In Tokyo, the "Somei Yoshino" variety at Yasukuni Shrine, where the Japan Meteorological Agency observes, reached full bloom.

This year's bloom in Tokyo was five days behind the average and 15 days later than last year.

Similarly, Kyoto also witnessed its first cherry blossoms of the season, blooming three days later than the average, as reported by the local weather observatory.

The weather service company forecasts cherry blossoms to appear in northeastern regions in early April and in the northern main island of Hokkaido by late April.

During January and February, the country greeted a total of 988,574 foreign visitors, marking an 18% increase from the 837,446 recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Thailand emerged as the primary source with 247,530 tourists, constituting 25% of the overall arrivals, followed by Vietnam (185,385 or 18.8%), China (109,990 or 11.1%), and Laos (54,546 or 5.5%).

Khieu Thy, president of the Khmer Angkor Tourist Guide Association (KATGA), highlighted a notable rise in international tourists exploring Siem Reap province’s temples in early 2024, featuring a more diverse visitor demographic than during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic when most visitors hailed from neighboring countries.

He noted that the upsurge in foreign tourist numbers has spurred stakeholder job opportunities and income generation, particularly following the tourism sector's near-halt amid the pandemic's peak from 2020 to 2022.

They attributed the growth to factors such as the rebound of global economic activity, promotional campaigns for the country’s tourism, improved road and airport infrastructure, and the establishment of direct flight connections, all attracting more foreign guests.

Public streets in Gion will remain accessible. This measure addresses issues of overcrowding and misconduct by tourists. Previous efforts to protect geisha included distributing pamphlets in 2015 and posting photography restrictions in 2019. Despite these measures, some tourists continue to flout the rules.

Similarly, Mount Fuji's local government has voted for restrictions and fees to manage climbing activities. Despite these localized measures, Japan is actively welcoming tourists, exemplified by the upcoming digital nomad program, which aims to attract foreign visitors to work and explore the country.

Concerns over irregularities and a reported loss of $1.8 million prompted this change. Instead, ticket sales will transition to an online platform managed by the national government, effectively canceling the agreement with Joinnus, a virtual ticket sales firm.

The protests led to a near-desertion of the tourist attraction and the suspension of rail services, severely impacting local businesses. Though rail services resumed shortly after the government's decision reversal, tourism has slowly recovered.

The disruptions prompted travel advisories from the United States, Germany, France, and Brazil, highlighting concerns over essential supplies due to transportation disruptions.

The newly launched Don Mueang - Shanghai service, operated by Thai AirAsia (FD), offers travelers an alternative to the existing Suvarnabhumi (BKK) - Shanghai flights serviced by Thai AirAsia X (XJ).

Santisuk Klongchaiya, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Thailand, highlighted the significance of Kaohsiung as a destination, noting its appeal to both art and spiritual travelers. He emphasized the city's charm and ease of navigation, citing convenient facilities such as its high-speed train service. Klongchaiya expressed confidence in the potential of the Don Mueang-Kaohsiung route to attract Thai tourists and visitors to the Kingdom.

Eligible individuals from 49 countries, including the U.S., earning over ¥10 million annually, will qualify.

Applicants must have private health insurance, and family members can accompany them. The visa won't provide residence cards or government benefits. It's non-renewable, requiring recipients to leave and reapply after six months.

Specific details are yet to be disclosed, but Deputy Minister Imaeda Soichiro's tweet suggests support for the initiative.

The previous policy, initiated in September, was set to expire on February 29. The decision follows negotiations with Beijing to reciprocate the privilege for Thai nationals visiting China.

While the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson did not confirm the announcement, both sides plan to allow tourists to stay for up to 30 days per visit. This move is aimed at reviving Thailand's tourism sector, which suffered a significant blow during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, Thailand hosted 40 million visitors, with 11 million from China. Despite a slow recovery, Thailand saw 28 million foreign visitors in the past year, including 3.5 million from China.

Japan's National Tourism Organization recently reported that the count of outbound Japanese travelers during the initial ten months has surged almost fourfold from the previous year. However, this growth rate is only about half the pace witnessed in Japanese international travel in 2019.

Experts in the travel industry attribute this trend to the yen depreciation. In 2019, one could exchange 110 yen for a dollar, but the exchange rate is around 143 yen — a slight improvement from a month ago. Nevertheless, compared to the pre-pandemic period, it translates to an effective increase akin to a 30% tax on all expenditures.

Despite this, there is an uptick in bookings for Japanese international travel during the New Year period. H.I.S, a Japanese travel agency, revealed that reservations indicate a preference for closer-to-home destinations this year.

According to figures quoted by The Yomiuri Shimbun from the agency, Seoul emerges as the top destination, with Taipei following closely as the runner-up.The third-place finisher is the destination that used to make the top spot for Japanese travelers in the years before the pandemic — Honolulu.

Although outbound travel recovery from China has been sluggish in 2023, reaching pre-pandemic levels is anticipated to take another 12-18 months. Industry experts predict that China will be a crucial growth driver in 2024, with Asia-Pacific markets leading the way in both types of travel.

In 2024, France, the host country for the Olympic Games, will significantly attract international tourists. It is estimated that approximately 11% of all international visitors in 2024 will be accounted for by France.

According to the recently conducted study titled International Travel Trends & Forecasts 2024, it has been projected that by the conclusion of 2028, there will be a notable increase in international travel, reaching a total of 2.8 billion journeys.

Robust expansion is anticipated in 2023, propelled by the Europe and Central Asia region. Despite geopolitical hurdles like a weakened economic forecast and Russian aggression in Ukraine, international travel positively recovered in 2023, exceeding 1.7 billion trips, a 32% increase from 2022.

The growth was mainly driven by Europe & Central Asia, which accounted for more than 50% of total international trips in 2023. However, the Q4 2023 international travel data was significantly impacted by the recent Israel anti-terrorism operation against Hamas terrorists.

Analysts predict that neighboring countries such as Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon will be affected despite their impressive recovery in inbound and outbound tourism during the first three quarters of 2023.

In 2023, industry projections indicate a 22% increase in tourists visiting Israel compared to 2020. However, these positive trends are expected to reverse dramatically in 2024, with a predicted decline of over 40%. Additionally, ongoing travel cancellations to neighboring countries will impede travel growth across the Middle East region.

Among the surveyed participants, India and the US emerged as the top countries where leisure is the predominant motive for international travel. Travel respondents prefer short-haul trips when it comes to their upcoming international travels.

This was announced on 6 December 2023 during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee. The Department of Cultural Development of the Ministry of Culture included the nomination “Songkran in Thailand, the traditional Thai New Year festival” in the UNESCO list.

“In Thailand, Songkran marks the annual passage of the Sun into the constellation Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, which marks the traditional start of the new year,” UNESCO said.

“This happens in mid-April after the rice harvest. It is a time when people reunite with their families and pay respect to the elderly, ancestors, and sacred images of Buddha. Pouring water is an important action during Songkran, symbolizing purification, reverence, and good fortune.”

Songkran in Thailand is officially celebrated as a three-day national holiday from April 13 to 15, although celebrations can last longer — up to a week in some places. For tourists, the Songkran festival offers the opportunity to enjoy a huge celebration when water parties are held on the streets of cities and villages in Thailand.

From December to 30 November, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from these countries can conduct business or travel within China without a visa for up to 15 days. This should help “promote China's high-quality development and opening up,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

Currently, most travelers require a visa to enter China. Rare examples of those exempt include citizens of Singapore and Brunei who enter China for business, tourism, family visits, and transit for no more than 15 days.In March 2020, the country imposed strict travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For three years, China has had some of the world's strictest Covid restrictions, with travel restrictions, multiple lockdowns, and frequent testing requirements. Its zero Covid policy, which had hit the economy hard, was only reversed in December last year. Before the pandemic, tens of millions of foreign tourists visited China yearly.

At a Wednesday conference chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh, he also proposed providing incentives for visitors from wealthy countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, and the remaining 20 members of the 27-member EU, VnExpress reported last week.

Citizens of Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Finland can travel to Vietnam without a visa. And for other countries, it offers e-visas valid for 90 days and multiple entries for people from all countries.

If this visa-free entry policy is implemented, Vietnam will join Sri Lanka and Thailand as a few countries offering convenience to Indian travelers. The Sri Lanka Cabinet has approved the issuance of free visas to persons from India, China, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand as a pilot project until 31 March 2024.

Thailand also announced last month that the government will allow visa-free entry to tourists from India and Taiwan for six months, from November 10 this year to May 10 2024.

Vietnam Airlines has confirmed its return to daily flight frequency from London Heathrow to Vietnam this winter, with daily nonstop services beginning on 29 October 2023.

The airline operates four weekly flights to Hanoi and three to Ho Chi Minh City. The flights are carefully scheduled with onward connections via Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to multiple destinations throughout Vietnam, Asia, and Australasia, including Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

The only non-stop daily service to Vietnam is operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Return economy fares start at £754.

London-Hanoi schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday flights depart Heathrow Terminal 4 at 11:00, arriving in Hanoi the following day at 05:45. Flights depart Hanoi at 01:10, arriving in Heathrow at 07:15.

London-Ho Chi Minh schedule: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday flights depart Heathrow at 11:00 and arrive in Ho Chi Minh the next day at 06:50. Flights depart Ho Chi Minh at 00:05, arriving in Heathrow at 07:15.

According to Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), Indonesia became the top destination for Australian tourists in 2023, accounting for 17% of all insurance sold.

However, Australian visitors do not simply select yoga and beach vacations; according to SCTI, average indemnity expenses jumped 44% from $706 to $1,017 in 2023, compared to pre-pandemic (2019) travel.

The most prevalent claims among Australian visitors to Indonesia are for Balinese belly treatments (24%), followed by lost phones (10% of total claims submitted in 2023).Additional claims included requests of reef and surfing damages, as well as cases involving monkeys.

Indonesia is the second country with the most claims in 2023, just behind the United States.

The popular annual Rot Fai Loy Nam (floating train) program returns this season with 24-day trips every Saturday and Sunday from November to January, excluding New Year's Eve. The first ride began on Saturday, November 4th. The last ride will be on 28 January.The journey starts at Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok. It stops for about 20 minutes at Lopburi's Pasak Jolasid Dam, Thailand's largest reservoir, for tourists to enjoy the scenery and take photos. Tourists сan have five hours of free time to stroll around the dam or visit nearby flower fields before heading back.

Return tickets cost 500 baht and 590 baht per person in air-conditioned carriages and 330 baht per person in regular carriages. For group tours, private train carriages can be rented.There will be a limited night excursion aboard the KIHA 183 train! Between November and December, 14 tourism programs are available, including 12 one-day and two overnight programs. On November 25 and 26 and December 9 and 10, the day trip will allow passengers to enjoy the magnificent fields of chrysanthemums and sunflowers, a scenic "floating train" ride, and a magical sunset in Saraburi and Lopburi.

For tourists who want to dress up in traditional Thai costumes and visit historical sites, there are two-day trips to Bang Rachan Park in Sing Buri on December 16 and 17, and two more day trips to King Narai's Palace in Lopburi on December 23 and 17. December 24. Both routes will take passengers to colorful flower fields and the Glory of Ayutthaya 2023 fair.

For those tourists who want an overnight stay, there is an overnight trip to Prachin Buri, visiting the ancient city of Si Mahosot and the cosmic fields at Pha Hin Son Viewpoint on November 11-12, and another trip to Chonburi, visiting the margarita and hydrangea fields. Jomtien Beach and Pattaya nightlife November 18-19. Every trip has a capacity of 200 passengers and costs 1,499 baht for a day trip and 3,999 baht for an overnight excursion.

The tax of 100 yen, equivalent to 67 US cents, will be added to each visitor’s ferry fare to the island. If a traveler is interested in making multiple visits, they can purchase a 500 yen ($3.33) pass valid for one year. Residents, commuters, and students are exempt. Local officials expect the new tax to generate 140 million yen by the end of March 2024, which will be used to maintain the island, including parks and toilets, and provide free Wi-Fi.

Following the pandemic, the island's popularity was renewed when G7 leaders visited the shrine at the bloc's summit in Hiroshima. An initiative called Another Thousand Years is behind the efforts to care for and preserve Miyajima and the Itsukushima Shrine.

Unesco-listed Itsukushima Shrine, one of the country's most attractive and famous photo sites, is the bright-orange torii gate, which appears to float on the waters of a narrow bay at high water. It is part of a 1,400-year-old Shinto complex.

Many tourists are going to visit this unique place. However, the downside of this situation is over tourism, prompting officials to implement a tourist tax, which came into effect on October 1. Other famous Japanese places are proposing tourist levies to combat over-tourism and ensure finances for travel management and the preservation of nature, culture, and history.

The Thai government has approved a visa-free travel scheme for tourists from China and Kazakhstan, valid until February 29, 2024. Previously, travelers had to obtain an entry visa before visiting Thailand for tourism. Tourists from these countries will have the opportunity to enjoy a visa-free stay in Thailand for up to 30 days. After the temporary scheme is completed, the government will assess whether it should be continued.

This measure has been implemented to attract more visitors to recover the country’s tourism industry after its downfall during the COVID-19 pandemic. The five-month stimulus visa scheme is aimed to help reach this year’s tourism revenue target of 2.38 trillion Baht.

Thailand is expected to receive between 19,12,000 and 28,88,500 Chinese tourists during this five-month period, generating between THB 92.58 billion (USD 25,92,624,207) and THB 140 billion (USD 39,20,581,000). Regarding Kazakhstan, Thailand anticipates 1,29,485 tourists and THB 7.93 billion (USD 222,072,909) in revenue during the visa-free period.

To check all the details, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand’s official website https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

The National Security Council secretary-general Gen Somsak Rungsita said today that the people's cooperation is important and as long as the virus is spreading around the world social distancing, the use of hand-wash and masks are essential to minimize the impact and to avoid further spread. The emergency decree will end in June and as long as it is active international travel bans won't be lifted. We can expect the curfew to be further shortened and inter-provincial travel restrictions will be lifted. Some businesses will require their customers still to use the Thai Chana mobile application for checking in and out of their premises. However, movie theaters will have to remain closed until further notice, because there are no new movies released at the moment. We are looking forward to see travel bans lifted and tourists coming back to Thailand.

The data on tourist destinations searched on the internet as well as search for tourist attractions across Thailand in April was higher than during the previous months showing that the public shares the same expectations.

As a first step, one-day trips within 100-200 km from the home towns may be allowed with longer domestic travel following later on with further ease of restrictions.

It is also probable that tourist destinations and attractions will set limits for number of people who can visit at a time.

Whether these great expectations are going to become true, will be clear after the resolution of the Cabinet's meeting the next week is announced.

Earlier, Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan expressed expectations the government would ease lockdown measures to allow people to exercise or move about in public areas.

In March, the airline informed about suspension of all flights both domestic and international, and its invention to restart service on May, 1 provided the situation with Covid-19 improves.

The representatives of Thai Lion Air assured the company had no intention to go out of business and would return to normal service as soon as it is allowed.

Earlier the airline issued the unemployment letters for 120 of its 4,000 employees but only for those who had not worked for at least one year.

Thai Lion Air was founded in December 2013. The carrier operated from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport and was planning to add more domestic and international scheduled flights from other cities in Thailand. The airline's fleet consisted of over three dozen aircraft. From its hub in Bangkok, Thai Lion Air offered services to 50 domestic and regional destinations including several chartered services to destinations in China.