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Asia travel bubbles

Asia travel bubbles
Latest news and updates about destinations in Asia forming travel bubbles to aid the recovery of travel and tourism in the region, which has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
A health worker prepares a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on February 16. Photo: Xinhua
Coronavirus pandemic

Inside Out | Asia can set an example for the world on pandemic cooperation

A WHO draft treaty on strengthening pandemic preparedness calls for improvements in global information sharing and resource distribution. Asian groups like Apec can contribute a range of best practices on regional cooperation and fundraising.

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Hong Kong financial summit 2022

Some exemptions offered to overseas bankers attending Hong Kong summit

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International Property

Absence of Chinese visitors is spoiling the Asia-Pacific tourism comeback

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International Property

Hotels gear up for Asia-Pacific recovery although China still weighs

Although optimism is rising, with China’s borders still closed, a full recovery in the Asia-Pacific tourism industry remains a distant prospect, analysts say.

Grand City Hotel in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP
China property

China’s strict Covid curbs a roadblock for growing investment in hotels sector

Hotel companies and investors were likely to reduce investments in China in the coming years, despite the number of hotels currently under construction reaching a record high in the first quarter of 2022, because of the country’s Covid-19 measures, analysts said.

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Asia travel

Destinations known | Will Hong Kong’s reopening be as joyful as Singapore-Malaysia reconnection?

Singaporeans were delighted to cross into Malaysia for the first time in two years on April 1, excited to see friends and family, and go shopping in Johor Bahru.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s travel reopening tainted by Covid-19 app controversy

Malaysia opened its borders to international travel on Friday, but celebrations were tempered by a controversy surrounding the MySejahtera app which might not be fully government owned as many were led to believe.

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The ‘MySejahtera’ Covid tracking app was at the centre of a controversy in Malaysia as the country allows quarantine-free travel to all vaccinated travellers Photo: Shutterstock
Luxury Hotels

Covid-19 among toughest challenges yet for ‘grand old dame’ The Peninsula

Known as the “grand old dame”, The Peninsula Hong Kong has withstood several tumultuous periods throughout its more than 90-year history. But the Covid-19 pandemic is the toughest challenge the iconic hotel and its operator have faced yet, a top executive said.

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Coronavirus pandemic

Covid-19 curbs rolled back in South Korea, Southeast Asia’s tourist hubs

The easing of restrictions for vaccinated travellers comes as South Korea faces its largest Covid-19 surge yet, with more than 400 deaths on Thursday alone.

Luxury Hotels

Why are Hong Kong’s half-empty hotels reluctant to offer quarantine?

For the 320 licensed hotels in one of Asia’s busiest hubs for business travel and tourism, Hong Kong’s zero-Covid approach may sound the death knell for an industry that hired as many as 34,606 people last September.

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Coronavirus Hong Kong: will the Omicron surge turn half-empty hotels into quarantine centres?
Coronavirus pandemic

Singapore and Hong Kong on their own as global travel rebounds from Covid-19

A global travel divide is deepening as some countries ditch Covid-19 restrictions including quarantines, isolation and even mandatory testing for good, while others cling to years-old curbs.

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Indonesia is opening the resort island of Bali to foreign travelers from all countries, as international flights resumed for the first time in two years earlier this month — but mandatory quarantines remain in place for all visitors. Photo: AP
Thailand

Tourist-starved Thailand to hold travel bubble talks with China, Malaysia

The return of Chinese and Malaysian tourists, the largest groups of visitors to Thailand before the pandemic, is seen by the industry as key to a sustainable rebound.

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Asia travel

Destinations known | From Bangkok to Bali to Da Nang, foreign tourists are returning

Tourism is bouncing back in Southeast Asia as countries make it easier for international travellers to enter if they are vaccinated and adequately insured and take Covid-19 tests.

Thailand

Travelling to Thailand during Covid-19: four visitors on how it’s going

Visiting Thailand in a pandemic is different, say travellers who took advantage of its opening up from November 1 to visit Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Local visitors enter the Grand Palace on the day of reopening in Bangkok on November 1, 2021, as Thailand welcomes the first groups of tourists fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 coronavirus without quarantine. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Tourism

Tough travel rules ensure no Asian cities in top 10 tourist destinations

Paris and other European cities dominate the list compiled by Euromonitor International, owing to their more relaxed travel policies amid the pandemic.

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Visitors take a selfie at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which topped the tourist destination index. Photo: AP
Coronavirus Singapore

What it’s like to use Singapore’s vaccinated travel lane with South Korea

What does it take to get into South Korea from Singapore and not serve quarantine? The Post joins the inaugural flight to Incheon under the two countries’ vaccinated travel lane arrangement.

International Property

Australia property market ignores China snub as Singapore, US funds rush in

Investors are snapping up commercial properties despite lingering Canberra-Beijing tensions. Singapore and US funds have rushed in while Hong Kong-based investors have made their presence felt.

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Coronavirus pandemic

Singapore and Malaysia agree to quarantine-free vaccinated travel lane

The city state has also announced travel schemes with Finland and Sweden, meaning it now has deals with 16 countries.

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A passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight arrives in Changi Airport under a vaccinated travel lane scheme. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong property

More Hong Kong expats buy property offshore as they eye leaving city

Rental market may soften as more expats in Hong Kong invest in homes offshore as they consider leaving the city for good due to strict travel curbs.

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Hong Kong property

Lantau’s popularity grows among bankers, lawyers as pilots desert island

Rents in Lantau have fallen by 10 to 15 per cent since the first quarter of last year as airline industry employees left in droves amid the downturn.

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Coronavirus pandemic

Australia to lift international travel ban for citizens after 600 days

Elsewhere, Cambodia will start to reopen to vaccinated tourists from next month, New Zealand’s vaccine mandate is being expanded to more workers, and Vietnam has started vaccinated children.

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Australia’s adult double-dose vaccination rate is edging closer to 80 per cent. Photo: EPA-EFE
Coronavirus pandemic

Singapore announces Covid-19 travel lanes with Australia, Switzerland

Singapore officials say they are working to establish more agreements, including with neighbouring Malaysia.

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Passengers from Amsterdam arrive at Changi Airport on October 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters
Banking & finance

Global financial firms pressure Hong Kong to lift quarantine rules

International asset managers and banks urge Financial Secretary Paul Chan to provide a road map of how the city plans to resume normal operations like other financial centres.

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Coronavirus pandemic

Australia to start quarantine-free travel bubble with Singapore soon

The Australian PM said the arrangement could be rolled out ‘within the next week’.

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Coronavirus pandemic

Explainer | As Asian nations open up, where is travel allowed – and how can I do so safely?

Here are the experts’ views on how to make sure you’re best protected, and what to be mindful of at all times.

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A tourist on a boat on the southern Thai island of Koh Phi Phi in 2019. Photo: AFP
Coronavirus pandemic

Singapore to open travel corridors with 8 ‘living with Covid’ nations

Announcement marks Singapore’s most extensive easing of travel restrictions since borders were shut last March.

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A sign to encourage social distancing in Singapore. Photo: Reuters
Asia travel

Like an off-season holiday: Langkawi quietly reopens under travel bubble

How did the launch of the Langkawi bubble for domestic Malaysian holidaymakers go? Travellers and hotels mainly gave it the thumbs up, but Covid-19’s ‘new normal’ still takes some getting used to.

Australia

Foreign buyers unlikely to rush to residential property once borders reopen Down Under

A planned reopening of its borders is unlikely to have foreigners rushing back to Australian residential property, giving locals some space to cope with soaring home prices, analysts said.

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