https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/324817/feed Stories about leisure travel in Hong Kong, China, Asia, and around the world. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Cannix Yau Cannix Yau The annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival in late October will extend its opening hours until 1am on two nights and feature 10 per cent more booths, with the Tourism Board rolling out a gourmet month throughout November to boost visitor spending and encourage longer stays. Organised by the board under the theme “Taste the World’s Best”, the festival will be held from October 29 to November 1 at the Central Harbourfront, opening at 7.30pm on the first day and 1pm on the following days. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370067/hong-kongs-wine-and-dine-festival-feature-extended-hours-10-more-booths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370067/hong-kongs-wine-and-dine-festival-feature-extended-hours-10-more-booths?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:12:41 +0000 Andrew Fowler Andrew Fowler Earlier this year, Bangkok’s F&B scene pulled off a coup. At Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards in Macau, eight venues from Asia’s “City of Angels” crowded the list – rankings historically dominated by Hong Kong and Singapore – with four more in the 51-100 tier. The city’s restaurant honours tell a similar story – Sühring recently joined Sorn in holding three Michelin stars, and Bangkok claims nine spots on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, more than any other city. The tourism figures are equally bullish:... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3369762/bangkoks-culinary-stars-fade-amid-rising-costs-tighter-budgets-and-fewer-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3369762/bangkoks-culinary-stars-fade-amid-rising-costs-tighter-budgets-and-fewer-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:06 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A marooned three-metre-long (nine feet) shark in South Korea has drawn more than a million visitors to the coastal city of Busan, boosting local retail sales and triggering a trademark war, as authorities rush to stop opportunistic vendors from cashing in on the viral phenomenon. The shark, nicknamed “Bukangi” in reference to the park where it has become trapped, has become an internet darling and tourist sensation after non-stop local media coverage about multiple failed efforts to encourage it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369977/viral-trapped-shark-south-korea-brings-tourism-retail-windfall-busan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369977/viral-trapped-shark-south-korea-brings-tourism-retail-windfall-busan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:52:04 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Japanese, South Korean and Thai brands have increased their share of new entrants in Hong Kong’s retail property market by 7 percentage points to more than one-third in the first nine months of 2026, while the demand for shops from mainland Chinese brands has slipped, according to Cushman & Wakefield. A slew of new brands helped lift the combined share of Japanese, South Korean and Thai brands to a three-year high, according to Cushman, which said it expected the trend to continue. This year,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369937/hong-kongs-first-store-appeal-grows-more-japanese-south-korean-and-thai-brands-arrive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369937/hong-kongs-first-store-appeal-grows-more-japanese-south-korean-and-thai-brands-arrive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong and mainland Chinese residents will have to register with immigration authorities on both sides of the border to use automated “joint clearance” channels at the revamped Huanggang Port crossing, with around 100,000 travellers a day expected to use the control point when operations begin. Hong Kong’s Immigration Department would deploy sufficient manpower to help passengers register at the checkpoint, assistant director Jacky Wong Ki said on Tuesday. “The whole registration process at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369947/registration-both-sides-border-needed-huanggang-joint-clearance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369947/registration-both-sides-border-needed-huanggang-joint-clearance?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:19:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A railway station in Guangzhou has set a national record for trips in a single day and drawn attention for the frequency of bullet train departures – one every 40 seconds – during this month’s holiday period, according to the Guangdong provincial government. Guangzhou South Railway Station handled 1,252 train services and just over 1 million trips on October 1, the start of the seven-day National Day holiday across mainland China, the publicity department of the province’s Communist Party... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369883/train-every-40-seconds-how-chinese-rail-station-handled-record-1-million-trips-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/article/3369883/train-every-40-seconds-how-chinese-rail-station-handled-record-1-million-trips-day?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:39:41 +0000 The Star The Star Malaysians delight in visiting family and friends, so much so that these visits made up 44 per cent of domestic travel. They enjoy seeing their loved ones even more than shopping (21.6 per cent) and holidaying (13 per cent), as shown in the latest numbers from the Statistics Department on domestic tourism in the second quarter of this year. The 44 per cent recorded is even higher than last year’s trend in domestic tourism where “visiting relatives and friends remained the primary purpose of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369737/malaysians-choose-family-over-shopping-or-holidays-domestic-travel-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3369737/malaysians-choose-family-over-shopping-or-holidays-domestic-travel-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 01:46:05 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma More than 1,500 Hong Kong residents toured the revamped Huanggang Port border crossing on Sunday as authorities pushed ahead with preparations for its opening. A Security Bureau spokesman said that participants took franchised buses or cross-boundary coaches from various districts to reach the crossing and were shown the new port building in groups. “The event effectively enhanced participants’ understanding of the public transport arrangements, immigration and customs clearance and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369721/1500-hong-kong-residents-tour-revamped-huanggang-port-border-crossing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369721/1500-hong-kong-residents-tour-revamped-huanggang-port-border-crossing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 14:00:18 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Business-class flights, once largely the domain of company reps on paid trips, are becoming more popular among tourists in China who do not mind spending a bit extra for a comfortable ride from start to finish, industry insiders said. Businesspeople once occupied 90 per cent of the spacious seats, but have lost that edge to leisure travellers who can buy their way out of economy class but not into first class, said Wong Hong, director general of the 18-member Association of Asia Pacific... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367287/no-brainer-growing-trend-chinese-tourists-seeking-luxury-business-class-flights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367287/no-brainer-growing-trend-chinese-tourists-seeking-luxury-business-class-flights?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Kristen Cheung,Lo Hoi-ying Kristen Cheung,Lo Hoi-ying Mainland Chinese visitor arrivals in Hong Kong during the first two days of the National Day “golden week” surpassed the pre-pandemic total for the same period in 2018, as a catering sector representative reported a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in restaurant receipts. The tourism chief expressed confidence on Saturday that the city would reach its annual target of 53.8 million visitors earlier than expected. The city recorded 511,311 arrivals from the mainland on Thursday and Friday,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369651/mainland-chinese-arrivals-first-2-days-golden-week-holiday-top-2018-total?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369651/mainland-chinese-arrivals-first-2-days-golden-week-holiday-top-2018-total?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 06:13:51 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s retail sales rose by 5.6 per cent year on year in August, with the latest figures showing consumer spending picking up after growth eased for two consecutive months. Retail sales value reached HK$32 billion (US$4.1 billion), according to provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday. Sales in the first eight months of the year rose by 8.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. “Growth was seen across many types of retail outlets, while online... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369559/consumer-spending-picks-hong-kong-retail-sales-rising-56-august?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369559/consumer-spending-picks-hong-kong-retail-sales-rising-56-august?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:50:22 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung Wet weather dampened visitor numbers at some of Hong Kong’s popular attractions on Friday morning, the second day of mainland China’s National Day “golden week” holiday. Queues at the Peak Tram terminus in Central remained short, with passengers waiting less than an hour to board. Among them was Jasper Huang, a mechanical engineer in his twenties from Xiamen, Fujian province, who was visiting Hong Kong with friends for four days. “We plan to visit some famous spots like Victoria Harbour and the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369534/rain-dampens-visitor-numbers-hong-kong-attractions-day-2-golden-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369534/rain-dampens-visitor-numbers-hong-kong-attractions-day-2-golden-week?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 06:28:31 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A banknote clasped between her hands, Liu Haiyan prays to the protector of the Wudang Mountains. The range in central China’s Hubei province has long been considered sacred in Taoism. “I asked him to bless our motherland with favourable weather and to make it even more prosperous,” Liu says while sitting outside the Golden Hall, a Taoist temple at the summit of Tianzhu Peak. “This place watches over our country,” she adds. “We’re Chinese, and this is part of our faith.” Tourists and pilgrims in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369441/how-chinas-wudang-mountains-draw-droves-visitors-search-spiritual-cleansing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3369441/how-chinas-wudang-mountains-draw-droves-visitors-search-spiritual-cleansing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Thousands of Hongkongers, domestic helpers and tourists have taken advantage of the extended lantern show in Victoria Park as the National Day “golden week” holiday began in mainland China. Many people arrived early at sunset on Thursday to avoid the huge crowds that had previously gathered for the International Lantern Spectacular, organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which has attracted more than 500,000 visitors since its debut in September. Before many of the lanterns were turned on in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369474/extended-victoria-park-lantern-show-attracts-thousands-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369474/extended-victoria-park-lantern-show-attracts-thousands-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:41:16 +0000 Lexi Tian Lexi Tian Hongkongers flocked across the border on National Day for grocery shopping, massages and trendy 60cm-long egg tarts, citing lower prices and a wider variety of leisure activities. Immigration Department figures showed that 238,112 residents had left Hong Kong by 9pm on Thursday, while the city had welcomed 269,567 mainland Chinese visitors. At the Lok Ma Chau spur line control point, crowds of Hongkongers gathered in the morning to head north, while mainland visitors travelled in the opposite... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369458/national-day-hongkongers-visit-shenzhen-shopping-and-60cm-long-egg-tarts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369458/national-day-hongkongers-visit-shenzhen-shopping-and-60cm-long-egg-tarts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:48:24 +0000 Jess Ma,Kristen Cheung Jess Ma,Kristen Cheung Hongkongers have come out in droves to take advantage of restaurant discounts and transport promotions on National Day, while visitors have said the offers are a happy surprise. Businesses rolled out bargains and freebies to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which falls on October 1, ranging from restaurant discounts to free MTR rides. Residents were seen taking the train and visiting restaurants covered under the promotion push to capitalise on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369443/hong-kongs-national-day-perks-draw-locals-outside-pleasant-surprise-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369443/hong-kongs-national-day-perks-draw-locals-outside-pleasant-surprise-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 07:55:01 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Located just off Fifth Avenue – a stone’s throw away from Central Park and some of New York’s most prestigious cultural institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art – The Mark Hotel is the de facto town square of the Upper East Side, Manhattan’s poshest neighbourhood. One of the few, if not the only, independent five-star hotels in New York, The Mark attracts an eclectic international clientele, ranging from Middle Eastern royalty to European jet-setters. Most of them are repeat... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3369020/mark-hotel-new-york-where-upper-east-side-elegance-meets-met-gala-glamour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3369020/mark-hotel-new-york-where-upper-east-side-elegance-meets-met-gala-glamour?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu,Themis Qi Enoch Yiu,Themis Qi Hong Kong commercial banks continue to offer incentives to attract mainland visitors during the first golden week after Beijing tightened cross-border investment rules and enforced the collection of a 20 per cent levy on overseas investment or insurance gains. HSBC would offer up to HK$88,000 (US$11,215) for new high-end clients, as well as experiences including a National Day fireworks dinner and tickets to the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing or a K-pop concert, according to the bank’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369382/hong-kong-banks-set-golden-week-lures-mainland-chinese-visitors-despite-new-levies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/banking-finance/article/3369382/hong-kong-banks-set-golden-week-lures-mainland-chinese-visitors-despite-new-levies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:39:25 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The operating company that runs the Eiffel Tower said on Tuesday its chief would step down at the end of this year in the wake of a controversy over the removal of women staff during a visit by a Hindu religious group. Patrick Branco Ruivo, who has been director general of the Paris landmark since 2018, would leave his job at the end of the year after an internal probe revealed that “operational flaws and shortcomings” in organising the visit led to the “unacceptable” removal of women staff, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369249/eiffel-tower-chief-stepping-down-over-removal-women-staff-hindu-groups-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3369249/eiffel-tower-chief-stepping-down-over-removal-women-staff-hindu-groups-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 17:36:21 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong is set to welcome 1.29 million mainland Chinese visitors over the National Day “golden week” break, fuelling questions online about what locals and tourists can do during the celebrations. On popular mainland social media platform RedNote, many users have recommended a range of activities, such as visiting the countryside, exploring the Unesco Global Geopark in Sai Kung, cycling and watching fireworks. To help tourists and locals alike, the South China Morning Post shares some of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369123/5-things-do-over-national-day-golden-week-holiday-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369123/5-things-do-over-national-day-golden-week-holiday-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong is bracing for a surge of mainland Chinese visitors to its eco-sensitive areas during the National Day “golden week” holiday, as strong interest in countryside attractions raises questions over whether the city can absorb crowds without overwhelming popular sites. A review of discussions on Chinese social media platform RedNote on Monday by the South China Morning Post found Po Pin Chau, famed for its dramatic volcanic rock columns, among the most talked-about sightseeing spots,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369108/can-hong-kong-protect-its-eco-sensitive-sites-amid-golden-week-overtourism-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369108/can-hong-kong-protect-its-eco-sensitive-sites-amid-golden-week-overtourism-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Mainland Chinese visitors made nearly 440,000 trips to Hong Kong over the extended Mid-Autumn Festival weekend, with a tourism industry representative expecting hotel occupancy to exceed 90 per cent in popular districts during the coming National Day “golden week”. According to figures released on Monday, Hong Kong’s Immigration Department recorded 439,532 inbound trips by mainland visitors from last Friday to Sunday. The figure accounted for about a quarter of the 1.73 million inbound trips,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369026/440000-mainland-arrivals-over-mid-autumn-weekend-hotels-brace-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369026/440000-mainland-arrivals-over-mid-autumn-weekend-hotels-brace-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:07:42 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg When Japan shut its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic, expats and long-time friends Hillary Hewins and Blake Piper started spending their weekends in Atami, a small seaside city just a 40-minute bullet train ride from their adopted home of Tokyo. Known during the 17th and 18th centuries for its soothing hot springs, Atami steadily surged in popularity during the four decades after World War II as a destination for Japanese holidaymakers. Sprawling concrete resorts opened, and the city centre... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368990/japans-showa-retro-aesthetic-enjoys-revival-tourists-start-look-beyond-temples?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3368990/japans-showa-retro-aesthetic-enjoys-revival-tourists-start-look-beyond-temples?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:46:10 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Even though he was an experienced swimmer and a medical check-up showed he had no condition that made exercise unsafe, 66-year-old Zhao Xin said he was stopped by staff at a local swimming pool from swimming with his grandson because of his age. “The pool’s staff said it wasn’t able to mitigate the risks of exercise for older people, and that if it admitted swimmers over 65, local authorities would penalise it,” Zhao said. “After I retired, I found that many times I want to spend money but am... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Wynna Wong,Ambrose Li Wynna Wong,Ambrose Li In the second of a two-part series on Hong Kong’s economic transformation, Ambrose Li and Wynna Wong profile three established enterprises that have rejuvenated their brands and reinvented their businesses. Read part one here. Late into the night, Hong Kong football fans in their twenties, thirties and forties sat in Lin Heung Lau restaurant on Wellington Street watching World Cup matches over dim sum rather than pints at a sports bar. The historic restaurant, traditionally associated with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368912/how-hong-kongs-old-businesses-are-adapting-new-times?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368912/how-hong-kongs-old-businesses-are-adapting-new-times?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li After three weeks of travelling across China, Bojan Tomic and his wife found that one of the biggest conveniences of the trip was being able to pay for daily expenses almost entirely via smartphone. The Croatian couple’s journey spanned the cities of Beijing, Xian, Chengdu and finally Shenzhen. Visiting China for the first time, they quickly adapted to the country’s dominant mobile payment ecosystem, using Alipay and WeChat Pay, two of China’s largest payment platforms, for most of their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368810/how-chinas-mobile-payment-overhaul-helps-foreigners-spend-money-ahead-apec-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368810/how-chinas-mobile-payment-overhaul-helps-foreigners-spend-money-ahead-apec-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones At a zoo a short drive south of Bangkok, Charoon Youngprapakorn has spent a lifetime taking the pulse of Thailand’s tourism industry from an unlikely vantage point: the open jaws of crocodiles. Handlers at his Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo have long thrilled onlookers by coaxing tips from the audience and carefully placing the money into the mouths of animals capable of taking off an entire hand. The crocodiles at this open-air, fan-cooled throwback to 1980s showmanship still take their tips... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3368828/thailand-has-had-enough-foreign-tourists-behaving-badly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3368828/thailand-has-had-enough-foreign-tourists-behaving-badly?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Six people, including four tourists, were missing after a building collapsed following an explosion early Friday in Athens’ historic Plaka district that was probably due to a huge gas leak. The city’s mayor Haris Doukas called the blast an “unbelievable disaster” and spoke of the likelihood of an “explosion triggered by … a very significant gas leak” that led to the collapse of the two-storey building at around 7.30am on Friday morning. The building is just below the Acropolis. According to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368808/3-injured-after-explosion-causes-building-collapse-athens-tourist-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368808/3-injured-after-explosion-causes-building-collapse-athens-tourist-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 09:13:15 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Investor appetite for hotel assets increased in Hong Kong and the wider Asia-Pacific region in the first half of the year as consumers showed growing eagerness to travel and constrained supply supported property values, according to CBRE. The region netted US$8 billion of investment in the period, up 21 per cent from a year earlier, with Japan, mainland China and South Korea attracting the most activity, the property consultancy said in a report on Thursday. “Hotels have become one of the most... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368759/asia-pacific-hotels-most-compelling-investment-amid-travel-growth-flat-supply-cbre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368759/asia-pacific-hotels-most-compelling-investment-amid-travel-growth-flat-supply-cbre?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:00:16 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau From restaurants and hotels to cafes and market stalls, Hong Kong’s catering industry has banded together to offer discounts of up to 30 per cent at more than 3,800 outlets to celebrate National Day on October 1. Food and catering businesses said on Thursday they would provide an array of tasty deals across the city to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Offers include meal sets at 30 per cent off, fresh food items such as vegetable packs for HK$7 (89 US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368699/3800-hong-kong-food-outlets-offering-30-celebrate-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368699/3800-hong-kong-food-outlets-offering-30-celebrate-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:37:21 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings A three-day public holiday used to be a big deal in China. Then came “golden weeks”, which would sometimes stretch to nine days, sending millions of people in search of new sights across the country and further afield. Now an alignment of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday will give many Chinese students and office workers up to a record 13-day break, potentially pushing tourist traffic to new heights. “The more interesting change this year is not simply higher volume, but the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368623/skydiving-whale-watching-and-burst-bookings-holidays-extend-millions-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368623/skydiving-whale-watching-and-burst-bookings-holidays-extend-millions-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:33:29 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Tencent Holdings on Thursday launched TenPayGo, a mobile payment app targeting foreign visitors, as the tech giant seeks to capture China’s growing inbound tourism market ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen. Developed by Tencent’s WeChat Pay team, TenPayGo allowed international travellers to make payments at tens of millions of shops, restaurants and attractions across the WeChat Pay network by linking their credit cards or their home-country digital wallets... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368544/tencent-rolls-out-payment-app-foreign-travellers-ahead-apec-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368544/tencent-rolls-out-payment-app-foreign-travellers-ahead-apec-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 05:19:05 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Are Hongkongers starting to get bored of Shenzhen? Lately, when I ask friends and acquaintances if they have any weekend plans north of the border, there is a lot less enthusiasm in their replies. I see a lot of shrugs, or people saying they don’t know when they’re going next. I have no exact figures but anecdotally, the people around me are not doing as many day trips to our neighbouring city. I cannot say if there is an actual decline in traffic. In fact, the evidence might point to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368492/are-hongkongers-getting-bored-weekend-trips-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3368492/are-hongkongers-getting-bored-weekend-trips-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:15:04 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau From moongazing and picnics to bus rides and a lantern extravaganza, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong has plenty of activities for everyone. This year the festival falls on September 25, a Friday, with the following day designated as a public holiday in Hong Kong. The South China Morning Post rounds up Mid-Autumn Festival offerings. 1. What are the highlights at night? At Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has organised the city’s first International Lantern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368553/moongazing-bus-tours-how-celebrate-mid-autumn-festival-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368553/moongazing-bus-tours-how-celebrate-mid-autumn-festival-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:54:04 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong is expected to welcome about 1.29 million mainland Chinese travellers over the National Day “golden week” break, with city authorities planning to step up crowd management and tighten supervision of tour agencies and retail outlets. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Hong Kong’s No 2 official, chaired a meeting with various government departments on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the holiday on the mainland, which spans October 1 to 7. On top of the expected influx of about 1.29... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368547/hong-kong-welcome-129-million-mainland-chinese-visitors-national-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368547/hong-kong-welcome-129-million-mainland-chinese-visitors-national-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:03:40 +0000 Reuters Reuters Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli ordered the one-day closure of the Colosseum on Wednesday as a mark of respect after a worker was ‌killed overnight in an accident. Andrea Moretti, a 22-year-old technician, died after falling several metres while installing a new lighting system inside the ancient Roman arena. Built 2,000 years ago, the Colosseum was the biggest amphitheatre in the ⁠Roman Empire, used to host gladiator fights, executions and animal hunts. ‌It is Italy’s most visited... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368532/italys-colosseum-closes-after-worker-dies-accident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368532/italys-colosseum-closes-after-worker-dies-accident?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:09:37 +0000 The Star The Star Malaysia’s Sabah state has ordered a full investigation into the Semporna resort where a female tourist from China was allegedly molested and assaulted inside her room by an intruder early last Saturday. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Jafry Ariffin said he instructed tourism authorities and enforcement agencies to investigate the security lapses that led to the incident and the resort’s licensing status. “I have instructed the relevant tourism authorities to immediately look... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3368321/malaysian-resort-under-investigation-after-intruder-molests-tourist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3368321/malaysian-resort-under-investigation-after-intruder-molests-tourist?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 02:40:56 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Late last month, an open tender for Hotel Cozi Harbour View in Kwun Tong was announced, with interested parties given until October 15 to submit bids. The 598-room hotel, located in Hong Kong’s eastern Kowloon Peninsula, a former industrial area, was taken over by Nanyang Commercial Bank for HK$1.87 billion (US$238.4 million) in 2025, with the bank now looking to dispose of the asset to the highest bidder. Just a week after the announcement of the tender, Nina Hospitality, one of the largest... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368207/once-worlds-most-visited-city-hong-kong-now-converts-hotels-student-dorms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368207/once-worlds-most-visited-city-hong-kong-now-converts-hotels-student-dorms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:00:06 +0000 The Star The Star A Malaysian woman has died while scuba diving after she was caught in strong currents in Bali, Indonesia. According to local media portal Bali News, the victim, Siti Nuraini Rusidi, 40, was on a diving trip with a divemaster, boat captain and several other divers when the incident occurred at 11.10am local time on Wednesday. The trip’s divemaster, Eugenius Franciso Ray, 33, had reportedly raised concerns over her health when he noticed her coughing when the group was at the first dive site at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3367893/malaysian-woman-scuba-diving-bali-dies-after-being-swept-away-currents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3367893/malaysian-woman-scuba-diving-bali-dies-after-being-swept-away-currents?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:54:28 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Among the world’s most connected airports, Guangzhou’s hub has posted the fastest rise through the latest rankings, according to an annual list compiled by aviation data firm OAG. And overall, Chinese hubs stood out as carriers expanded their international networks with added flights. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in southern China jumped to 19th place, from 36th last year, in OAG’s Megahubs 2026 report, released on Wednesday. An OAG spokeswoman called its jump the biggest of any... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367718/china-airports-climb-global-connectivity-ranking-international-routes-rise-oag-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367718/china-airports-climb-global-connectivity-ranking-international-routes-rise-oag-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Wency Chen,Mia Nurmamat Wency Chen,Mia Nurmamat As technological developments augur an era of renewed space exploration, China is aiming to become a major player. In the first part of this two-part series, Wency Chen and Mia Nurmamat examine how the southern island province of Hainan is betting on a growing aerospace cluster to rewrite its economic playbook beyond tourism. On Hainan’s northeastern coast, launch towers rise abruptly from a flat landscape of coconut palms and open sky. At Pad 1 of the commercial spaceport in Wenchang, an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3367752/chinas-rocket-boom-turns-hainan-space-hub-can-launches-fuel-wider-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/policy/article/3367752/chinas-rocket-boom-turns-hainan-space-hub-can-launches-fuel-wider-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Chinese online travel platform Trip.com has launched a space-flight package priced from 5.1 million yuan (US$759,900), compared with Virgin Galactic’s publicly announced ticket price of US$750,000. The six-day trip includes several days of preflight training followed by a 90-minute suborbital flight operated by US-based provider Virgin Galactic, which departs from Spaceport America, near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The first four days are devoted to preparation and training, with the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367720/chinese-travel-platform-sparks-debate-us760000-space-flight-package?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367720/chinese-travel-platform-sparks-debate-us760000-space-flight-package?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:30:05 +0000 Rebecca Lo Rebecca Lo Hong Kong’s five-star hotels can come across as intimidating, with more conservative properties wanting to shield their well-heeled visitors with ornate decor, black-uniformed staff and chintz seat cushions that ask: “Are you worthy?” For Dirk Dalichau, general manager of Mondrian Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui, a hotel’s message should be welcoming – not only for guests but the wider community in the city. “I have been involved in so many projects that changed the hospitality landscape,” says the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367017/real-experiences-mondrian-hong-kong-general-manager-why-community-matters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3367017/real-experiences-mondrian-hong-kong-general-manager-why-community-matters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:15:05 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Revenue from inbound travel to China is forecast to reach US$470 billion by 2040, more than doubling its current share of the economy and helping offset weak domestic demand, according to UBS. Tourism from outside mainland China would expand to 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on a compound annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent from 2025, the Swiss investment bank estimated. China’s inbound travel revenue would represent 15 per cent of the world tourism market by around 2040, said Chen... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367459/chinas-inbound-tourism-revenue-projected-reach-us470-billion-2040-ubs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367459/chinas-inbound-tourism-revenue-projected-reach-us470-billion-2040-ubs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Hoang Thi Ha,Pham Thi Phuong Thao Hoang Thi Ha,Pham Thi Phuong Thao Vietnam is often held up as proof of China’s underwhelming soft power in Southeast Asia: a millennium of resistance against Chinese domination, a border war within living memory, unresolved maritime disputes and elite surveys that consistently show Vietnamese respondents’ deep distrust of Beijing. Yet beneath these strategic tensions, a quieter shift is under way. Young Vietnamese are warming to Chinese culture, language, lifestyles and economic opportunity. From crowds queuing for Labubu toys... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3367227/politics-aside-young-vietnamese-are-warming-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3367227/politics-aside-young-vietnamese-are-warming-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Police say five people have died and 40 others were injured after a Dutch tour bus slammed into a roadside crash barrier and overturned in eastern Switzerland. The bus, with 45 people on board, overturned Thursday afternoon in a construction zone between the villages of Susch and Zernez in the Alpine canton of Graubuenden. Seven rescue helicopters and 13 ambulance crews took part in the rush to evacuate the victims, police said. Three people remain in serious condition in hospital. Images from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3367111/several-dead-dutch-coach-crash-switzerland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3367111/several-dead-dutch-coach-crash-switzerland?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:22:39 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japan’s tourist hotspot Shinjuku will impose a ban on more than half of its holiday rentals, including homes on Airbnb, after a surge in complaints about visitors, an official has said. Known for its buzzing commercial and entertainment district in the Japanese capital Tokyo, Shinjuku has about 4,000 short-term rentals, according to the ward’s official website. That is nearly 10 per cent of the country’s total. But its large residential population has become increasingly exasperated with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3366670/japans-shinjuku-ban-more-half-holiday-rentals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3366670/japans-shinjuku-ban-more-half-holiday-rentals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:15:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s tourism watchdog has revoked the licences of two travel agencies and a guide after finding they failed to protect members of mainland Chinese tour groups from “coerced shopping”. The Travel Industry Authority said on Monday that the licences of Go Go Ming Travel Services, Grandee Travel Company and guide Sun Kwun-ying had been revoked with immediate effect. “The authority adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards coerced shopping and any conduct that damages the reputation of Hong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3366602/2-hong-kong-travel-agencies-guide-stripped-licences-over-coerced-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3366602/2-hong-kong-travel-agencies-guide-stripped-licences-over-coerced-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:57:25 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Retired harbour pilot Alex Yu Chi-leung sailed his 50-foot wooden yacht, Bowline, from Causeway Bay in Hong Kong to Dongao Island in Zhuhai under a new cross-border yachting scheme last week, but bureaucratic hurdles and shallow waters tempered the excitement of the leisure trip. It was Yu’s first voyage under the scheme, but it could also be his last unless mainland Chinese authorities improve certain requirements. “If the procedures are simplified – because right now they are too numerous,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366503/red-tape-high-cost-can-hong-kongs-new-yacht-scheme-chart-smoother-course?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3366503/red-tape-high-cost-can-hong-kongs-new-yacht-scheme-chart-smoother-course?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Edith Lin,Eric Jiang Edith Lin,Eric Jiang At least 15 high-speed cross-border train services were delayed in Hong Kong after a signalling fault prompted a 45-minute disruption of northbound journeys on Sunday morning. The Transport Department said at around 8.30am that the MTR Corporation had notified authorities that high-speed rail services at the West Kowloon terminus of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link would be delayed due to a “signal fault”. At around 9.15am, the department said the MTR Corp had resolved the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3366514/signalling-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-high-speed-rail-service-delaying-15-trains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3366514/signalling-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-high-speed-rail-service-delaying-15-trains?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 02:35:28 +0000