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Stories about leisure travel in Hong Kong, China, Asia, and around the world.

An aerial view of Denpasar shows the many hotels and lodgings in the area. Photo: Shutterstock

Airbnb ban in Bali? Indonesia says no, but crackdown on illegal stays looms

Bali’s governor wants to ban the online platform but the island’s problems with illegal rentals go beyond Airbnb, critics say.

3 hours agovideocam

Louvre thieves escaped 30 seconds before police arrived: probe

11 Dec 2025 - 2:51AMvideocam

US plans to order foreign tourists to disclose social media histories

10 Dec 2025 - 9:54PM

North Korea promotes new beach resort to Chinese tourists in 2026 plan

The Wonsan beach resort and the Pyongyang Marathon highlight plans for Chinese visitors in a post-pandemic tourism push.

10 Dec 2025 - 8:01PMvideocam

Domestic tourists visit the beach at Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area in Wonsan, North Korea on July 1. Photo: AFP

Tourists in disbelief as luggage drifts away during ferry ride in Thailand

Investigations reveal that crew had improperly secured luggage on upper deck, so when ferry hit rough seas, loose bags were tossed overboard.

10 Dec 2025 - 2:00PM

IndiGo flight chaos exposes risks of India’s aviation duopoly

India’s largest airline grounded nearly 3,000 flights last week, showing how easily a staffing crunch at one carrier can paralyse the sector.

10 Dec 2025 - 3:22PMvideocam

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Japan issues megaquake advisory after magnitude 7.5 tremor

The advisory urges preparedness for a possible large quake and tsunami, recalling the 2011 disaster that destroyed Fukushima’s nuclear plant.

9 Dec 2025 - 8:02PMvideocam

A vehicle rests on the edge of a collapsed road in Tohoku town in Aomori Prefecture on Tuesday following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. Photo: AFP

Paris Louvre faces strike after major leak and robbery

Louvre staff warn of ‘collapse’ as they protest work conditions at the world’s most visited museum.

9 Dec 2025 - 3:00PM

This Japanese farm homestay lets you get involved in producing organic food

Part of the global Wwoof programme, the Sho Farm near Tokyo lets visitors get their hands dirty and learn all about organic farming.

8 Dec 2025 - 4:15PMvideocam

Japan’s youth are now the most hostile to immigration, survey finds

Observers say daily exposure to overcrowding and disruptive behaviour in urban centres has made young adults the most resistant to change.

8 Dec 2025 - 5:09PMvideocam

Locals and foreign tourists crowd the streets to watch a performance in the Shibuya district of central Tokyo in August. Photo: AFP

Water leak at Paris Louvre damages books at Egyptian antiquities department

The leak underscores the deteriorating state of the world’s most visited museum just weeks after a jewel heist exposed security flaws.

8 Dec 2025 - 4:01AM

The Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Photo: Reuters

This man has gone viral for his resemblance to an ancient Egyptian king

Egyptian influencer Youssef Mohamed hopes his resemblance to Pharaoh Akhenaten fuels further interest in ancient Egyptian history.

7 Dec 2025 - 5:15PM

In race for tourists, Singapore pumps up appeal with push into fitness events

High-octane competitions like Hyrox and the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon are helping drive more visitors to the city state.

7 Dec 2025 - 2:30PM

Malaysians swap hotels for RVs to drive down holiday costs

Rentals are up 200 per cent, with families finding a six-berth campervan more affordable than booking seaside resorts.

7 Dec 2025 - 12:06PM

Malaysians are increasingly turning to campervans for cheaper and more adventurous holidays. Photo: SAIC

India caps airfares as IndiGo crisis hits 5th day, stranding hundreds

IndiGo’s spate of cancellations has prompted fare increases on flights operated by other airlines on popular routes.

6 Dec 2025 - 6:25PM

Travellers look at updates on flights, as they stand next to a screen displaying details of cancelled IndiGo airlines flights, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, India, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Travel news and advice

Egypt’s Saint Catherine town is getting an overhaul. Not everyone is happy

A US$300 million project is under way to draw tourists to the biblical mountain town, but experts fear more harm is being done than good.

6 Dec 2025 - 12:15PM

China-South Korea relations

‘China (Taiwan)’ on South Korea tourist arrival card prompts protest from Taipei

Move from Seoul comes as Beijing and Tokyo are locked in a diplomatic spat over the Japanese leader’s comments on a Taiwan contingency.

5 Dec 2025 - 6:49PM

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Opinion | Why Gulf region’s dreams of aviation domination are built on sand

While Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Istanbul’s plans are already aggressively ambitious, Saudi Arabia’s extravagant vision seems like something from fantasyland.

5 Dec 2025 - 4:30PM

A plane prepares for take-off at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 05, 2023.

Bali mulls Airbnb ban to put a lid on revenue leak, overtourism

Airbnbs have emerged as a cheaper alternative to the sprawling resorts that dot the island, eroding tax revenue from hotels.

5 Dec 2025 - 3:41PMvideocam

Japan weighs plan to punish sex buyers, but will it be enough?

Experts warn the sex industry will find ways to circumvent new rules and the problem needs to be tackled from various angles simultaneously.

5 Dec 2025 - 7:08PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong’s October retail sales figures underline need for change

The data suggests sales didn’t keep up with increased tourism. Retailers must do more to adapt to visitors’ new spending preferences.

5 Dec 2025 - 6:45AM

Tourists from the mainland take pictures in Kennedy Town on the last day of the “golden week” holiday on October 8. Photo: Eugene Lee

‘Complete mayhem’: chaos after India’s largest airline cancels 1,200 flights

IndiGo blamed the disruption on ‘unforeseen operational challenges’ including technical glitches, adverse weather and new rules for workers.

4 Dec 2025 - 7:24PM

A man looks at a screen displaying delayed IndiGo Airlines flights at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Review | The Peninsula New York becomes a centre of seasonal cheer during the holidays

With luxe rooms, great dining and a 2024 refurbishment, the grande dame on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is always a great stay – but it’s even better during the holidays.

4 Dec 2025 - 6:00PM

Chinese tourists pivot to South Korea, Thailand amid Japan travel ban

Spat began when Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi suggested potential military intervention in Taiwan Strait, leading Beijing to issue a travel warning.

4 Dec 2025 - 5:06PM

Penang set to scoop up Chinese tourists skipping Japan, Thailand’s Hat Yai

Penang anticipates a surge in year-end visitors, with events and food-driven itineraries boosting hotel bookings.

4 Dec 2025 - 4:02PMvideocam

Tourists visit George Town in Malaysia’s Penang state. Photo: Shutterstock

Oxford slammed for not naming Indonesian researchers in rare flower find

After an uproar over the perceived snub, the university named the Indonesian researchers involved in Rafflesia’s rediscovery on social media.

5 Dec 2025 - 7:39AM

A close-up of the rare Rafflesia flower rediscovered in West Sumatra last month by Indonesian flower hunter Septian Andriki, a team led by researcher Joko Witono, Oxford scientist Chris Thorogood and local guide Iswandi. Photo: X/Chris Thorogood

Chinese consumer and tourism firms turn to shareholder perks to stimulate sales

Companies from Sichuan to Anhui offer discounts and free tickets to shareholders amid slowing consumption in mainland China.

4 Dec 2025 - 11:49AM

In Japan, public opinion turns against Trump’s ‘terrible, stupid’ US

A new survey reveals approval for US ties has hit near-record lows amid political turmoil, punitive tariffs and shock at Trump’s agenda.

6 Dec 2025 - 10:22AM

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