' time. Maldivians will be able to ... Read the article
Indonesia recently promised to introduce a new type of visa, known as the golden visa, to attract foreign investors and skilled workers. The measure aims to support the country's economic growth and encourage investment in key areas such as tourism, infrastructure and energy. It is expected to be ... Read the article
The Japanese government hopes to stimulate consumption by foreign visitors to Japan. It is taking its cue from the growing number of countries that have introduced special visas for "digital nomads". This would make it easier for highly-skilled workers to stay in the country.
Thailand has agreed to postpone the application of the Thailand Tourism Fee (TTF) until September 2023. In a previous article, we spoke of a June 2023 implementation date. This is the second time the Thai government has postponed this decision.
It's so confusing! While the Tourism Authority of Thailand insisted on extending the 45-day visa waiver for some nationalities until the end of 2023, the Thai government decided not to follow the recommendation.
"As part of "Visit Korea Year (2023-2024)", the K-Eta will be temporarily exempted for 22 countries/regions benefiting from visa exemption, from April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024. France is one of the countries concerned". This is what the twitter account @encoredusud noted following the official announcement by the authorities ... Read the article
As of today, you can apply for an e-visa to travel to Japan. This travel formality had been suspended since October 11, 2022, due to travel restrictions, and now concerns only a few travelers.
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, on the orders of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, has proposed a change to Vietnam's immigration laws. Under this proposal, holders of electronic visas would be able to stay for up to 90 days, three times longer than the current 30 days granted to nationals ... Read the article
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