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Tencent has launched a mobile payment app for foreign visitors to China, allowing them to use overseas bank cards and digital wallets across the WeChat Pay network as the country seeks to make its increasingly cashless economy more accessible to international tourists. Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen, China The app, TenPayGo, was launched last week by Tencent's WeChat Pay team. Tencent is one of China's largest technology companies and the operator of WeChat, a widely used p

Japan has returned to the top of the World Economic Forum's global travel and tourism rankings, as the country seeks to attract visitors also to its lesser-known destinations amid a surge in foreign arrivals. Shibuya’s bustling streets light up at night in Tokyo, Japan, a major tourism hub Japan ranked first among 110 economies listed in the index released Sept. 25, followed by the United States, Spain, Australia, and France. Japan had ranked first in 2021 before dropping to

Venice is looking at expanding its tourist entry fee, applying it for a longer period of the year ​and raising the daily charge to as much as €30 (US$34), ‌a senior official in the city government has said. Gondoliers row their gondolas through the Venice Canal as the city prepares for the Redentore Festival celebrations in Venice, Italy, July 15, 2023 Budget and taxation councilor Michele Zuin said the current fee of €5 to €10 was too low to safeguard against overtourism, bu

The 139-year-old Raffles Hotel has ranked 17th in the 2026 edition of The 50 Best Hotels list, making it the only Singapore property in the top 50 based on reviews from hoteliers and experienced luxury travelers. The facade of Raffles Hotel in Singapore Opened on Dec. 1, 1887, the hotel has 115 rooms and is widely regarded as the oldest hotel still operating in Singapore. It was gazetted as a national monument in 1987 and used to host many world-famous political leaders. The

China's largest online travel agency Trip.com is offering a six-day space tourism package for 5.1 million yuan (US$760,000), sparking debate over its price and safety. Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane in flight Offered through Trip.com's luxury travel brand HHtravel, the package includes four days of training in the U.S. before a 90-minute suborbital flight operated by Virgin Galactic from New Mexico. Passengers will experience several minutes of weightlessn

Fei Zhu Lok Lok, a Malaysian-style skewer chain in Singapore founded by local influencer Phyllis Seah, is closing its doors after more than five years in operation. A Fei Zhu Lok Lok stall "After thinking about it for a long time, I’ve finally decided to close all my outlets and bring this chapter to an end," Phyllis wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday, adding that Sept. 13 would be the chain’s last day. She did not give a specific reason for the closure, but described Si

Malaysia's AirAsia has entered into its first codeshare partnership with Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines, opening up connections between Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul. AirAsia planes are reflected in a glass wall at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2), in Sepang, Malaysia, Jan. 21, 2026 The partnership, which started on Sept. 2, initially covers five European destinations - London, Moscow, Athens, Ankara and Zurich - and will progressi

A roast meat restaurant in Malaysia's Selangor, run by Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung, has been temporarily closed by the Petaling Jaya City Council, just 10 days after officially opening. Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung at his restaurant in Malaysia A closure notice was posted outside the Six Hub Roast House on Aug. 24, ordering it to cease operations from 1 p.m. The notice cited alleged breaches related to the restaurant's license and use of the premises, The Star newspaper reported.

South Korea's most famous historic landmarks, including Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, are set to increase entry fees on Jan. 1, 2027. The traditional Korean architecture of Gyeongbokgung Palace under a clear blue sky on June 5, 2026 According to an announcement by the Korea Heritage Service on Aug. 5, the government will organize a public forum in November to solicit opinions before hiking the fees. The prices have remained unchanged si

China Street Hum Jin Pang, a heritage hawker stall at Singapore's Maxwell Food Centre, has closed after more than 40 years in business, disappointing customers who cherished its traditional savory dough fritters. China Street Hum Jin Pang at Singapore’s Maxwell Food Centre Its closure was announced on Aug. 24 in an Instagram video by Deitrich Mohan, the third-generation owner of Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake, another stall at the food center. Opened in 1975, the stall was known

An American Airlines jet carrying 181 people turned back to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, after a bird strike sent flames from its left engine and prompted a mayday call. American Airlines planes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina Flight 1760, a Boeing 737-800 bound for Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, lifted off at 8:11 a.m. on Aug. 10 local time and was back on the ground 27 minutes later, according to FlightAware tracking

The Vu Lan Festival will take place from Aug. 12 to 19 at Tay Thien Mandala in Dai Dinh Commune in Phu Tho Province, led by His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche and a monastic delegation from the Drukpa Lineage in India. Nuns at a ceremony at the Grand Mandala Stupa of Tay Thien in April 2026 His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche, a realized incarnate master and one of the two principal disciples of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, will preside over the Medicine Buddha Grand Prayer and the

Thailand was named the world's second best country for medical tourism in 2026 after Turkey, according to a ranking by leading digital platform Travel And Tour World. Tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 6, 2024 The ranking assesses 50 destinations based on key factors influencing medical travelers, including quality of healthcare, specialist expertise, advanced medical technology, treatment costs, waiting times, and post-treatment recovery options. Thai

China's Jiangxi Yangfeng Art Fireworks Display and Portugal's Macedos Pirotecnia have secured places in the final of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2026, organizers announced on June 28. A fireworks performance from Portugal’s Macedos Pirotecnia at Da Nang International Fireworks Festival in 2026 The two teams were selected by the jury of DIFF 2026 after the qualifying rounds, based on criteria including concept and theme, creativity, pyrotechnic effects,

Japan's Osaka Itami Airport was named the best airport in Asia in a global ranking of 279 international airports by flight compensation services provider AirHelp, based on on-time performance, overall experience, and terminal facilities. Osaka Itami Airport in Japan Globally, the airport ranked 12th, ahead of Singapore's Changi (13th). Osaka Itami Airport, the primary domestic airport for the Kansai region of Japan, including its major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, was pr

Japan's Sézanne, once crowned Asia's best restaurant, has lost its coveted three Michelin stars ahead of the Michelin Guide's autumn 2026 update following the departure of its founding chef. Sézanne Restaurant in Japan's Tokyo While Michelin made no public announcement, users on online forum Reddit recently noticed that Sézanne's three-star designation had disappeared from the Michelin Guide website. The move follows the exit of opening chef Daniel Calvert in April, according

Dubai International Airport, named the world's busiest international airport by passenger traffic, will close permanently by 2035 as Dubai shifts all flight operations to nearby Al Maktoum International Airport. An Emirates airplane at Dubai International Airport, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 7, 2026 All flights and services currently operating at Dubai International Airport, including those of Emirates, will be relocated to

Two new restaurants received Michelin stars at a ceremony on Thursday night, taking the total number of establishments rated in Vietnam to 11. Representatives of Vietnamese restaurants receiving their one Michelin star at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 4, 2026 The two new entries, each getting one star, are Onvit in Hanoi and Upstairs in HCMC. Chef Truong Hiep, 31, co-founder of Upstairs, opened 18 months ago, said the restaurant offers contemporary Vietnamese cuisine by preserv

Da Nang has claimed top spot among Vietnam's most searched summer destinations, data from Dutch travel agency Booking.com shows. Fireworks show on the Han River in Da Nang during the opening night of the International Fireworks Festival, May 30 2026 Nha Trang was in second place and followed by Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and Hoi An for stays between June 1 and Aug. 31. Rounding out the top 10 were Hanoi, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, Quy Nhon, and Ha Long, highlighting the continued pop

Singapore, ranked the world's second-richest country by GDP per capita in 2025 behind Switzerland, was named the most desirable travel destination for Fillipino and Indonesian travelers thanks to its low crime rates and political stability, according to a recent survey. A bus runs past the Old Hill Street Police Station in Singapore The State of Southeast Asia: 2026 survey by Singapore-based think tank ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute asked respondents to identify their preferre