Asia

Hong Kong to end mandatory hotel quarantine policy

Territory eases strict Covid rules after two-and-a-half years

Bhutan reopens to travellers with new tourism strategy

Destination reopened to international tourists on Friday (23 September) under a refreshed tourism strategy

Tax cutting bonanza and Japan to lift travel restrictions

The government’s plans to dramatically cut taxes in a ’mini Budget dominate Friday’s headlines

InsideJapan tour bookings back to 2019 levels in August

Specialist hails Japanese government’s efforts to peel back long-standing Covid border restrictions

Japan to finally axe all Covid travel restrictions

Japan and Taiwan signal an end to Covid travel requirements

Three new experiences in Asia that will wow your clients

Fresh ways to explore Japan, Bali and Thailand in more depth

Businesses welcome energy support but interest rates still set to soar

More economic news dominates Thursday’s headlines, with interest rates set for their highest rise for 30 years

Gold Medal sets out plans to raise profile of Pure Luxury brand

Trade-only group’s ultra-luxury brand to be given more of a platform, marketing director Sarah Lancashire tells TTG

Pure Luxury to launch ‘biggest-ever’ agent campaign

Gold Medal luxury brand to kick off autumn with agent incentives, with top-performing agents receiving an overbranded brochure to support the campaign

Final farewell to the Queen and Hurricane Fiona lashes Caribbean

Tuesday’s headlines understandably dominated by coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral

Record turnout for Pata's flagship agent training event

More than 300 agents from across the UK attended Taste of Pata in London on Thursday

G Adventures to restart Japan tours next month

The adventure tour operator will reintroduce 12 tours to the country after the Japanese government relaxed restrictions

Shinta Mani Hotels to expand into Nepal

The brand will launch its first property outside Cambodia when it opens the Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection luxury lodge in Nepal

How to go off the beaten path in India, by an operator who knows it best

Which destination most inspired you to set up Indus Experiences?

As a young recruit in travel many decades ago, I used to frequently traverse the path from Kashmir to Ladakh, leading British and American groups to this rugged and isolated part of India. Driving along the banks of the River Indus, the varied forms of the river and its ability to nurture life stuck in my mind, and became the heart of my dream to set up Indus Experiences, 27 years ago.

South Korea drops pre-departure Covid tests for international arrivals

Foreign office confirms South Korea’s decision to ease its travel requirements

How Asia is bouncing back and why it pays to book early

Confidence is returning in the Far East, although challenges remain in the region

'We'll need agent help to convert surge in demand', says Japan specialist

InsideJapan Tours co-founder Alastair Donnelly tells TTG the brand will need travel agents’ help to navigate a surge in new bookings as the country fully reopens to visitors

Virgin Atlantic agrees codeshare with Indian carrier IndiGo

The new agreement will boost connectivity on Virgin routes to Delhi and Mumbai, offering IndiGo connections to a further seven Indian destinations eventually rising to 16

InsideJapan Tours: 'Japan is back – we are back'

Specialist welcomes Japanese government’s decision to further ease entry rules for tourists, hailing the changes to the country’s border policy ’the most significant’ for two-and-a-half years

Japan to reopen to package tourists next month

The country will increase daily entrants to 50,000 and allow travellers from all countries on package tours to visit without guides

Tui extends Sri Lanka cancellations despite FCDO reprive

The company has cancelled holidays up to and including 11 September

Travel companies welcome FCDO advice change for Sri Lanka

Relaxation of advisory removes “remaining obstacle” to visiting the island

Asia specialists hail Japan's steps to ease Covid border rules

InsideJapan Tours and Wendy Wu Tours welcome news Japan will shortly relax its testing requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals

Singapore to scrap quarantine rule for unvaccinated arrivals

Visitors who are not fully vaccinated will still need to test negative within two days before traveling to the country