Travel & Leisure

Narita Airport near Tokyo on Nov. 28. Japan has decided to ban foreign business travelers and students from entering the country because of the new omicron COVID-19 variant.
Coronavirus

Japan to suspend entry of overseas travelers due to omicron

Foreign nationals to be barred, reversing earlier relaxation of restrictions

30 November 2021
Passengers walk on the tarmac at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta on Oct. 20. 
Coronavirus

Philippines, Vietnam and others tighten travel rules over omicron

Indonesia imposes ban on entries from southern Africa, Hong Kong

29 November 2021
A bus operator speaks to a passenger at a station in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Nov. 29, as the country's land border with Singapore reopens under a vaccinated travel lane program. 
Coronavirus

Singapore-Malaysia land, air lanes open amid omicron COVID fears

City-state orders tests on arrival; PM Lee says variant may require 'steps back'

29 November 2021
Despite Indonesia's reopening, Bali's Nusa Dua beach remained empty in mid-November. (Photo by Shotaro Tani)
Interview

Indonesia prioritizes pandemic over tourism as omicron worries swirl

Minister says tough controls will help country as it gears up to chair G-20

29 November 2021
Authorities in Wenzhou said they have been investigating Suncity's Alvin Chau since July. 
Travel & Leisure

Macao police question gambling boss over Chinese arrest warrant

Suncity Group Chairman Alvin Chau accused of undermining 'social order'

27 November 2021
After delivering nearly 1.2 billion vaccine shots, India has opened the door to wedding parties of 200 to 250 people, and business is booming. (Photo by Kiran Sharma)
Business trends

Big fat Indian weddings in full swing as COVID peters out

2.5m marriages in the next month to create a $40bn windfall

27 November 2021
ANA is shipping frozen in-flight business class meals straight to customers' doors, following its success with economy class meals. (Photo by Hajime Matsumoto)
Travel & Leisure

ANA offers taste of business class travel with home meal delivery

Japanese airline ships in-flight cuisine to globetrotters stuck at home

26 November 2021
A Go Air plane at Mumbai's domestic airport. Nusli Wadia, the chairman of the Wadia group of companies, is getting ready to sell shares in the carrier.
IPO

Wadia braves rocky IPO market, mounting losses to list Go Airlines

Indian tycoon is focusing on long term as he floats low-cost carrier

24 November 2021
Hong Kong is increasingly being seen as a less desirable place to live.
Economy

Hong Kong drops out of global top 10 attractive cities

Asian cities see their scores fall as COVID-19 bites

24 November 2021
A Narita Airport arrival gate on Nov. 2. The Japanese government has re-opened the country's doors to business travelers and students. (Photo by Harue Matsushima)
Travel & Leisure

Japan partial reopening prompts Asian airlines to add flights

Businesspeople and students expected to start coming again from Vietnam and Philippines

22 November 2021
Bali beaches like this one remained empty in mid-November, sparking deep frustration in the island's crucial tourism sector. (Photo by Shotaro Tani)
Economy

Bali still a shadow of its former self as foreign tourists stay away

Indonesia's 'Island of the Gods' struggles to shake off the impact of COVID

21 November 2021
Japan Airlines forecasts a consolidated loss of $1.27 billion this fiscal year due to the decline in air traffic.
Transportation

JAL and Tencent team on marketing to Chinese travelers

Japanese flag carrier to sell flight tickets to WeChat's 1.2bn users

20 November 2021
Crown says its board will consider the latest Blackstone proposal.
Travel & Leisure

Blackstone makes sweetened $6.2bn offer for Australia's Crown

Approach matches that of rival casino group Star Entertainment

19 November 2021
Sanrio CEO Aya Komaki says the company plans to roll out its post-COVID marketing in greater China using three pig characters. (Source photo by Sanrio and Youichi Iwata)
Global Management Forum 2021

Sanrio Entertainment develops characters targeting Asian consumers

Japanese company uses pigs, Chinese symbols of wealth, to create solid fan base

18 November 2021
A golf course run by Accordia Golf in Narita, Japan. 
Business deals

SoftBank-backed fund to acquire Japan's golf course operator Accordia

Deal expected to worth around $3.5bn, create synergy with hotel business

16 November 2021
Around 400 million people have tuned in to at least one Indian Premier League match in the last few seasons, according to Star India. (Photo courtesy of Indian Premier League)
Sports

Billionaires bet on big-money TV deal for Indian Premier League

Cricket competition has two new teams and a lot riding on broadcasting rights talks

16 November 2021
Langkawi ahead of its domestic tourism reopening in September: The island destination is now open to fully vaccinated international travelers.
Coronavirus

Malaysia's first foreign tourism bubble opens with limited buzz

Langkawi hoteliers report subdued demand as globetrotters await wider reopening

15 November 2021
Thai Airways, Thailand's cash-strapped national flag carrier, is revising its financial plan for rehabilitation. (Photo by Ken Kodaka)
Transportation

Thai Airways struggles to finalize loans for rehabilitation

National flag carrier will no longer actively seek 25bn baht loan from government

15 November 2021
Vegetables and herbs dominate this dish at Garamanjaku, a restaurant whose owner is on a personal mission to combat the prevalence of fast and processed food in the Japanese island prefecture of Okinawa. (Photo by Stephen Mansfield)
Life

Okinawan cuisine challenges and compels stomach and spirit

Diverse food and culture of Japan’s southern ‘healing islands’ makes unique mark

15 November 2021
The Taj Mahal, one of India's most popular attractions, reopened to local tourists in June. Businesses in the area look forward to a recovery of sales with the return of foreign tourists.
Coronavirus

India to reopen for tourists Monday as it eases COVID restrictions

Good news for the hospitality sector comes as infections fall, vaccination picks up

14 November 2021
Signboards display ads for the Go To Travel campaign amid the COVID-19 outbreak, at a train station in Tokyo in November 2020.
Economy

Japan aims to resume Go To Travel campaign in mid-January

Tourism promotion scheme to last into April if COVID cases remain at low level

14 November 2021
Singapore Airlines and other Asian carriers have been hit hard by tough travel restrictions in the region.
Business Spotlight

COVID curbs leave Asian airlines lagging their U.S. peers

Loss-hit Singapore and Japan carriers pin recovery hopes on borders reopening

12 November 2021
Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines planes at Singapore's Changi Airport in 2019: The international route between the city-state and Kuala Lumpur was one of the world's busiest before the pandemic.
Coronavirus

Singapore, Malaysia to restart quarantine-free air travel link

Vaccinated passengers can fly between Kuala Lumpur and city-state from Nov. 29

8 November 2021
Malaysian director Edmund Yeo's cinematic interpretation of Banana Yoshimoto's 1986 novella "Moonlight Shadow" tells of a young woman's post-traumatic recovery. (© Moonlight Shadow Production Committee)
Arts

Banana Yoshimoto brings youthful bereavement to screen

Helmed by rising Chinese Malaysian director, 'Moonlight Shadow' delights Japanese audiences 35 years later

5 November 2021
Chinese tourists arrive in Bangkok on Nov. 1. While some may come, China's own strict rules look likely to put a damper on Thailand's tourism recovery for the time being.
Coronavirus

Quarantine-free Thailand faces tourism hurdle: China's COVID rules

Long isolation upon return and other policies seen dampening prospects

4 November 2021