Tourism Is Surging in the U.S. and Europe. But in Asia, Many Destinations Are Struggling to Come Back to Life

THAILAND-BANGKOK-TOURISM-RECOVERY

H uoch Yen worked hard to become a tour guide at Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat temples. It took the 43-year-old three attempts to pass a test for a license to guide Spanish-speaking tourists around Siem Reap, where the famous monuments are located—to say nothing of the years spent studying the language.

When the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on tourism in 2020, Yen decamped to his hometown in Kompong Cham province, a five hour drive away, where he now works as a teacher. But he still dreams of returning to his job as a guide.

“I contact my friend who is living in Siem Reap to ask him about tourism every day,” says Yen. “He still tells me that it’s not going well. There are limited tourists right now—it’s not like before.”

Before coronavirus struck, Angkor Wat was one of the world’s most crowded tourist spots. Throngs of travelers from across the globe would arrive each day before dawn, jostling for a spot across a small pond from the main temple complex. There they would attempt to take photos of the sunrise in an atmosphere resembling a mosh pit.

These days, it’s very different. The Southeast Asian nation is hoping to notch a million international visitors this year—a big increase on the paltry number of visitors it welcomed in 2021, but a huge fall from the 7 million that visited in 2019 .

Cambodia Welcomes Back Tourists With Cultural Shows

As tourists elbow through the crowd to take selfies at Rome’s Trevi Fountain, or swarm the Strip in Las Vegas, many once crowded tourist spots in Asia-Pacific, like Angkor Wat, remain eerily quiet.

In June, the white sand beaches of Boracay—the most popular island in the Philippine archipelago—were largely free of foreigners . Earlier this month, tourist boat operators on Phi Phi —the Thai islands made world famous by Hollywood movie The Beach (2000)—were complaining that visitor numbers were “not even half” their pre-pandemic levels . In nearby Phuket, and in the Thai capital Bangkok, guides and drivers told TIME that they had had no income for over two years.

Read More: Can Barcelona Fix Its Love-Hate Relationship with Tourists?

A two-and-a-half hour flight away in Hong Kong, there are concerns that the iconic Star Ferry—once rated the world’s “ most exciting ferry ride ”—could go bust for lack of passengers. Japan, which hosted more than 30 million tourists in 2019, welcomed just 1,500 leisure travelers between June and July—normally peak travel season. In April, dive instructors and hotel staff in Palau told TIME that tourists, which accounted for almost 50% of the pristine Pacific nation’s GDP before the pandemic, hadn’t yet returned in meaningful numbers.

HONG KONG-CHINA-ECONOMY-STAR-FERRY

Asian tourism’s uneven recovery

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals in Asia-Pacific, from January to May 2022, were 90% below 2019 levels—making it the worst performing region globally. Many experts predict that it will continue to lag behind.

Domestic and international traffic within Asia-Pacific this year is expected to reach only 68% of 2019’s figures. Travel is not forecast to hit pre-pandemic levels until 2025, a year behind the rest of the world, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For some destinations, the rebound may take even longer. Tourism in India won’t fully recover until 2026, according to a report by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).

Asia’s slower recovery is due to myriad factors like the staged opening of markets, the phased restoration of routes and capacity, and the “consumer misperception” that traveling to the region is complex because of ongoing COVID restrictions, says Liz Ortiguera, the CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

But there is no denying that Asia’s pandemic rules can spoil the vacation mood. Bhutan is closed to visitors until September. Singapore still requires people to wear masks indoors. Vietnam requires masks in public places, as does Hong Kong, where a self-funded three-day hotel quarantine is required for all arrivals, followed by several days of medical surveillance at home. The latter involves twice-daily temperature checks, uploading daily RAT test results to a government website, and taking three PCR tests in a five-day period.

Read More: Is the Summer of Revenge Travel Here?

Japan is currently requiring tourists to join organized tours. That’s been difficult for Kyoto tour guide and taxi driver Hiroshi Yano , who has depended on government subsidies, and ferrying locals around instead of tourists, to make ends meet during the pandemic. He says there’s much less work without the millions of tourists that used to flock to Kyoto each year, walking from temple to temple to take photos dressed in rented kimonos. “Not only I, but other small-scale businesses, like small hotels and restaurants, are still suffering,” he tells TIME.

The absence of Chinese travelers is a particularly big problem for the region. Thirteen Asian countries relied on China as their top source of visitors, and they were the second-largest source for another six economies, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Travel-ready Index for 2022 . But fearing that its citizens may return home with the virus, Beijing has been restricting “unnecessary” overseas travel as part of its draconian pandemic measures . The recent stranding of thousands of domestic travelers in China’s resort island Hainan, after a COVID outbreak there, will also make many reluctant to risk travel within China itself.

Once Overcrowded Kyoto Now Longs for Foreign Tourists

Some destinations are faring better than others. The Maldives, which receives a big portion of its tourists from nearby India , is among places seeing a quicker rebound. Steven Schipani, a principal tourism industry specialist at the Asian Development Bank, says that the Maldives’ international visitor arrivals are now close to pre-pandemic levels, thanks to a rapid vaccination campaign, good air connectivity with large source markets, and streamlined entry requirements.

June arrivals in Fiji were meanwhile 73% of the same month pre-pandemic. And even though COVID restrictions remain in Indonesia, Andrew Roberts, who owns the Padang Padang surf camp in Bali, tells TIME that he’s seen a steady flow of tourists coming back to surf the island’s world-class breaks, such as the towering waves of Uluwatu. Accommodation at the camp has been at pre-pandemic occupancy levels for some weeks now.

Asia-Pacific travel is “a sleeping dragon that is waking up in stages,” says Ortiguera. “Recovery is highly uneven right now, but domestic tourism has developed, travelers have been attracted from new source markets and more lesser-known destinations are being marketed.”

Read More: Revenge Travel May Be a Big Problem for Places Like Thailand’s Maya Bay

She argues that this is a pivotal time for a shift towards a healthier, more sustainable travel industry—and indeed, many see this moment as a chance to do away with over-tourism.

“Over-dependence on international tourism and the need for some Asia-Pacific countries to diversify their economies was an issue even before the pandemic,” Schipani says. “Now, many countries are redoubling their economic diversification efforts.”

Tourism workers on the front line, though, are pinning their hopes on a quick rebound. Yen, in Cambodia, plans to go back to Angkor Wat to work as a tour guide as soon as he can. “I can earn much more as a tour guide than as a teacher,” he says. “I can meet many people around from around the world and get new experiences.”

In Hong Kong, 32-year-old Carrie Poon, misses her old life. Before the pandemic, she led food tours, taking mostly American and European visitors to off-the-beaten track neighborhoods to try local delicacies like fish balls and rice rolls—even snake soup for the more adventurous. But when Hong Kong sealed its borders, she lost her income and decided to open a small restaurant.

“I loved my tour guide [life] so much,” she says. “If I could choose I would definitely pick the tour guide job but it’s, like, what can you do?”

— With reporting by Aidyn Fitzpatrick/Phi Phi, Thailand

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Write to Amy Gunia/Hong Kong at [email protected]

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Some Southeast Asian tourism spots reopen, but arrivals are down from millions to dozens.

Hopes for a revival of international tourism have fizzled amid restrictions, paperwork, a lack of flights and uncertainty around the Omicron variant.

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By Mike Ives and Muktita Suhartono

Indonesia reopened the island of Bali to fully vaccinated tourists from 19 countries in October. But only two foreign nationals arrived that month — both by sea — and its airport is not yet receiving international flights.

Bali, one of the world’s most popular destinations, is among several tourism hot spots in Southeast Asia that have reopened — technically, at least — to international visitors in recent weeks. For local hotels, tour operators and other businesses whose income was obliterated during the early part of the pandemic , the news originally brought a smidgen of hope that 2021 might end on a positive note.

But traveling to these destinations from other countries is such an undertaking — amid rules, fees, a lack of flights and lingering uncertainty around new outbreaks — that very few people have bothered.

“For all but the most determined, it’s a pretty convoluted process to plan a short holiday,” Stuart McDonald, a co-founder of Travelfish.org , a guide to Southeast Asia, said of international travelers who want to vacation in the region.

Bali, where tourism accounted for more than half of the prepandemic economy, had more than six million international arrivals in 2019. But so far this year, the figure is just 45, said Dayu Indah, the head of the marketing division at the island’s official tourism office. All of those travelers arrived by sea at Benoa Port, down the road from the international airport.

Recent arrival numbers at other Southeast Asian tourist hot spots are not quite as extreme, but they are still miserable by prepandemic standards.

In Malaysia, only a few hundred foreign tourists have visited the resort island of Langkawi since the government partially opened it to visitors this fall — far fewer than the thousands that a local development authority had anticipated.

In Thailand, more than 100,000 foreign visitors arrived in November as part of a quarantine-free entry program for fully vaccinated tourists from dozens of countries. But the country’s total arrival figure for the year — less than 270,000 — is still a tiny fraction of the 40 million who came in 2019.

In Vietnam, foreign tourists began trickling in by the dozens under pilot programs in November, but such numbers are nowhere near the 1.8 million international arrivals that the country recorded in November 2019, according to official data . The programs were started before the Omicron variant was discovered and the country’s case numbers hit a new high.

Part of the problem for Southeast Asia’s tourism industry is that China, a major source of visitors, has imposed so many restrictions on its citizens who travel overseas — including a 14-day quarantine when they return — that very few of them are leaving .

Another problem is a lack of direct flights. Cambodia, for example, reopened to international travelers last month and has waived quarantine for those who are fully vaccinated and submit to testing. But most travelers from outside Asia who want to visit the country would need to transit through aviation hubs elsewhere in the region, such as Malaysia, Mr. McDonald said. That means additional Covid screenings.

“It’s just too complicated,” he said. “You get stuck in quarantine and you test positive. Who wants to have a holiday like that?”

As for Bali, the reasons not to visit include not only a lack of direct international flights, but also Indonesia’s 10-day quarantine for fully vaccinated people and the paperwork required to secure a business visa. (Tourist visas have been suspended.)

Ms. Indah said that Bali’s focus for now was on domestic tourists, and that 12,000 of them arrived by air last weekend.

Muktita Suhartono reports for The New York Times in Indonesia and Thailand. She joined The Times in 2018 and is based in Bangkok. More about Muktita Suhartono

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Commentary: Visa waiver deal puts Singapore in good stead to attract the coveted Chinese tourist

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Thailand considers a gamble on Singapore-style casinos, online betting to boost state coffers. Will it pay off?

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Taiwan stops new group trips to China amid tourism, air route spat

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Commentary: Lionel Messi gets a free kick out of Hong Kong too

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TravelBizNews

Over 7000 exhibitors, buyers from 170 countries attend global B2B platform ITB Berlin 2024

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Travel Biz News ----- More than 5,500 exhibitors and 1,300 senior buyers from 170 countries have attended the global B2B platform ITB Berlin 2024 taking place from 5 to 7 March on the Berliner Exhibition Grounds, Germany. The slogan of the ITB Berlin Convention, the industry’s leading thinktank, is ’Pioneer the Transition in Travel & Tourism. Together’. Taking place with 17 theme tracks ...

UN General Assembly declares 2027 as International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism

tourism news asia

UNITED NATIONS, (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Monday to declare 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism. The resolution invites the World Tourism Organization to facilitate the organization and implementation of this international year, in collaboration with governments, relevant organizations of the UN system, international and regional ...

‘Chinese airlines can boost US flights to 50 per week’

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Chinese passenger airlines will be allowed to boost their weekly round-trip U.S. flights to 50 starting on March 31, up from the current 35, the U.S. Transportation Department said on Monday, returning the market to nearly one-third of pre-pandemic levels. The approval "is a significant step forward in further normalization of the U.S.-China market in anticipation of the Summer 2024 traffic season," ...

Japan : 2.69 million visitors in January

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TOKYO, (Reuters) - Japan welcomed more than 2 million visitors for an eighth consecutive month in January, official data showed , setting the stage for a potential record year for tourism. The number of foreign visitors for business and leisure was 2.69 million last month, down slightly from 2.73 million in December, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) showed. Arrivals in ...

United States : International visitors to increase to 77.7 million in 2024

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Travel Biz News --- ITA’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) forecasts the total volume of international visitation to the United States to increase to 77.7 million in 2024, up 10.4 million, or 15.4% from 67.3 million visitors in 2023. NTTO also estimates international visitation to reach 85.2 million in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 visitation of 79.4 million , according to the ...

Asia - Pacific

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Saudi Arabia welcomed 100 million tourists

Travel BizNews —— The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has welcomed over 100 million tourists in 2023, marking a significant milestone in its journey to become a global tourism powerhouse. This remarkable ...

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Safari tourism market to be US$ 69.9 Bn by 2033

Travel Biz News === New York (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The safari tourism market was valued at USD 36.8 billion in 2023 with a significant growth and is anticipated to reach at USD 69.9 billion by 2033 ...

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China prepares for surge in passenger traffic during 2024 Spring Festival

Passenger traffic during China’s annual Spring Festival travel rush will likely see a massive increase in 2024, according to the Ministry of Transport. The travel rush, usually a period of high transportation ...

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North Korea to welcome Russian tourists in February

SEOUL ( AP ) –Russian tourists reportedly going on a ski trip to North Korea will be the first international travelers to visit the country since border closings in January 2020 amid the global pandemic ...

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ASEAN Tourism Forum to focus on quality tourism

Travel Biz News —- ASEAN Tourism Forum will be held in Laos Vientiane on 22- 27 January this year with the theme: “Quality and Responsible Tourism – Sustaining ASEAN Future.” “Our ...

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China expects a surge in new year travel with 1.56 million daily trips

By Arbërie Shabani — The National Immigration Administration (NIA) in China has forecasted a significant surge in travel during the 2024 New Year holiday, with an expected average of 1.56 million ...

tourism news asia

Vietnam welcomed 12.6 million tourists in 2023

Hanoi ( VNS )-International arrivals to Vietnam in December reached nearly 1.4 million people, an increase of 11.2 per cent compared to the previous month and a 93.9 per cent increase compared to the same ...

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Singapore : COVID-19 cases rose to 56,043 in a week

Travel Biz News — Singapore ‘s Ministry of Health (MOH) strongly encourages the public to wear a mask in crowded places even if they are not sick, especially in indoor settings, or when visiting ...

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Hong Kong leading vacation list for mainland tourists

Travel Biz News / Media OutReach Newswire —– HONG KONG – In the post-pandemic era, Mainland outbound travelers are inclined towards Asian destinations as compared to Europe, North America ...

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China allows visa-free entry for 6 countries , Singapore most favored outbound destination

Travel Biz News —- China has decided to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia on a trial basis . From ...

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Cambodia opens a new airport to serve Angkor Wat as it seeks to boost tourist arrivals

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Commercial operations began at Cambodia’s newest and biggest airport, designed to serve as an upgraded gateway to the country’s major tourist attraction, the centuries-old Angkor ...

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Thailand aims to welcome 30 million international tourists this year

Travel Biz News —- Thailand expects to welcome up to 30 million international visitors this year, signaling a rebound in the tourism sector after a challenging period. The revenue target for the ...

Around the World

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International tourism to reach pre-pandemic levels this year

Travel BizNews -- International tourism is well on track to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. International tourism ended 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals , according to the first UNWTO ...

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Henley reveals world’s most powerful passports

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International tourism on track to recover 90% of pre-pandemic levels

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WTTC takes bold steps towards water resilience

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UK opens electronic travel authorisation scheme

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Ethiopian Airlines to order 67 Boeing Jets

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International visitors spent $18.8 Billion in the United States in September 2023

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UNWTO Ministers Summit focus on education , youth empowerment

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WTTC Global Summit in Kigali , Rwanda

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‘Stop the madness of climate change’-UN chief

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Nepal Himalayas: NMA commemorates 50th anniversary

Travel Biz News — Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), the country’s main organization dedicated to mountain tourism and environmental preservation, marked its 50th anniversary today amidst ...

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‘Nepal committed to implement Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects’

By Ramesh Tiwari — Kathmandu, Oct.8 – Political figures, academicians and experts have pointed out the need to explore Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects on the basis of mutual interest and ...

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Himalaya Airlines starts Kathmandu-Qingdao flights

Travel Biz News — KATHMANDU – Himalaya Airlines, a joint venture between Nepal and China, has started direct flights to Qingdao from Kathmandu today. This historic event marks a significant milestone ...

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G20 Tourism Working Group stresses on implementation of Sustainable Development Goals

Travel Biz News —- The 4th Tourism Working Group Meeting under G20 has urged all the stakeholders to support the vision of placing tourism high in the national and international agendas and processes ...

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Himalaya Airlines resumes Kathmandu – Beijing direct flights

Travel Biz News — Kathmandu – Himalaya Airlines has commenced its flight operation between Kathmandu- Beijing- Kathmandu starting Saturday (June 24). Himalaya Airlines (H9) believes that the ...

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First China-Nepal Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival kicked off

Travel Biz News — The first “China-Nepal Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival” kicked off in Pokhara today.    Four teams each from China and Nepal are participating in the Boat Race ...

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Himalayan Travel Mart concluded focusing on collective efforts for tourism recovery

Travel Biz News —— Kathmandu – The 4th Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM 2023) concluded here emphasizing the journey of recovery and promotion of tourism in a world reshaped by the post-pandemic ...

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Himalayan Rescue Association elects new executive committee, Parajuli commits to strengthen activities

TravelBizNews Online — Kathmandu: Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) has elected a new executive committee under the leadership of Dambar Parajuli. Kumar Ranabhat , Shreeram Khatri , Sushil Krishna Adhikari ...

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Australian rescue equipment to HRA , Nepal favoured destination for adventure tourism

Travel Biz News — Australia’s Assistant Foreign Minister and Member of Parliament Tim Watts handed over an Australian-made Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) to the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) ...

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India received 6.19 million foreign tourist arrivals during 2022

Travel Biz News — India received 6.19 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2022 as compared to 1.52 million in 2021. There were 10.93 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during ...

Adventure / Culture / Lifestyle

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A model pilgrimage site for millions

By  Ramesh Tiwari  ------- Pilgrimage/ religious tourism is on the increase with a growing ...

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Chinese President Xi opens Hangzhou Asian Games , 12,000 athletes from 45 nations compete in 40 sports

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Record Mount Everest season in Nepal also one of its deadliest,17 killed this season

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Hindu Kush Himalaya: GASP, ICIMOD to promote social change in the Himalayan region

Virgin galactic to launch second commercial space flight, adventure travel trade asso. appoints new board of directors.

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International visitors keen to discover Japan’s rich culture with castle , temple-stays

Travel events / trends.

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Gen X driving GCC outbound travel , says ATM

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WTM London 2023 is open , tourists in favour of new experiences

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ITB Asia 2023 : over 3100 exhibitors , buyers attended travel trade show in Singapore

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PATA Travel Mart 2023 in New Delhi

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ATM 2023 opens , climate change top of the agenda

Destinations / wellness.

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Wellness economy – a multi-trillion-dollar market

Global Wellness Institute (GWI )defines the wellness economy as industries that enable consumers to incorporate wellness activities and lifestyles into their daily lives. It encompasses 11 varied and diverse sectors. Wellness is estimated by the Global ...

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For Your Health: 5 Tips and Strategies for Wellness Branding

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Wellness tourism market worth $1.02 trillion by 2030

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Overseas holiday imp. to mental health of 96% of Brits

Opinion / blog.

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Destination USA : 8 things to see and do in Miami

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A Tour of Dakshin Kali and environs

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Halloween : The most haunted castles in Europe and their (in)famous ghosts

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Birth and Childhood of Lord Buddha

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How Travel Recovery Is Affecting Gaming Capitals of the World

Business / economy.

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MICE market to be US$784 billion by 2032

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World Economic Forum : Rebuilding Trust Amid Uncertainty

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48 million women employed in tourism sector

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Global travel spending to reach US$1.8 trillion by 2027

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Travel Technology Solutions Lab celebrates 10 years

Connecting you with the world of travel and tourism.

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An Opportunity to enter South-East Asian market in 2023

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KAZAKHSTAN International Exhibition “Tourism & Travel” Almaty, Kazakhstan

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CHINA- Beyond your imagination

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UNWTO becomes “UN Tourism” 

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enters a new era  with a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that “people and planet” are always center stage.

UN Tourism: Transforming tourism for a better worldTo achieve this goal, UN Tourism engaged the services of Interbrand, the leading global branding agency. Interbrand successfully translated the Organization’s renewed vision for tourism into a new visual identity and brand narrative.

This involved renaming the Organization, transitioning from UNWTO to UN Tourism. At the same time, a new brand narrative was meticulously crafted, one that seamlessly aligns with UN Tourism’s central mission and priorities. This narrative pivots around three main messages: the UN as a global altruistic organization, the notion of connecting humans around the world, and the concept of proactivity and movement.

Enhancing the well-being of individuals, safeguarding the natural environment, stimulating economic advancement, and fostering international harmony are key goals that are the fundamental essence of UN Tourism

By moving away from acronyms, UN Tourism adopts a more approachable stance and capitalizes on its strengths: the “UN”, signifying authority, and tourism, a simple and relatable concept for all. This change has been endorsed by the Organization’s membership, highlighting its united support for the profound transformation and reinvention of UN Tourism in recent years, as it has become more agile, visible, and ever closer to its Member States, partners and the sector as a whole.

With 160 Member States and hundreds of private sector affiliates, UN Tourism has its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, and Regional Offices in Nara (Japan) covering Asia & Pacific, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) for the Middle East, as well as forthcoming Regional Offices for the Americas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Africa (Morocco). Its priorities center on promoting tourism for sustainable development in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals. UN Tourism promotes quality education, supports decent jobs in the sector, identifies talent and drives innovation and accelerates tourism climate action and sustainability . – UN Tourism Jan. 2024

TAT launches

“Thais Always Care”  Campaign 

“The Tourism Authority of Thailand launches ‘Thais Always Care’ campaign in collaboration with other organizations to ensure tourists’ safety and enhance positive image.”

The “Thais Always Care” online communication campaign was officially launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with the Tourist Police Bureau, Grab Taxi (Thailand), and Central Pattana (CPN) to ensure the safety and welcome of tourists from around the world. The campaign aims to provide seamless travel experiences for visitors to Thailand while also reinforcing the positive image of the country as a safe destination.

The campaign reflects Thailand’s renowned hospitality and warmth to visitors, showcasing the country as a desirable destination for tourists. “CARE” stands for Compassion, Assistant, Relief, and Elevate, encompassing the generosity of the Thai people and their commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for tourists.

Partners involved in the campaign have strengthened their safety measures and are utilizing technology to ensure the safety of tourists in Thailand. This includes installing CCTV cameras, implementing strict security checks at department stores, and utilizing technology like the “POLICE I LERT U” application to offer emergency assistance to international visitors. The campaign will also involve working with international KOLs to enhance the positive image of Thailand’s tourism assets and reinforce the country’s reputation as a safe destination. -Tourism Authority of Thailand

China’s resort island receives

90 m tourists in 2023

More than 90 million domestic and overseas tourists visited south China’s tropical island province of Hainan in 2023, up 49.9 percent year on year, local authorities said .

Hainan’s total tourism revenue surged 71.9 percent year on year to about 181.3 billion yuan (about 25.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the provincial department of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports.

Last year, Hainan experienced rapid development in cruise tourism. Cruises to the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea saw 400 trips, up 277.8 percent year on year, and received 149,400 domestic tourists, up 405.33 percent.

This year, Hainan aims to receive 99 million tourists and its tourism revenue is expected to reach 207 billion yuan. The province aims to receive more than 1 million inbound tourists in 2024.

China aims to build Hainan into an international tourism and consumption center by 2025 and a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035. – Xinhua

Vietnam  to welcome 17-18

million  tourists  this year

Việt Nam’s tourism industry has set a target to welcome 17-18 million foreign visitors in 2024, approaching the pre-pandemic record in 2019 when COVID-19 had yet to disrupt global travel.

In 2023, the figure hit 12.6 million, surpassing the initial target set earlier in the year (before China, which accounted for a third of foreign arrivals to Việt Nam pre-pandemic, announced reopening plans) by 57 per cent and achieving the adjusted goal of 12-13 million.

The number of domestic travellers, meanwhile, stood at 108 million, up 6 per cent compared to the set target. Tourism activities generated about VNĐ678 trillion (US$27.85 billion) in revenue, 4.3 per cent higher than the yearly plan.

Despite substantial recovery in 2023, the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said the domestic tourism recovery will still face challenges in the year ahead. This is particularly true in the context of the unpredictable global developments stemming from economic uncertainties, regional conflicts and climate change.

Việt Nam’s socio-economic conditions remain stable; the economy continues to grow and inflation has been kept in check. But the persistent threat of disease and natural disasters are likely to create uncertainty affecting production, business activities and the daily lives of citizens.

According to forecasts from the UN World Tourism Organisation and the World Travel and Tourism Council, international travel activities may fully recover by the end of 2024, reaching the levels achieved in 2019. However, the recovery is expected to be uneven across different regions.

The ever-changing demands of international tourists require higher standards in product quality, diversity and unique experiences. The trends of integrating information technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation are envisioned to drive the emergence of new forms of tourism.

Based on these analyses and projections, Việt Nam aims to serve 17-18 million foreign and 110 million domestic visitors this year, with an expected total revenue from tourism nearing VNĐ840 trillion.

To achieve the stated objectives, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng has instructed the VNAT to continue focusing on advising and improving the institutional framework, policies, reviewing identified deficiencies for adjustment, and international commitments in the field of tourism. Collaboration with other ministries and sectors is emphasised to formulate policies for developing various types of products such as agricultural tourism and digital transformation in tourism. He also noted the need for attention on strengthening tourism statistics and digital transformation to enhance the effectiveness of data collection, providing reliable figures to efficiently support tourism policy planning.

The ministry also calls for enhanced training for tourism officials and workers to meet requirements of new situations, especially in terms of language proficiency and technology expertise. — VNS

Global Medical Tourism market 

USD 136.93 billion in 10 years

Newark, Jan. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 20.07 billion in 2022 global Medical Tourism market will reach USD 136.93 billion by 2032. There is a growing trend towards health and wellness tourism, with individuals seeking medical treatments, preventive care, wellness programs, and holistic health experiences. Medical tourism destinations can capitalize on this trend by offering comprehensive health and wellness packages.

Furthermore, integrating digital health technologies, including telemedicine, virtual consultations, and electronic health records, can enhance the accessibility and coordination of medical tourism services. Digital platforms can streamline pre-travel consultations, post-treatment follow-ups, and information exchange between healthcare providers and patients. Introducing new and advanced medical treatments, therapies, and procedures can attract medical tourists seeking cutting-edge healthcare solutions. Countries and healthcare providers that stay at the forefront of medical innovation can position themselves as leaders in the industry.

In addition, customized and personalized medical tourism packages catering to individual patient’s unique needs and preferences present an opportunity for service providers. Tailoring experiences that include cultural activities, recovery retreats, and concierge services can set providers apart in a competitive market.

Besides, wellness tourism, including genetic testing and personalized health assessments, is gaining traction. Medical tourism destinations can offer specialized wellness packages, including genetic evaluations and preventive health screenings, to attract individuals interested in proactive healthcare.

China eases visa application for US tourists

BEIJING: China will simplify visa applications for tourists from the United States from Jan 1, cutting the documents required, according to a notice on Friday (Dec 29) on the website of the Chinese embassy in Washington.

The move is the latest by China to revive tourism and boost the world’s second-largest economy following a slump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourist visa applicants in the US will no longer need to submit air ticket bookings, hotel reservations or an invitation letter, the embassy’s notice said.

Beijing earlier cleared the way for passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia to visit the country without visas from Dec 1.Visa-free treatment will run for 12 months, during which tourists from those six countries can visit China for up to 15 days. China also expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries in November.

The number of inbound tourists to the country plummeted during the pandemic due to the country’s strict COVID-19 control policies.

China’s visa-free policy facilitates

travels from 6 countries

Around 214,000 people from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia entered China in December 2023, an increase of 28.5 percent compared with November, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA).

China’s unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from these countries took effect on December 1, facilitating inbound travels from there.

Of these inbound trips, 118,000 were made by ordinary passport holders without a visa, accounting for 55.1 percent of all inbound trips from the six countries during this period. Around 91,000 visa-free entries were made for travel and business.

Thanks to the visa-free policy, ports in the southern Chinese city of Nanning welcomed many inbound travelers. Data showed that 121 inbound travel groups of nearly 2,800 people entered China through ports in Nanning in December.

Since the inception of the visa-free policy, ports in Beijing had, by December 31, witnessed more than 12,000 visa-free entries from the relevant countries.

The NIA pledged more optimized entry-exit management policies for foreigners to facilitate their business, study, work, and life in China.

International flights to China have picked up since Beijing dropped COVID-19 restrictions a year ago but are still only at 60 per cent of 2019 levels. – Xinhua

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FACTS —

Tourism helps in:

👉Reducing poverty

👉Reducing Inequalities

👉Promoting gender equality

👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for: -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP -10.3% of global GDP -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports, 28.3% of global services exports) -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total investment)

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Thailand criticised for captive breeding of elephants for tourism

With the industry recently pivoting towards more captive breeding, the number of captive elephants in Thailand increased by 134% between 2010 and 2020.

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Theatre launches new project aimed at attracting tourists to Vietnam

The project will entertain tourists with several genres of traditional arts such as vọng co (nostalgia), cai luong (reformed opera), and tai tu, which is a music of the south…

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Ox cart rides offer authentic rural experience, historic temple visits

Guests not only get the pleasure of a slow paced journey through tranquil green rice fields, but are treated the chance to explore a fascinating 300-year-old temple, just 5km from…

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Livestream from Phuket draws 15 million Chinese viewers, generates THB150 million

The Tourism Authority of Thailand aims to attract as many as 8 million Chinese tourists to Thailand this year, but still far below the almost 11 million seen in 2019, the year…

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Rural tourism sheds light on China’s ethnic diversity

More people have visited since the cultural landscape of Pu'er's old tea forests was made a World Heritage Site in September last year, said the 22-year-old dressed in a…

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Nepal trekking permit goes digital

Nepal has put an end to the manual system of issuing permits, nearly seven and a half decades after the country started issuing such permits to foreign trekkers.

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Incheon presents new city tour bus routes, promotions

The themed bus tours, which present a chance to enjoy Incheon in eight unique ways, including Ganghwa History Tour and Muuido Island Tour, will add two additional bus lines…

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Tours of royal hall at Changdeokgung to open

Existing tours of the palace covering major palace buildings are to add a 15-minute stop for a rare look inside Injeongjeon -- the main hall of the palace, where key royal…

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The story of Pa Khoang Lake’s cherry blossom

Thousands of cherry blossom trees on Pa Khoang Island have been nurtured by Dr Tran Le, a biologist, who has a long career in high-tech agriculture, having developed numerous…

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Icy Harbin warmed hearts to become a tourist hot spot. Can other Chinese cities do the same?

Between Dec 30, 2023, and Jan 1, 2024, Harbin welcomed more than three million visitors, with tourism revenue for the three days amounting to about 5.91 billion yuan.

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PATA: Strong tourism growth predicted for Asia Pacific in 2023 and continuing to 2025

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By the end of 2024, the 2019 benchmark level of IVAs will be exceeded even further under the mild scenario and by 6.7% under the medium scenario, with both positions increasing in strength to 2025.

BANGKOK – Updated forecasts for 39 Asia Pacific destinations, released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), show a very strong increase in aggregate international visitor arrivals (IVAs) under each of three scenarios in 2023, with robust annual growth continuing to the end of 2025.

Sponsored by Visa and with data and insights from Euromonitor International , this suite of reports builds on the current forecasts by delving deeper into the changing dynamics of travel and tourism into and across the Asia Pacific region at the single destination level facilitating the development of appropriate strategies over the next three years.

Predicted international arrival numbers in 2023 range from 705 million under the mild scenario to 516 million under the medium scenario, and almost 390 million under the severe scenario, equating to visitor numbers in 2023 that exceed that of pre-pandemic 2019 by 3.3% under the mild scenario, but still nearly 25% short of it under the medium scenario, and some 43% behind it under the severe scenario.

By the end of 2024, the 2019 benchmark level of IVAs will be exceeded even further under the mild scenario and by 6.7% under the medium scenario, with both positions increasing in strength to 2025. Under the severe scenario, however, IVAs in 2025 are still predicted to fall short of the 2019 level by some 10%.

In this just released series of the “Asia Pacific Destination Forecasts 2023-2025” , PATA covers each of 39 destinations in much greater detail, with a focus on source markets and air capacity changes in each case. One source market of particular interest of course, is mainland China and these most recent forecasts indicate that very strong annual growth rates are expected in 2023 under each of the three scenarios, but not passing the 2019 volumes until 2024 under the mild and medium scenarios.

Despite very strong annual increases in arrivals from mainland China to Asia Pacific destinations, under the severe scenario, that number is still expected to lag the 2019 peak by around six percent by the end of 2025.

As Peter Semone , Chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) points out “while these forecasts are extremely encouraging, hurdles still remain, and the travel and tourism sector will require ongoing vigilance and operational flexibility as these issues present themselves over the coming years. While the COVID-19 outbreak is no longer at the global pandemic stage for example, it has not disappeared entirely, and we must come to grips with living with it for some time yet.”

He adds “In addition, the conflict in Ukraine, a softening global economic outlook with rising inflation and the increased costs of international travel will all have to be dealt with in ways that satisfy the increasingly diverse demands of the traveller of both today and tomorrow.”

David Fowler , Head of Cross-border & Sales Excellence, Asia Pacific, Visa, said, “PATA’s forecasts offer the travel industry with a much-needed and renewed sense of optimism after almost three years of border closures. Nonetheless, many headwinds lie ahead as traveller habits and preferences have changed substantially in a post-pandemic and hyper-digitalised world. The travel industry needs to understand the unique needs of travellers, many who are digital natives, in order to offer the flexible, novel and personalised travel experiences that they have come to expect.”

“Building data capabilities will continue to be a key area of investment for the travel ecosystem as it navigates the shifts in travel patterns through data insights, and in turn respond with data-backed customer engagement strategies. Visa has recently set up a new Centre of Excellence for travel in Asia Pacific dedicated to help clients and partners use data insights to maximise opportunities in the travel space. It is now more critical than ever that the travel industry is well-informed through data, so enterprises – especially smaller ones – and local communities can react faster as travel recovery accelerates across Asia Pacific.”

What you will learn from this report:

  • Each of these 39 reports covers a specific destination in the Asia Pacific and individually provides:
  • Annual forecasts of visitor arrival numbers into each destination between 2023 and 2025 by scenario and source region;
  • Recovery rates for international visitor arrival (IVA) growth back to the 2019 benchmark;
  • Annual changes in relative visitor share by top source market, year, and scenario;
  • Seasonality pattern;
  • Quarterly changes in scheduled international inbound air seat capacity to 3Q 2022; and
  • Economic, income and expenditure outlook & trends, and domestic tourism.

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Theodore Koumelis

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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A blonde woman sitting on a couch in all white, smiling from ear to ear.

Tracy King's degraded teeth were painful and making her so self-conscious she would sometimes speak with her hand in front of her mouth.

They ended up that way because she avoided seeing a dentist in her 20s due to the cost, and later needed to take steroid medication for an autoimmune condition.

"They were very brittle, so when I would eat food they would all sort of crack," she said.

The 49-year-old Queenslander's self-confidence took a hit. 

"Being in a public facing role for work, it really affects your confidence when you're talking and training people or presenting for events, you have to be constantly smiling with your mouth closed," Tracy said.

The cheapest quote she found for treatment from an Australian dentist – including veneers on her top teeth – was $12,500.

"It would have left our bank account with next to no savings," the event stylist said.

The Logan resident had been a regular traveller to Bali over the years, so she decided to get the work done there while on an extended holiday.

A smiling blonde woman showing her teeth in front of a row of motorbikes in Bali.

Tracy ended up paying $3,300 for care at a dental clinic in Kuta in 2022 and describes the results as "amazing".

"I'd had two consultations by the time I actually went in to have treatment and the treatment was done over two different sessions," she said.

"It's the best my teeth have been since, so I'm really glad that I've had it done."

A 'broken' system

Dressed in a vibrant flowing dress, Lesley Hyde is off to Bali for a holiday — and more dental care.

She had veneers on her top teeth done in 2022, and went back for more work in 2023 and early 2024.

While Lesley's dental treatment was largely cosmetic, she said many Australians are turning to the so-called "Island of the Gods" for essential care.

A blonde woman in a blue, red and yellow patterned dress standing at the airport with her suitcase.

"Everything – crowns, root canals. I've got a friend who's getting bone grafting and implants, and again it's about a sixth or seventh of the cost of getting it done in Australia," Lesley said.

Lesley is an emergency department nurse in a Melbourne hospital and thinks Australia's mostly private dental system is "broken".

Generic of a dentist working on someone's teeth from a promotional video of a dental clinic in Bali.

"People can't afford to go to a dentist here, so they present to GP clinics, emergency departments and they're basically requiring pain relief because that's about all we can do for them because we're not dentists, we can't fix their teeth."

She has seen untreated dental problems lead to major health issues, such as addiction to pain relief medication and poor nutrition because patients can't chew properly.

"I certainly think dental should be covered by Medicare and I'm not sure why it isn't because teeth are just as important as every other medical thing that you need doing," she said.

Tracy King said she's lucky she could afford to jump on a plane for dental treatment, unlike many Australians who are stuck in a system that she describes as "very broken".

"If you can afford it, you can have access to care. If you can't afford it, be prepared that your teeth are going to rot in your mouth and fall out," she said.

A composite image of two sets of teeth. The first, yellow and damaged. The second, white and clean.

Unknown number of Aussie dental tourists

While social media groups are full of people sharing advice on travelling to places like Bali and Thailand to see a dentist, there is no concrete data on exactly how many Australians are making the trip each year.

In late 2023, the government's Smartraveller website said: "Over 15,000 Australians travel for medical tourism".

But that figure was removed after a query from ABC News about how many go overseas for dental treatment.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health said "unfortunately" the department "does not hold this data", and that neither did the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Home Affairs or the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Data is available from the Australian Taxation Office on the burgeoning number of Australians applying to raid their superannuation, on compassionate grounds, to pay for dental care.

In the 2021-22 financial year, more than 8,000 people had their applications approved to withdraw money from their super for dental treatment – totalling $171 million.

The risks of having work done overseas

President of the Australian Dental Association, Scott Davis, has concerns about dental tourism.

"A number of people have had treatment successfully, but as a specialist prosthodontist I see numerous patients, which are basically disasters and need complete re-treatment or even lose many teeth," Dr Davis said.

He said the main issues include overservicing (where patients have unnecessary procedures), the use of poorer quality materials and little legal recourse if things go wrong.

"Buyer beware … probably your most important personal asset is your health and you're really taking a gamble with your health if you go somewhere, seeing someone you don't have a history with," he said. 

A white man with silver hair. Close up.

"We'd rather see people focus on preventative dental practices – not getting disease in the first place, than having invasive risky treatments done in foreign countries."

The Port Macquarie-based dentist acknowledged health care in Australia is expensive.

"We're a highly regulated developed country with high wages, high building costs, high energy costs and these are all borne by the consumer of dental treatment."

He also flagged the high cost of medical materials here.

"The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) has a very strict system which is in place for safety reasons, but it's so strict we pay almost twice as much for our goods as the Americans do for instance," he said.

Dental inquiry response pending

More than 85 per cent of dental care in Australia is done privately.

While some adults – generally concession card holders – qualify for free dental treatment in state and territory health systems, they can wait years for care . 

In November, a Senate committee into the provision of and access to dental services in Australia tabled its final report.

It made 35 recommendations including seed funding for an oral health promotion body similar to the Heart Foundation, consideration of a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme, expansion of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, and the appointment of a Chief Dental and Oral Health Officer.

Crucially, it recommended the Australian government "works with the states and territories to achieve universal access to dental and oral health care … under Medicare or a similar scheme … over time, in stages."

A Department of Health spokesperson said a government response to the report is currently being prepared "with input from a number of Government agencies".

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Taylor Swift struck a deal with Singapore not to perform in any other Southeast Asian country

Taylor Swift is stealing the show at an Asian summit after Singapore’s leader defended his tiny country’s lucrative concert deal that could cause bad blood with neighboring nations. (AP video: Jerry Harmer)

tourism news asia

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has defended an exclusive deal his city-state struck with Taylor Swift that prevents the pop star taking her current Eras Tour to anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Swift is performing six concerts from March 2 to 9 in Singapore under an exclusive deal that has been criticized by some Southeast Asian neighbors who complain they have been deprived of the tourist boom that her concerts have brought elsewhere. Lee confirmed on Tuesday that Swift was provided with “certain incentives” from a government fund established to rebuild the tourism industry after COVID-19 disruptions to make Singapore her only Southeast Asian destination. (Mar. 4) (AP video: Johnson Lai)

tourism news asia

FILE - In this July 10, 2019 file photograph, singer Taylor Swift performs at Amazon Music’s Prime Day concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Powered by big stadium tours from artists like Swift and Beyoncé, ticket sales are booming and it appears likely that live acts will continue to draw massive crowds after the pandemic closed down concert venues globally for close to two years. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Taylor Swift stole the show at an Asian summit Tuesday when Singapore’s leader was prompted to defend his tiny country’s exclusive concert deal with the singer that risks bad blood in the region by preventing her from performing in neighboring nations.

Singapore is a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations , a 10-nation bloc known as ASEAN. Its three-day summit was expected to focus on member Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis and conflicts in the South China Sea.

Instead, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was grilled on the summit’s sidelines about a lucrative and exclusive deal his city-state struck with Swift that prevents the singer from taking her Eras Tour to any other stop in Southeast Asia.

Swift is performing six concerts from March 2 to 9 in Singapore, and some Southeast Asian neighbors complain that the Singapore deal deprives them of the tourism boom her concerts bring to hosts. Her Eras Tour shattered records when it reportedly surpassed $1 billion last year , and her film adaptation of the tour quickly took No. 1 at the box office and became the highest-grossing concert film to date.

The Singaporean leader confirmed Tuesday that Swift was provided with “certain incentives” in exchange for making Singapore her only Southeast Asian destination on her Eras Tour. Lee defended the deal at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a self-professed Swiftie whose Spotify Wrapped list boasted Taylor Swift as his second most streamed artist of 2023. Albanese is hosting the summit in Melbourne, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Australia becoming ASEAN’s first external partner.

FILE - The site of a music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Oct. 12, 2023. The U.N. envoy focusing on sexual violence in conflict said in a new report Monday, March 4, 2024, that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas committed rape, “sexualized torture,” and other cruel and inhumane treatment of women during its surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)

Lee did not reveal the cost of the exclusive deal, which was paid for from a government fund established to rebuild tourism after COVID-19 disruptions. He also did not directly answer when asked if he had encountered bad blood among other leaders due to the deal, instead suggesting that if Singapore hadn’t struck an exclusive deal, a neighboring country might have done so.

“It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don’t see that as being unfriendly,“ Lee said.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, brought attention to the deal in February with a public claim that a promoter told him the Singaporean government subsidized the concerts with around $2 million to $3 million per show with a condition that the artist not play anywhere else in Southeast Asia.

Srettha said that if he had known about the deal before, he was confident he would be able to pull off something similar.

But Thailand doesn’t hold it against Singapore, said Prommin Lertsuridej, the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister. He told reporters in a group interview Monday that Thailand took what Singapore did as an example, and while Thailand already has some laws in place to allow such incentive packages, the government is working to remove red tape and make Thailand a more attractive venue for international events.

“We learn from each other,” Prommin said, adding that he admired Singapore for being able to come up with and achieve this “good business idea.”

In February, Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno took to Instagram to apologize to Swift’s fans, saying: “International music events, such as Taylor Swift concerts, do have a big impact on a country’s economy. But I’m sorry Swifties, Taylor Swift hasn’t stopped by in Indonesia yet. Bought out by Singapore. However, this is a lesson for us.”

Raisa Christy, a 37-year-old fan living in Jakarta, Indonesia, said she regretted that Swift’s closest stop by far was in Singapore. However, she believes it’s the only spot in the region that has the capabilities and infrastructure that meet Swift’s standards.

Lee said that, while he didn’t know what Australia’s arrangements were, he expected it similarly made “mutually acceptable, sensible arrangements” with Swift when she performed in Melbourne and Sydney — one of which Australia’s prime minister attended — before flying to Singapore.

Swift’s representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other questions at the news conference covered increasing tensions in the South China Sea , the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the likelihood of China joining in a regional free trade pact.

Associated Press writers Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed.

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Tourist couple alleges gang rape in India, sparking outrage and the arrests of 3 men

A tourist has alleged she was gang-raped and her partner was attacked while camping in India , sparking outrage and the arrests of three male suspects.

The woman, who has Brazilian-Spanish dual nationality, shared her account of the incident on Instagram, where the couple has drawn a large following tracking their motorcycle tour of Asia.

Police in India's eastern state of Jharkhand, where the alleged incident took place, said that three men had been arrested and that they were hunting for four more.

The couple looked to have been beaten up when local police found them late Friday by a roadside, Pitamber Singh Kherwar, superintendent of police in the state's Dumka district, told reporters Sunday.

“Since the victims were speaking in Spanish and English, our police officers could not properly understand what they were saying, but it looked like they were injured,” he said. 

Kherwar said the couple, whose identities were not disclosed, were taken to a nearby hospital where doctors said the woman had been raped.

The three suspects were arrested Sunday, Kherwar said, adding that investigators had identified the four other men and they would be arrested “very soon.”

“Our priority is to get them maximum punishment so it is never repeated,” he added. Kherwar also said the couple will get compensation of up to $12,000. 

The Indian National Commission for Women asked the police to charge those accused with gang rape, which is punishable by at least 20 years in prison, it said in a post on X on Saturday.

'Something has happened to us'

“Something has happened to us that we would not wish on anyone,” the woman, who appeared with bruises on her face, said through tears in a video posted on her Instagram page, which has almost half a million followers.

“Seven men have raped me, they have beaten us and robbed us,” she said, according to an accompanying caption in English. The video is no longer available.

In a separate video posted Sunday on their joint Instagram page, which has over 250,000 followers, the couple said that “the police are doing everything possible to catch them. They already know who they are.”

They added: “We ask that justice be done, not only for us but also for all the other women and girls who have gone through this.”

In an interview with the Spanish TV channel Antena 3, the couple said the men raped the woman and hit her partner repeatedly. 

“They raped me, they took turns while some watched and they stayed like that for about two hours,” the woman said in the interview, adding that they had decided to camp in the town since they found no hotels to stay at overnight.

NBC News is not naming the couple due to laws in India that prevent disclosing the identities of sexual assault victims. NBC News has reached out to the couple for comment.

The woman was on a motorbike trip with her Spanish partner, the Brazilian Embassy in New Delhi told NBC News in a statement, saying it had registered its “strong repudiation of the barbaric crime against the couple.”

They are being “looked after by the Indian emergency services,” the statement added.

The Spanish foreign ministry told NBC News that its embassy in New Delhi had been in contact with the couple to provide any consular assistance. 

The couple had been documenting their trip to more than 200,000 followers on their joint Instagram account, with recent posts from neighboring Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

In their post on Sunday, they added that they had camped in 66 countries, many of which are considered “dangerous.”

“This can happen to any traveler, anyone,” they said.

Prominent Indian celebrities reacted to the incident, calling for the seven suspects to be swiftly apprehended. It was a “shameful act that we MUST show will not be tolerated,” Emmy winner and comedian Vir Das said in a post on X on Sunday.

Despite stringent laws, India has long struggled to tackle male violence against women.

An average of 86 rape cases were registered every day in the country in 2022, according to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau . However, many women still do not report cases of sexual violence to the authorities, especially in rural areas, where a stigma persists that such a disclosure may affect a family's social standing.

In 2013, a year after the  fatal gang rape  of a young woman in the capital, New Delhi, authorities doubled the prison term for rapists to 20 years, criminalized acts such as stalking and voyeurism and lowered the age at which a person can be tried as an adult from 18 to 16.

But under current Indian laws, marital rape is still not a crime as long as the woman is above the age of 18.

Mithil Aggarwal is a Hong Kong-based reporter/producer for NBC News.

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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.

Desperate vladimir putin plunges 22 million russians into darkness in bitter -22c winter, moscow is to be plunged into darkness as putin ordered rolling blackouts amid freezing temperatures, according to reports..

Full Moon in Moscow

Vladimir Putin has reportedly ordered rolling energy blackouts across Moscow as temperatures reach - 22C. The blackouts are said to cover the entire metropolitan area of Russia's which has a total population of around 22 million. The order issued states that electricity is "not to exceed 12 hours per day" with the blackouts in place from January 14 through March 31 2024, according to Ukraine commentator Igor Sushko.

Sushko posted on X: "The entire Moscow metropolitan area, population 22 million, will have rolling blackouts of electricity "not to exceed 12 hours per day" from January 14 through March 31, 2024. - announced by the fascist state."

READ MORE: WW3 fears explode as Putin ally warns Poland is 'next' target on Putin's hitlist

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It comes after a heating main ruptured at the Klimovsk Specialised Ammunition Plant in Podolsk, about 30 miles south of central Moscow, on January 4. As a result, tens of thousands of Russians are said to be without heat in their homes in the Moscow region due to subzero temperatures.

According to a map published by a Russian Telegram channel and circulated on various social media platforms, the affected areas include cities such as Khimki, Balashikha, Lobnya, Lyubertsy, Podolsk, Chekhov, Naro-Fominsk, and Podolsk.

Residents in Moscow, specifically Balashikha, Elektrostal, Solnechnogorsk, Dmitrov, Domodedovo, Troitsk, Taldom, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Krasnogorsk, Pushkino, Ramenskoye, Voskresensk, Losino-Petrovsky, and Selyatino, are also experiencing power outages, according to other Russian media reports.

DON'T MISS: Joe Biden sends 'private' warning to Iran after striking Houthis in Yemen [LATEST] White House staff forced to hide as heated pro-Palestine protest unravels [REPORT] Vladimir Putin's ex-military chief warns Russia will run out of troops in weeks [COMMENTS]

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Power outages have been reported in St. Petersburg, Rostov, Volgograd, Voronezh, and Primorsky. Meanwhile, a huge fire tore through a large warehouse used by Russia ’s largest online retailer south of St Petersburg on Saturday morning.

The blaze covered an area of 70,000 square meters, with 50,000 square meters of the Wildberries warehouse collapsing, according to Russia ’s Emergency Situations Ministry. No casualties were reported.

Videos posted to social media appeared to show employees running down fire escapes and fleeing the scene. A video shot from a passenger jet flying nearby showed flames totally engulfing the warehouse, sending huge plumes of smoke into the sky.

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Second drone in as many days shot down near Moscow as Russia and Ukraine exchange attacks on capitals

Ukrainian officials earlier warned russia would step up aerial offensive during winter, article bookmarked.

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Russia and Ukraine sent drones targeting each other’s capital cities over the weekend in signs of renewed intensity for their aerial warfare .

Drones were shot down on both Saturday and Sunday in areas around Kyiv and Moscow . Air defence systems for both sides intercepted attacks and no casualties were reported.

Multiple drones that were heading for Moscow and Russia’s border areas on Sunday were downed by Russian air defence systems over the weekend, officials said.

Kyiv has promised to wage a major drone campaign against Russia this winter , as bad weather conditions make it difficult to conduct operations on the ground.

Russian air defence units in Moscow intercepted a drone targeting the Russian capital, mayor Sergei Sobhyanin said on Telegram.

He said defence units in the Elektrostal district in the capital’s east intercepted the drone. Falling debris resulting from the operation had caused no damage or casualties, the mayor said, citing preliminary information.

Russia’s defence ministry confirmed the drone strike on Sunday night, as is typical describing the Ukrainian military operation as a “terrorist attack”.

“On 19 November at 23.20 Moscow time, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using an aircraft-type UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] on targets in Moscow and the Moscow region was stopped,” it said on its official Telegram channel.

“Duty air defence systems intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of the Moscow region.”

A second drone targeting Moscow was also intercepted by Russia’s air defence systems at around 1am.

The UAV was destroyed over the territory of the Bogorodsky district in Moscow, it said.

This comes after Russian authorities on Saturday said they shot down a Ukrainian drone heading for the border region of Bryansk.

The defence ministry said on-duty air defence systems destroyed the drone over Bryansk. It did not mention any casualties or damage from the attack.

Russia has also begun targeting Kyiv again after a 52-day break in air raid sirens for the Ukrainian capital.

On Saturday, Ukrainian officials said all drones heading towards Kyiv were destroyed but some hit infrastructure facilities elsewhere in Ukraine.

A day later, a wave of Iranian-made Shahed drones from Russia targeted Kyiv overnight.

The drones targeted the Ukrainian capital and the Cherkasy and Poltava regions, according to a military statement. Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems shot down 15 of 20 drones targeting the areas.

Serhii Popko, the city’s military administration spokesperson, said the drones attacked Kyiv from different directions in waves that were “constantly changing vectors”.

Ukrainian officials had warned Russia would step up aerial assaults during the winter months.

Meanwhile, the British defence ministry said there were “few immediate prospects” for major change along the Ukrainian frontline as the war enters its second winter.

In a statement, it said intense fighting was concentrated near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, Avdiivka in Dontesk and on the left bank of the Dnipro river, where Ukrainian forces have established a bridgehead.

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