international travel

  • HealthNavigating visa & work permits for remote workers in Thailand

    Navigating visa & work permits for remote workers in Thailand

    Imagine swapping your office view for Thailand’s breathtaking beaches. Gone are the days of hectic commutes and long lines, replaced with a hearty breakfast before you start your workday from your very own tropical home. After hours and on weekends, an entire country awaits exploration, all while maintaining your current job and salary. This lifestyle, once the domain of digital…

  • Thailand NewsThai outbound travel unaffected by cheap tour packages

    Thai outbound travel unaffected by cheap tour packages

    Thai outbound tour groups remain largely unaffected by cheaper travel packages, as the majority of current outbound travellers possess high purchasing power and seek quality offerings. Price dumping for package tours has been prevalent in destinations such as South Korea, Macau, and Italy, leading to governmental crackdowns on these practices. The Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) Vice-President, Chotechuang Soorangura, remarked…

  • Tourism NewsTHAI Airways announces 2023 summer schedule

    THAI Airways announces 2023 summer schedule

    THAI Airways has announced its summer schedule and expanded its services around the globe. The flagship carrier of Thailand will add 39 routes to Europe, nine to Asia, and 30 routes to China for the summer. Between March 26 and October 28, more routes will operate and flights will run more frequently on the most travelled routes. THAI Airways kickstarted…

  • Tourism NewsChinese tourists trickling in after reopening

    Chinese tourists trickling in after reopening

    With a back and forth over Covid-19 restrictions, as China opens its doors for its citizens to travel outbound again, the wave of the coveted Chinese tourist demographic has been nothing more than a trickle. The first arrivals in three years on a direct flight from China to Thailand landed in Bangkok on January 8, with 200 enthusiastic travellers. After Covid…

  • World NewsMalaysians continue to flood into Thailand

    Malaysians continue to flood into Thailand

    Every day, 350 – 400 Malaysians apply for “border passes” into Thailand, according to Kelantan Immigration director Azhar Abd Hamid. Since the Thai – Malaysia border reopened on May 5, Malaysia’s immigration offices have received a high volume of applications, especially from residents from Kelantan. Around 40% of applications come from Malaysians who plan to travel to southern Thailand, according…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai tourists postponing overseas travel

    Thai tourists postponing overseas travel

    The Thai Travel Agents Association says rising costs and a weak economy are affecting the number of Thai travellers taking overseas trips. TTAA boss Suthiphong Pheunphiphop says that currently, only high earners are travelling abroad, while those on lower incomes are being more conservative, due to their income and jobs being affected by the pandemic. The Bangkok Post reports that…

  • Thailand NewsThailand takes number one spot as most searched destination on Agoda

    Thailand takes number one spot as most searched destination on Agoda

    Thailand is the most searched destination in the world for trips in the next six months, according to the travel search engine giant Agoda. Thailand has seen a 500% increase in searches on Agoda from January to March 2022. The top three incoming travellers to Thailand are from Japan (#1), the US (#2) and Singapore (#3). Travelling into Thailand can…

  • World NewsBooking.com predicts bumpy recovery for travel in Asia-Pacific region

    Booking.com predicts bumpy recovery for travel in Asia-Pacific region

    Online travel agency Booking.com says travel in the Asia-Pacific region will be slow to recover as a number of countries adopt a more cautious approach to re-opening. Laura Houldsworth, MD for Asia-Pacific, says while some countries in Southeast Asia are starting to re-open, with various levels of paperwork and restrictions, most North Asian destinations still have significant entry restrictions in…

  • World NewsTomorrow, Vietnam lifts restrictions on international flights from all markets

    Tomorrow, Vietnam lifts restrictions on international flights from all markets

    From tomorrow, Vietnam will lift Covid-19 curbs on international flights from all markets, with no limits on flight numbers. According to a Reuters report, the state-run newspaper Tuoi Tre confirmed the decision over the weekend, citing Dinh Viet Son from the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam. According to Son, China is the only country yet to agree to resume commercial…

  • World NewsSharp rise in Southeast Asia flight bookings as countries ease border controls

    Sharp rise in Southeast Asia flight bookings as countries ease border controls

    Online flight search engine Skyscanner has reported a sharp rise in flight bookings for Southeast Asia as several countries ease border restrictions. This will come as welcome news to the region’s airlines, after international travel in Asia-Pacific plummeted 93% last year, compared to pre-pandemic levels. According to a Reuters report, many carriers are relying heavily on the cargo market to…

  • Covid-19 NewsDigital health pass on Mor Prom app accepted in 60 countries

    Digital health pass on Mor Prom app accepted in 60 countries

    Residents of Thailand can now travel to 60 countries, including 27 EU nations, where the Mor Prom Digital Health Pass is accepted. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his deputy Sathit Pitutecha confirmed the development at a media briefing. The Thailand Digital Health Pass has been accorded the same recognition as the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate since December. According to…

  • World NewsAustralia to finally open to tourists in March

    Australia to finally open to tourists in March

    Vaccinated international tourists will finally be allowed to enter Australia again in March. The country’s borders shut exactly two years before that in March 2020. Skilled migrants and international students were only allowed back in December 2021. But now that Covid-19 cases are down in all states except Western Australia, Australia’s home affairs minister says she’s making the opening a…

  • World NewsUN agency criticises introduction of travel bans over Omicron variant

    UN agency criticises introduction of travel bans over Omicron variant

    The United Nations World Tourism Organisation says travel bans introduced following the emergence of the Omicron variant should be lifted. UNWTO members voiced their concerns about the bans during the organisation’s recent General Assembly. According to a TTR Weekly report, countries from all regions of the world voiced solidarity with African nations that have become the target of travel bans…

  • World NewsJetstar Asia to operate vaccinated travel lane between Bangkok and Singapore

    Jetstar Asia to operate vaccinated travel lane between Bangkok and Singapore

    Jetstar Asia has confirmed it has received approval to launch 2 additional Vaccinated Travel Lane services from next week. TTR Weekly reports that the carrier will operate flights for fully vaccinated passengers from Bangkok and Phnom Penh to Singapore. The Bangkok to Singapore service launches on December 15 and the following day, VTL flights from Phnom Penh to Singapore join…

  • World NewsIndonesia and Malaysia expected to launch vaccinated travel lane early next year

    Indonesia and Malaysia expected to launch vaccinated travel lane early next year

    The governments of Indonesia and Malaysia are expected to agree a vaccinated travel lane, or travel bubble, by early 2022, according to a Coconuts report. The arrangement would permit vaccinated people to travel between both countries without the need for quarantine on arrival. The Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, confirmed the plan during a press conference yesterday. He says the…

  • Covid-19 NewsUS introduces new restrictions for international arrivals from Monday

    US introduces new restrictions for international arrivals from Monday

    From Monday, all international travellers to the US must receive a negative Covid-19 test result within 1 day of travel. Prior to the emergence of the Omicron variant, this measure applied only to unvaccinated travellers, with fully inoculated people able to arrive with a negative result obtained within 3 days of travel. However, the arrival of Omicron has prompted health…

  • Business NewsMass lay-offs at Thai AirAsia as aviation sector continues to struggle

    Mass lay-offs at Thai AirAsia as aviation sector continues to struggle

    Thailand may have re-opened to international travellers, but the aviation sector continues to struggle as a result of the pandemic. Today, the Bangkok Post reports that Thai AirAsia has announced mass redundancies and extended furlough arrangements for many of its staff. Asia Aviation, the largest shareholder in TAA, says the outlook for the aviation sector remains unstable and the company…

  • World NewsScoot announces new service between Singapore and London Gatwick via Bangkok

    Scoot announces new service between Singapore and London Gatwick via Bangkok

    Low-cost carrier Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has confirmed a new service between Singapore and London, via Bangkok. TTR Weekly reports that the new service will launch on December 16. The announcement means Scoot is the only low-cost airline offering non-stop flights between Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and London. The flight to Gatwick Airport will also be Scoot’s first service to…

  • World NewsSouth East Asia gradually re-opening to vaccinated foreign arrivals

    South East Asia gradually re-opening to vaccinated foreign arrivals

    With Thailand now open to vaccinated travellers from 63 approved countries, the rest of South East Asia is preparing to follow suit. According to a TTR Weekly report, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia all have their own variations on a re-opening plan. In Vietnam, the resort island of Phu Quoc will re-open later this month for fully vaccinated foreign…

  • World NewsVietnam gives green light to foreign tourists, limited destinations

    Vietnam gives green light to foreign tourists, limited destinations

    As the Southeast Asian country steadily reopens its tourism sector amid the pandemic, Vietnam is receiving foreign tourists starting from November for the first time since Spring 2020. The daily newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong says two flights carrying foreign visitors from Japan and South Korea arrived in Khanh Hoa Province on the south-central coast on Thursday. About 430 travellers from…

  • World NewsMalaysia and Singapore talk travel bubbles

    Malaysia and Singapore talk travel bubbles

    Talks are underway between the Malaysian and Singaporean governments, which could pave the way for vaccinated travel lanes between both countries. According to a TTR Weekly report, Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister has confirmed the talks are taking place. Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri says once the deal is done, the Malaysian PM, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, will announce…

  • World NewsThailand to be removed from UK red list from Monday

    Thailand to be removed from UK red list from Monday

    Thailand is being removed from Britain’s red list, meaning no more hotel quarantine for arrivals from the kingdom. Earlier this week, the UK ditched its advice against non-essential travel for 32 countries, but left Thailand and others on the red list. Now, that list will be cut to just 7 countries from Monday, with Thailand and 46 others coming off.…

  • World NewsBali to partially re-open to travellers from select countries next week

    Bali to partially re-open to travellers from select countries next week

    A government minister in Indonesia has confirmed the island of Bali will partially re-open to arrivals from certain countries. However, the list does not currently include Australia, a significant tourism market for Indonesia prior to the pandemic. According to an AFP report, Luhut Panjaitan says that from October 14, Ngurah Rai International Airport will open for arrivals from South Korea,…

  • World NewsAustralian travel abroad coming soon with 7-day home quarantine

    Australian travel abroad coming soon with 7-day home quarantine

    A news release issued today says Australian citizens will soon be able to travel and return home with just a 7-day quarantine period. The Australian Consul-General for Phuket says this is great news for Australia and for Thailand. He notes that Australians can now travel abroad knowing that they will be able to return home again and vows to Phuket…

  • World NewsExpedia report shows rise in international travel searches, focus on big cities

    Expedia report shows rise in international travel searches, focus on big cities

    The latest Expedia Travel Recovery Trend Report shows an increase in international searches, with a focus on big cities and longer search windows. The online travel portal says the global rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is helping to rebuild traveller confidence. The company released its first trend report in May, in order to help travel companies reconnect with travellers. The latest…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket tourism sector calls for island to be “green-listed” for foreign tourists – VIDEO

    Phuket tourism sector calls for island to be “green-listed” for foreign tourists – VIDEO

    The executive chairman of the Banyan Tree Group is calling for Phuket to be given “green” status, promoting the island as a safe haven for foreign tourists. Singaporean KP Ho was addressing the Phuket Sandbox Summit via video-conference when he called on European airlines, business leaders, and officials to differentiate the southern island from the rest of Thailand. According to…

  • Covid-19 NewsSurvey shows Singaporeans making travel plans as country eyes re-opening

    Survey shows Singaporeans making travel plans as country eyes re-opening

    The findings of the latest Finder’s Travel Index show that 44% of adults in Singapore are planning to travel within the next 3 months. The Finder’s Travel Index is a series of surveys, conducted across 12 countries, to gauge travel sentiment. The latest findings show an increase of 20% in the number of Singaporeans planning to travel imminently, compared to…

  • Covid-19 NewsTravel bubble plans abandoned amid global spread of Delta variant

    Travel bubble plans abandoned amid global spread of Delta variant

    Plans for travel pacts between countries are being dropped, as the Covid-19 pandemic shows no sign of abating. The so-called “travel bubbles” were designed to revive international travel between low-risk countries but have had a number of false starts and now look to be shelved. TTR Weekly reports that an arrangement between Australia and New Zealand, allowing for quarantine-free travel…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Pfizer vax approved, IATA testing vaccine travel pass, Covid Update | June 25

    Thailand News Today | Pfizer vax approved, IATA testing vaccine travel pass, Covid Update | June 25

    The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved in Thailand. The FDA has now approved 6 Covid vaccines for use in Thailand. A number of airlines worldwide are participating in trials of a Travel Pass app from the International Air Transport Association. Some minor hiccups have emerged in Phuket Sandbox just days before the reopening of Thailand for unvaccinated travellers. Meanwhile the…

  • Tourism NewsAirports of Thailand president says tourism won’t pick back up until October

    Airports of Thailand president says tourism won’t pick back up until October

    While Phuket’s “Sandbox” travel scheme is poised to reopen the island to foreign tourists on July 1, Airports of Thailand doesn’t expect arrivals to really pick up until October, which is the start of Thailand’s “high season” for tourism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects 600,000 tourists to arrive between July and September, but AoT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn says the…