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Travel news and advice

Travel news and advice
The place to read about new accommodation, travel services, travel guides and publications, smart travel, developments in aviation and, for readers in Hong Kong, travel deals and holiday bargains.
People departing Hong Kong are seen at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port Passenger Clearance Building on the first day of the Easter holiday. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Lessons to learn from Hong Kong exodus at Easter

Hong Kong businesses must think of better ways to attract customers if they are to survive what appears to be an intensifying economic restructuring.

Hong Kong society

Explainer | Ready for your next ski trip? How Hongkongers can stay safe on the slopes

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Tourism

Can AI replace travel agents? Holiday app start-ups take on the big players

Asia travel

Shanghai’s riverside promenade The Bund offers perfect stopover stroll

An extended stopover on the way to your destination can be an exciting experience in itself, and China’s most European city is no exception.

Shanghai’s impressive skyscrapers viewed from The Bund promenade along the Huangpu River. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong tourism

Can Hong Kong look beyond its ‘shopping paradise’ era and attract tourists again?

Panel of experts at industry summit urge tourism trade to incorporate more technology to help meet needs of visitors, especially young people.

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What to expect as popular travel destinations introduce new fees for tourists

Many popular spots worldwide are introducing tourist fees for the first time or raising those that already exist. We take a look at some.

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US-China relations

China issues warnings about US travel to its citizens, urging ‘caution’

Tourism ministry advises travellers to ‘assess risks’ while education ministry tells students to ‘conduct risk safety assessments’.

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Beijing’s warnings came shortly after mainland officials announced additional 50 per cent tariffs on all American imports in response to US President Donald Trump’s latest duties. Photo: Shutterstock
Asia travel

Expo 2025 side trip: the Japanese island where onions reign supreme

Overlooking Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, Awaji Island’s soil, rich in volcanic and oceanic minerals, produces exquisite produce – including onions.

Tourism

3-day Ethiopia travel itinerary enough to see the best of African nation

Whirlwind trip through Addis Ababa’s bustling streets and Lalibela’s breathtaking sacred sites shows the best of Ethiopia. Here’s our advice.

China trade

Lao Airlines cruising to first C909 – a milestone for the made-in-China aircraft

China’s aircraft manufacturer continues spreading its wings abroad with fresh deals to supply passenger jets to Asian neighbours.

This China-made C909 will operate in Laos and have 90 seats. Photo: CCTV
Responsible travel

How have travel trends changed since Covid? 7 experts open up

Industry leaders talk about the evolution of the travel industry since the pandemic brought it to a standstill in 2020.

Tourists are looking for more meaningful experiences, says Sasha Andrews from Exodus Adventure Travels. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong travel agencies may cancel Thailand tours in wake of earthquake

Hong Kong tour groups, involving fewer than 100 people, travelling in Thailand during the quake have been reported safe.

Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, HK Express to boost flights to mainland this summer

Airlines will provide nearly 300 return flights weekly during the peak of the season to cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Zhengzhou.

Indonesia

Bali to crack down on ‘naughty’ foreigners with new rules and tourism levy

The new guidelines for foreign tourists were issued to curb their misbehaviour.

Foreign tourists relax on Kuta Beach on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali in November 2023. Photo: AFP
Nordic nations

Denmark issues travel warning for transgender people going to US

Germany has also updated its travel advisory after several of its citizens were detained at the US border.

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A demonstrator holds a trans flag during a rally in Seattle, Washington, in February. Photo: Reuters
Tencent

Tencent chases Chinese tourists in Singapore with Sentosa deal

As Chinese travellers return to Southeast Asia, Weixin Pay has struck a partnership with Singapore’s top resort island.

Travel Destinations

Where to eat in New York’s Times Square amid its dining revolution

Pizza, steak, caviar, dim sum, chops and a cornucopia of cocktails await diners visiting the gateway to the Broadway theatre district.

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Germany

Strike at German airports, including main hubs, brings most flights to a halt

More than 1,000 scheduled take-offs and landings cancelled at Frankfurt, Germany’s busiest airport.

A passenger walks past boards displaying information on cancelled flights at the Frankfurt Airport. Photo: Reuters
Bangkok

Inside The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok: a bubble of perfect luxury

Situated on Bangkok’s famous Wireless Road, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok features 260 rooms and suites as well as a restaurant by Michelin-starred chef David Toutain.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay sorry after failure forces Milan-bound flight to divert to Lanzhou

‘We sincerely apologise to our affected customers for the inconvenience caused and appreciate their understanding,’ Cathay Pacific says.

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Thailand

Thais riled by illegal short-term condo rentals amid tourist influx

Short-term stays competing with the hotel sector have resulted in noise, mess and constant stream of visitors in formerly quiet residential areas.

Foreign tourists walk with their luggage in a tourist area in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 17. Photo: EPA-EFE

How I will get over anxiety about flying after recent fatal crashes

When you are worrying about a mid-air plane crash how do you keep calm and fly on? Five tips for how to stop feeling anxious when travelling.

When you are worrying about a mid-air plane crash, how do you keep calm on a flight? Five tips for how to stop feeling anxious. Photo: Getty Images
Luxury travel

The insider’s mini-guide to Mumbai: hotels, shopping, museums and more

Looking for an authentic experience in Mumbai? Our guide recommends some of the hottest spots in the home of Bollywood, far from the maddening crowds of the busiest tourist traps.

Aviation

Driving remains riskier than flying in 2025 - those accidents aside

‘A person would have to travel by air every day for 103,239 years to experience a fatal accident,’ the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its most recent Air Safety Report.

Vietnam

Your complete travel guide to Saigon: restaurants, bars, boutiques and more

Ho Chi Minh City, commonly known as Saigon, is in the midst of an urban renewal, with enough exciting restaurants, bars, shops and attractions to satisfy even the most discerning traveller.

The Driftwood Pool Bar at JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon. Photo: Handout
Britain

UK couple charged with spying in Iran, admit they ignored travel warnings

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who were on a round-the-world trip, said they were aware of the risks but believed ‘most people are good’.

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British nationals Craig and Lindsay Foreman are seen in an undated image. Photo: British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office family handout via AP

What you need to know if you’re going to Italy on holiday in 2025

Jubilee Year, held every 25 years, brings millions of extra tourists to Rome and the Vatican, and visitors need to be prepared.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s new tourism slogan invites toilet comparisons

The timing of the campaign has many complaining that the slogan is tone deaf – and references bathroom activities.

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