Asia Vacations - Travel, Tourism - Info & Review

Currently, Singapore citizens can travel visa-free to 173 countries or territories, similar with countries like Britain and France. Source: Shutterstock SINGAPORE passport holders have the most visa-free benefits among all other nations in Asia, according to the recent Henley & Partners Visa Restriction Index. Currently, Singapore citizens can travel visa-free to 173 countries or territories, similar with countries like Britain and France. Japan and South Korea followed closely – the former moving down a spot from last year after losing visa-free access to an unidentified nation. SEE ALSO: Visa-free program could see more Singaporeans vacationing in Myanmar Malaysia and Brunei also fared well, allowing its citizens to travel to 164 and 151 countries respectively without visas. Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan, however, continued to sit on the bottom three, unchanged from the previous year. While not instrumental to the index just yet, the recent US travel b

Lim Han Thursday, March 30, 2017 updated the Thursday, March 30, 2017 If you've never been to Taiwan, you're missing out one of the best destinations in the world. 1/5 Hualien A treasure trove of scenic landscapes and culinary gems, Hualien holds a very soft spot in our hearts. A brief mention of its name to any Taiwanese and they will instantly bring up Taroko Gorge, a must-see nature site in Taiwan. It promises rushing sapphire waters and breathtaking landforms that will stop you in your tracks and render you speechless. Fill your stomachs at the gargantuan Dong Da Men night market, choosing from an array of local specialties and foreign cuisines. From freshly-made mochi to the controversial smelly tofu, you'll have to make every last bit of your stomach space count. With epicurean feasts and picturesque scenery awaiting, nothing should be holding you back. 2/5 Taichung Rich with cultural landmarks, nature sites and shopping district

It's the final stretch for a competition that comes with a $10,000 jackpot and the chance to travel the world and stay in million-dollar luxury vacation homes around the world.  Aspiring travel writers, bloggers and vloggers are invited to create a one-minute video on why they would be the best ambassador for vacation rental site Thirdhome, described as the Airbnb equivalent for wealthy travelers.  For three months beginning in August, the winner and their traveling companion will be dispatched to stay at luxury properties within the Third Home network.   The site enables property owners with second homes to exchange stays with fellow members at luxury destinations.  Sample listings include a 12-bedroom villa in Bali, for instance, located next to a golf course that's been awarded the title of best golf course in Asia for five years, and a glittery Parisian apartment steps from the Champs-Elysees.  The ideal candidate will have experience in social media, writing bl

SINGAPORE: Singapore film production company mm2 Asia is pushing hard to become a bigger player in Asia, starting with an investment of US$12.9 million (S$18 million) in nine movies from Singaporean, Hong Kong, Malaysian and Taiwanese filmmakers covering a range of genres. The titles include the fourth instalment of Singaporean director Jack Neo's popular Ah Boys To Men franchise and Wonder Boy, the biopic and directorial debut of prominent Singaporean musician Dick Lee starring The Sam Willows' Benjamin Kheng. Hsieh Chun Yi's Taiwan romantic drama Take Me To The Moon starring Vivian Sung is also in the pipeline. Mr Melvin Ang, mm2 Asia's executive chairman and CEO, told Channel NewsAsia that the company sees "huge opportunities" in Chinese speaking markets around the region. "Given our small market environment, we have to step up efforts in developing projects that can work in all these markets," he said. "With this strategy, 'produ

Want to explore Asia but struggling to decide where to go or what to do? This website/app offers ideas at bargain prices. Name: Klook Activities & Attractions What it does: The Klook website and app introduce you to attractions and shows, tours and sightseeing, activities and experiences, food and wellness, and transportation and Wi-Fi at prices up to 60% off. Booking is easy, with destinations in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and Oceania. There also are a few metro hubs in Europe as well as New York and Dubai. Available: In the App Store, requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Android 4.0.3 and up. Cost: Free. Rates vary for activities. What's hot: The app and website are a fantastic visual primer for someone who hasn't traveled to Asia and knows little about activities for tourists. Explore destinations by city, then scroll through things to do by topic or

It is important to note that the PATA forecasts relate to visitor arrivals as opposed to tourists (overnight visitors). This is done to consider the many near-border flows across the region that have a significant economic impact. Not every Asia Pacific destination is included, mainly because of data limitations or timing. However, the destinations that are covered by these forecasts account for around 98 percent of the total inbound foreign arrivals into Asia Pacific destinations, as reported by PATA. The forecasting unit of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) has been working for some time with PATA's Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) to refine and further develop the forecasts to improve accuracy and reliability. It comes as no surprise therefore to note that, over the last several years, when the forecasts have been compared to the actual arrival counts, the difference has been just one per cent. The integrity and robustness of these forecasts at the aggrega

The first time I left to go traveling, I had saved about $10,000 and was ready to live off of that for an entire year. While I know that budget wasn't massive, especially since my first stop was in Europe, I was determined to make it work. With that budget, I managed to travel all over Europe, the US, and all over Southeast Asia, in what I can only describe as a whirlwind of a year. I was on a budget but I still managed to see and do everything that I wanted, it just took a little ingenuity and resourcefulness. Eight months after I returned from my big trip, I decided to leave again, this time, with only $2000 to my name. Armed with big dreams, this blog which we just started, and not much money (at least on my end), my partner Tom and I left for Indonesia with no particular plans except we wanted to grow our blog and travel the world. Fast forward to today…we've been working and traveling the world for almost three years non-stop. Want to know how you can do it too? Here a

Amadeus recently interviewed representatives from Asia Pacific rail operators, international leisure and corporate travel agents and industry experts this year and identified five make or break factors to unlock the potential of rail travel. There are five: 1. Capturing customers old and new Rail operators are jostling for the attention of travellers in an increasingly competitive landscape filled with more transport options than ever before. Marketing and merchandising need to become a priority when it comes to engaging and familiarising travellers with the services and conveniences of rail. Ticketing should also extend beyond existing closed channels and be more accessible to travellers across various platforms and devices. 2. Make timetables, booking, and data universally available The biggest barrier for travellers choosing rail is the difficulty to access and understand rail timetables and booking information. In view of the strong movement towards self-managed travel, travellers

Calling all avid explorers, if you feel like you've been there and done that, this is the travel list for you. There is a litany of locations across the world that are not recognized as nation states but claim autonomy or are culturally unique and many are easily accessible. So, if North Korea isn't daring enough or Bhutan sounds boring, give these destinations a try on your next trip abroad. Tuva Tuva, which is in the heartland of Central Asia, was once an independent nation but tilted toward the Soviet sphere of influence in the 1930s and 40s. Eventually, Tuva sought admittance into the Soviet Union and is today part of Russia but the area retains unique cultural practices and is a popular holiday jaunt for the likes of President Vladimir Putin. Wildlife spotting is popular and the region is home to lynx, ibex and wolverine. Christiania This plot of land is a social experiment started by hippies in central Copenhagen in 1971. They declared th

ASIA PACIFIC. Japanese and Australian air travellers are flying in greater numbers again compared to 2016, according to ForwardKeys data. Total Japanese outbound travel was up +4.1% year-on-year between January to mid-March, which ForwardKeys said was an "encouraging sign" for the rest of 2017. Japanese outbound travel was down -5.4% in 2016, partly because of concerns about safety following terrorist attacks in Europe. There has been +1% growth in Europe in the year-to-date, after slumping -16.4% in 2016. The region holds a 17.5% market share. The Asia Pacific region is leading the way in growth, with a +4.7% increase in arrivals from Japan so far in 2017. It holds a 60.1% market share. Click on image to enlarge Australia and Hong Kong are the biggest winners in the list of top ten Asia Pacific destinations for Japanese travellers this year, according to ForwardKeys, both seeing growth of more than +30% compared to the same period last year. Other Northeast

According to a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), travel and tourism generated 1 in 10 of the world's jobs in 2016 as the sector grew by 3.3%, outpacing the global economy for the sixth year in a row. WTTC's Economic Impact Report 2017, which is conducted in conjunction with Oxford Economics, researches the economic impact of travel and tourism on a global level for 25 regions and 185 countries. According to the research, travel and tourism grew by 3.3% in 2016, generating US$7.6 trillion worldwide, which is 10.2% of global GDP when the direct, indirect and induced impacts are taken into account. The sector supported a total of 292 million jobs in 2016, which is 1 in 10 of all jobs in the world. Additionally, global visitor exports, which is money spent by foreign visitors, accounted for 6.6% of total world exports, and almost 30% of total world services exports. David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, said, "This is the sixth year

About 400 travel bloggers, writers, and industry professionals from around the world, will this week assemble in Jerusalem for their first International Conference held TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange), the largest conference and networking event for travel bloggers and online travel journalists, in partnership with the Jerusalem Conventions and Visitors Bureau (JCVB) under the direction of the Jerusalem Development Authority (JDA), set the conference on March 20-22, 2017, at the ICC Jerusalem International Convention Center. Each year, TBEX partners with host beautiful destinations in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific to bring the travel industry's most creative minds together to learn, network and do business. The first TBEX was held in 2009. Since then, it has grown into the world's largest travel community, with conferences held annually, attracting around 1000 delegates from around the world, making it the best opportunity for destinations and t

Are you in need of inspiration for your next vacation? Who better to ask than a luxury travel blogger? Surely there is no-one who travels more or who is more qualified to pick the very best destinations in the world. In this article I share my favourite hotels in the world and also some hotels that our roving reporters have stayed at and have fallen in love with. I have placed these featured hotels in order of preference. Our recent trip to the Grand-Hotel Du Cap-Ferrat A Four Seasons Hotel takes the top spot as both our favourite overall hotel and also the hotel with the longest name (the view from our room here is pictured above). The Belmond Cipriani and the Aman Grand Canale in Venice are also truly memorable hotels and come in a close second and third along with the Hermitage Monte Carlo in position four, which is probably the best city hotel in the world. For skiing, our ultimate hotel has to be the Aurelio in Lech – everything about it is simply amazing. In Asia, w

Saturday, March 18, 2017 - 17:34:36 (VOVworld) –Con Dao island in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has been named by the US Cable News Network (CNN) as one of Asia's paradise seas. CNN praises the island for its untouched coral reefs, beautiful granite cliffs, palm-shaded beaches, rainforest trails and chic beach resorts. Visiting ancient hilltop lighthouses and the spectacular Dam Tre Bay Lagoon, scuba diving and seeing rare hawksbill sea turtles in Bay Canh island are great experiences, CNN said. It also hailed Con Dao as an ideal destination for seafood aficionados. Earlier, Con Dao was listed in Asia's top ten spots by Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide book publisher in the world. Travel Leisure magazine also named this destination as one of the best secret islands on earth. Source: Con Dao island named Asia's paradise sea

Airbnb is facilitating business travellers' accommodation not just through individual bookings but also via travel management companies (TMCs) and corporate end-users, particularly multinational companies. Airbnb is often seen as the leading disruptor in conventional lodging. But addressing attendees at the UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2017 in February, Airbnb's Business Travel Lead APAC Kevin Hoong (main) says it sees itself "as an innovator, not disruptor". Hoong shared that only 10 per cent of total guests are business travellers, which translates to 15 million people. Main reasons include extended stay—business travellers average six days' stay against four for leisure travellers; relocation; "compression"—due to mega-events or peak season; and group travel. BI Worldwide explores new destinations for events Pico creates E3 service for SME exhibitors Security challenges greater than ever: PCO Alliance Airbnb is alread

FILE PHOTO - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks on issues related to visas and travel after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban order in Washington, U.S. on March 6, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Source: Conservative website only media on Tillerson plane to Asia

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson smiles during his meeting with Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi at the State Department in Washington, U.S. March 10, 2017.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTS12CSN Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is taking off for Japan, South Korea and China this week for his maiden trip to the region. Amid North Korean missile testing and after a campaign in which President Trump criticized all three countries, the trip is designed to cement U.S. commitment to allies and initiate a conversation on how to best tackle the North's provocations. The four-day trip will immerse Tillerson in an intensive diplomatic crash course -- he'll meet each of the country's foreign ministers and travel with the State Department's top experts to the region. As Tillerson makes connections with his counterparts, there are concerns about how seriously he will be taken, given his quiet posture thus far.   Play Video CBSN Where does Rex Tillerson st

The United States was the most preferred destination country globally for travellers in 2016, while in Asia the UAE was the top country for tourists, according to a new study. The US topped globally with 11.9 per cent of the total tourists visiting the country. Italy with 8 per cent was the second most preferred destination country globally, followed by Germany (6.1 per cent), UK (5.9 per cent) and Spain (4.9 per cent) in the ranking prepared by HotelsPro, a technology and reservation solutions provider for travel industry professionals and a brand of the world's leading travel and accommodation supplier MetGlobal Group of Companies. Data for the "Global Travel Statistics for 2016" was collected from HotelsPro's offices in London, Shanghai, Orlando, Dubai and Istanbul. The most visited continent is Europe (58 per cent). It was followed by Asia (19.5 per cent), North America (16 per cent), South America (2.6 per cent), Africa (2.3 per cent) and Oceania (1.6 per ce

Seshu Niseko Boutiques' five-bedroom chalet. Image: courtesy of Agoda via AFP Relaxnews Some of the fastest-rising destinations in Asia are the ski slopes of Japan, along with lesser-known island gems hidden across tropical Southeast Asia. That's according to a new ranking of the top 10 fastest-growing destinations in Asia, compiled by online accommodation site Agoda, which found that the slopes of Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan, have become particularly popular among snow bunnies. With 800 skiiable hectares, Niseko also offers off-trail skiing, uncommon in Japanese resorts. But it's not just for the slopes that travelers are putting the area on their travel radar. The region is also attracting food lovers, eager to try local Hokkaido cuisine, which is famous for its uni (sea urchin), kani (crab), ika (squid), ikura (salmon roe) and hotate (scallops). Meanwhile, Niseko is an exception on the top 10 list, which is dominated by destinations in Southeast Asia th

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) - Veteran journalists who cover the State Department say they've never seen anything like it. The new secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has been all but silent in his first month on the job. And he is planning on traveling to Asia next week without the traditional coterie of traveling press with him. Journalists are strenuously objecting to the plan. But there is no indication that Tillerson is going to reverse course. The State Department may allow one hand-picked journalist to tag along, but the details are unknown. On Friday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer claimed that Tillerson was looking to save money by taking a smaller plane without room for reporters. However, news outlets normally pay for their reporters' seats, compensating the government for the expenses. Past secretaries normally flew with the so-called press "pool" as a matter of course, but the Trump administration seemingly wants that to stop. Tillerson was s

As zealous souvenir hawkers follow busloads of tour groups to Asia's most famous islands, discerning travelers must look farther afield for more authentic getaways. The good news? Whether your idea of paradise involves a tropical beach framed by palm trees, or wildlife encounters in the woods, Asia has an island for you. From Indonesia to India, we've singled out a dozen of the best throw-back islands -- places where traditional cultures and unspoiled landscapes will transport travelers back in time. Koh Rong is lush and lively. Hidden away off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Rong feels like a trip through time. The low-key island offers a glimpse of what Ko Samui was like 30 years ago. While both the American and French versions of "Survivor" TV show were filmed in Koh Rong, the island is still far from the typical tourist track. With 23 beaches, Koh Rong offers plenty of options for sun, sea and sand, while the heavily forested