Singapore’s ‘undesirable’ visitor ban, Japan’s Chinese tourist drought: 7 Asia highlights
From a Malaysian minister linking stress and gay people to US-Iran tensions, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting
1. Singapore begins ban on ‘undesirable’ visitors, airlines to comply or face fine
Singapore’s move to bar undesirable visitors from boarding planes to the city state has begun, with airlines flying into its airports required to deny access to passengers flagged as risks.
2. Malaysians lampoon minister linking work stress to gay people
A Malaysian minister has become the butt of jokes for claiming that work stress can turn people gay, as continued government intervention of what it describes as sexually deviant behaviour piles pressure on the country’s LGBTQ community.
3. Why Japan’s public is ‘happy’ to see a Chinese tourist drought
China’s instructions to citizens not to visit Japan during the coming Lunar New Year holiday has been welcomed by some Japanese weary of overcrowding at tourist hotspots, while local travel operators say the immediate impact on business is likely to be limited.