As the rains ease and the river waters swell, October marks the beginning of Thailand’s spectacular longboat racing season, one of the country’s most colourful and vibrant traditions. Rooted in both religious and cultural practices, longboat racing has become a highlight of the Thai calendar, drawing communities together to celebrate heritage, camaraderie and athletic skill. …
Thailand has announced an ambitious new framework to position itself as a global leader in sustainable tourism. The Green Tourism Plan 2030, launched by the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, aims to strike a balance between economic growth, environmental protection and community well-being. The central target is clear: to see…
Kuala Lumpur recently played host to the third Malaysia Sarong Music Run, an event that has quickly become one of the highlights of the nation’s tourism calendar. Held on Malaysia Day 2025 (20 September) at the PETRONAS Twin Towers, the festival drew an impressive 15,000 runners from 26 countries, underscoring its rising international appeal. More…
Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim, has called for urgent action to ensure that tourism growth in the Mersing region does not come at the expense of its natural environment. In a recent address, His Majesty underlined the importance of striking “a balance between progress and preservation” and highlighted the need for stronger regulations and policies to…
Indonesia is emerging as one of the world’s leading destinations for wellness tourism, a trend that is expected to continue gathering momentum in 2025. Travellers today are increasingly seeking holidays that combine rest, rejuvenation and cultural enrichment, and Indonesia is uniquely placed to deliver on all fronts. In this article, we explore a few of…
This month, Bali celebrates the return of one of the island’s most popular cultural events: the Nusa Dua Festival. Scheduled to take place from 25-26 October at The Nusa Dua complex, the festival will span four days of diverse entertainment, art and culture. Organised by ITDC, the event is designed to showcase Bali’s creative spirit…
There’s plenty of good news coming out of Vietnam at the moment. Here are a few stories making the headlines: Viet Nam Grants Visa Exemptions to Citizens of 12 Countries In a bid to boost international arrivals, the Government has announced a new resolution granting visa exemptions under its tourism stimulus programme to citizens…
A selection of bitesize stories and positive developments making the news in the Land of Smiles recently: Thailand’s Tourism Transformation: All You Need to Know Thailand’s tourism sector is going through a major transformation with the likes of Minor International, Agoda and Thai Airways taking the charge. These tourism giants are charting a new…
A selection of bitesize news stories currently making the headlines in Malaysia: Malaysian Tourism, Culture and Food Festival Launched in Manila The Embassy of Malaysia in Manila, through its Tourism Malaysia Office, proudly hosted the Malaysia Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Food Festival 2025 and officially launched the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign at the Concourse,…
A few bitesize news stories and tourism developments making the headlines in Indonesia in recent weeks: Tourism Hotspots Unaffected by Recent Political Unrest Despite widespread demonstrations in late August and travel advisories from several countries, Indonesia’s key tourist regions—especially in West Nusa Tenggara, including Mandalika, Sembalun, and the Gili islands—remain calm, fully operational, and…