Travel & Leisure
New York's Kitano Hotel to reopen under Seibu Prince management
Favorite lodging of prime ministers and business leaders gets upgraded rooms
Travel & Leisure
Technology
Singapore's YouTrip wallet app rides rebound in global travel
Seamless currency conversions push usership to triple in 2 years
Travel & Leisure
Airbnb looks to convert Japan's empty homes into tourist lodgings
Search for space intensifies as weak yen spurs surge in foreign visitors
Travel & Leisure
Five-star Myanmar hotel to reopen under new owner
Yangon landmark returns after pandemic, military takeover halted operations
Travel & Leisure
Japan jungle theme park aims to draw tourists to Okinawa
Junglia slated to open in 2025, tapping nearby China and Southeast Asia
Economy
Malaysia to offer visa-free entry to China and India nationals to boost economy
Arrangement starts in December, also applies to Gulf state travelers
Travel & Leisure
South Korea to double tax refund limit for foreign tourists
Visitors will be able to receive as much as around $3,800 in refunds from January
Travel & Leisure
Japan eyes revamp to way tourists are reimbursed for tax-free sales
Tourists would be repaid for taxes at airports, not at point of sale, to fight fraud
Retail
Duty-free sales at Japan department stores hit record high
Weak yen fuels demand for luxury items among foreign visitors in October
Transportation
Cathay Pacific to add 5,000 workers in 2024 as demand recovers
Airline rushes to restore capacity by hiring pilots, cabin crew and ground staff
Business Spotlight
ASEAN tourism banks on year-end boost after weak Chinese return
Flight capacity and security concerns cloud holiday travel forecast
Transportation
Vietnam bets on new airports to boost tourism and supply chains
Plan flies in face of net zero goal as flights emit more carbon than trains
Property
Country Garden's Forest City project in Malaysia gets boost from films
International TV, including Netflix reality series 'The Mole,' drawn by scenery
Health Care
Malaysia's Penang lures medical tourists from Indonesia
Geographic proximity, linguistic similarities, quality and costs among advantages
Finance
Japan's SMBC Aviation Capital to buy 60 Airbus planes for $3.4bn
Aircraft lessor bets big on continuing post-pandemic recovery in air travel
Economy
Thailand GDP growth disappoints as exports weaken
Economy expanded 1.5% in Q3, falling short of market expectations
Property
Okinawa's 'Miyakojima bubble': tourism boom drives up land prices
Japan's southern islands face real estate squeeze as hotels spring up
Travel & Leisure
Japan uses international cycling races to break from tourism pack
Even bridges and hills can draw enthusiasts from overseas
International relations
Thai government in hot water over idea to invite Chinese police
PM Srettha Thavisin proposed controversial plan after Bangkok shooting incident
Travel & Leisure
Japan sees 2.52m visitors in October, topping pre-COVID levels
Recovery in international flights fuels rise, but Chinese arrivals still lag
Travel & Leisure
Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas to open hotel in new capital
Developer sees opportunity as government functions begin Nusantara move next year
Travel & Leisure
Thailand's spiritual sites attract young locals facing uncertain life
'Mutelu tourism' market seen growing 40% amid good-luck charm boom
Technology
AI interpreter to help conversations without missing a beat
Tech from Japan's Pocketalk can handle longer chats than Google Translate
Travel & Leisure
Hate airport bag check-ins? Japan firm to lighten Osaka tourists' load
Delivery service handles luggage from hotels to airport in home country
Life
Beetroot soup diplomacy: Envoy gives Japan taste of Lithuanian culture
Aurelijus Zykas wields fluent Japanese to sell his nation's native food products