Travel & Leisure

Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency was fully lifted on Friday.
Coronavirus

Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency lifted as infections decline

Tourism sector sees a rise in reservations for domestic tours and accommodation

1 October 2021
Rainy weather failed to keep away crowds from the opening of Universal Studios Beijing on Monday. 
Travel & Leisure

Universal Studios opens Beijing park to crowds despite tensions

Resort welcomed amid COVID outbreak and low in ties with Washington

20 September 2021
A seaside restaurant prepares to reopen to domestic tourists in Langkawi, Malaysia, on Sept. 16.
Coronavirus

Malaysia's island paradise reopening stirs hope for tourism revival

Langkawi hotels cheer return of domestic visitors but COVID fears linger

19 September 2021
The Venetian Macao hotel and casino: Macao is the only enclave in greater China where gambling is legal. 
Markets

Macao casino stocks nose-dive on looming government crackdown

Shorter licensing terms and increased oversight proposals lead to sell-off

16 September 2021
For Sachiko Nakamichi, being the okami-san -- or "female boss" -- at Beniya Mukayu means looking after every detail at the ryokan, or traditional Japanese inn. (Courtesy of Beniya Mukayu)
Life

Behind every good Japanese inn is an 'okami-san'

Traditional hostelries rely on the centuries-old custom of female bosses

15 September 2021
The southern Thai resort island of Phuket welcomed 29,654 vaccinated travelers with no quarantine over a period of 10 weeks after reopening on July 1.
Economy

Thai tourism reopening hits roadblock due to slow vaccine rollout

October or November? Government sends mixed messages on resuming travel to Bangkok

10 September 2021
Singapore's Changi Airport: Singapore on Wednesday opened a new travel corridor that allows people fully vaccinated people to enter the country without quarantining.
Coronavirus

Singapore's 'vaccinated travel lane' opens despite rise in COVID

New daily cases hit 13-month high, topping Indonesia on per-person basis

8 September 2021
An employee works at Traveloka's headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. The company is now likely to go public via a traditional IPO in the U.S., raising up to $400 million.
8 September 2021
Thai film "Anatomy of Time," directed by Jakrawal Nilthamrong, will have its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 10. Domestic screenings, however, will have to wait while theaters remain closed due to the pandemic. (Courtesy of Diversion, Damned Films, Sluizer Film Productions, M'GO Films, Mit Out Sound Films)
Arts

Thai films struggle at home amid international praise

Pandemic-related cinema closures threaten local movie renaissance

8 September 2021
Japan's main airports have been eerily quiet since the government began requiring all international travelers to quarantine for 14 days after landing in the country.
Coronavirus

Japan business lobby wants quarantine exemption for the vaccinated

Keidanren says blanket travel restriction hinders economic recovery

6 September 2021
Yokohama's expected withdrawal from the race to host a casino leaves only three cities, all in western Japan, bidding for the same number of licenses. (Source photos by Reuters and Kyodo) 
Travel & Leisure

Yokohama mayor-elect deals Japan's casino dream a fresh blow

Outlook for already-strained mega projects dims as competition wanes

24 August 2021
The Pavilions Phuket, a five-star resort on the Thai island of Phuket, is aiming to roar back after the coronavirus pandemic kept tourists away last year. (Photo courtesy of The Pavilions Phuket)
Travel & Leisure

Indonesian and Thai hotels rethink the resort experience

COVID inspires Bali liqueur distillery, organic fruit forest and bitcoin billing

23 August 2021
The Hotel Okura Shanghai Sheshan will have around 280 guest rooms, along with banquet rooms and a spa.
Travel & Leisure

Hotel Okura to bring luxury resort touches to Shanghai

Japanese hotelier shifts focus to local vacationers

23 August 2021
Tang Little Kyoto in Dalian, in China's northeastern Liaoning Province, is the country's biggest Japanese-themed commercial and residential complex. (Photo by Shin Watanabe)
Travel & Leisure

Chinese commercial and housing complex offers taste of Japan

Tang Little Kyoto near Dalian expected to lure 3m visitors a year

21 August 2021
A luxury hotel is to occupy a mixed-use building in a redevelopment project near Osaka Station. (Image courtesy of developers)
Travel & Leisure

Osaka races Tokyo to open Japan's first Waldorf Astoria

Plan would see top Hilton hotel welcome guests before 2025 World Expo at earliest

18 August 2021
People walk through Changi Airport in Singapore. The city-sate has begun granting entry to fully vaccinated foreign workers and their dependents. 
COVID vaccines

Asia struggles with vaccine passports as delta challenges region

Lack of common entry standards makes travel resumption difficult

17 August 2021
The Train Night Market Ratchada, which used to attract many Bangkok residents and international tourists, is one of the most recent business victims of the coronavirus. (File photo by Shinya Sawai)
Business trends

Thailand's tourism resources dwindle ahead of reopening

Bangkok's popular night market closes indefinitely as delta pandemic hurts economy

13 August 2021
A Cathay Pacific cargo plane carrying COVID-19 vaccines lands at Hong Kong International Airport in February.
Transportation

Cathay Pacific says not out of woods despite smaller loss

Airline aims to lift passenger capacity to 30% of pre-pandemic levels this year

12 August 2021
Bali's tropical scenery is a major draw for film production, such as this television commercial shot for travel insurance provider Allianz Travel in 2019. (Photo courtesy of Baliprod)
Media & Entertainment

Indonesia's Bali draws investor interest to build film studios

Southeast Asian island of scenery and culture has long production site history

9 August 2021
An inbound passenger from the U.S. screened at Narita Airport: Japan's quarantine policy is stricter than those of many other countries. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Coronavirus

Japan balks at waiving quarantine for vaccinated travelers

'No precedent' for shortening mandatory period, health ministry argues

6 August 2021
Kansai International Airport is undergoing a major renovation to welcome more foreign tourists ahead of Osaka’s hosting of the World Expo in 2025.
Travel & Leisure

Kansai airport makeover 'necessary' for inbound tourism: operator

$635m project to double gateway's capacity and lift COVID-hit Osaka

5 August 2021
A health care worker prepares a coronavirus vaccine at a clinic in Osaka. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Coronavirus

Japan vaccine passport struggles to open doors without reciprocity

Foreign governments balk as Tokyo keeps entry restrictions in place

4 August 2021
Hainan duty-free sales are expected to exceed 50 billion yuan this year. (Photo by CK Tan) 
Travel & Leisure

China duty-free shoppers turn Hainan into tourist hub

Businesses cater to travelers deterred by prolonged pandemic abroad

3 August 2021
The Crown Melbourne generates nearly three-quarters of its parent company's profits.
Travel & Leisure

Crown Resorts fights to defend Melbourne jewel

License to operate Australia's biggest casino in jeopardy over 'misconduct'

2 August 2021
SIA managed to cushion some of the devasting effects of the pandemic on the travel industry by removing seats from some aircraft to allow the transport of cargo.
Transportation

Singapore Airlines grapples with delta variant as COVID losses persist

SIA kicks off second fiscal year under pandemic pressures with $302 million net loss

29 July 2021