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  1. Philippines Supreme Court Upholds Law Granting VAT Refund To Foreign Tourists

    Remember the law granting value-added tax refund (VAT refund) to foreign tourists signed a few years ago? That law was challenged and recently the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 12079 (the act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists), according to a news report by GMA News.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

    The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the constitutionality of a law that grants value-added tax (VAT) refunds on select local purchases by non-resident foreign tourists.

    In a 30-page decision, the SC En Banc dismissed a petition challenging the validity of Republic Act 12079, or an act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists, adding Section 112-A to the National Internal Revenue Code.

    Granting VAT refund to foreign tourists was not arbitrarily done. It is a policy decision based on legitimate state interests, i.e. the need to remain competitive as a global tourist destination,” the SC said.

    “In fine, foreign tourists may be granted privileges and benefits that are not extended to Filipino citizens, so as long as these distinctions are based on reasonable and justifiable classifications, as in here,” it added.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund applies to goods brought from duly accredited stores and taken out of the country within 60 days from purchase. The goods must be priced at least P3,000 per transaction.

    Meanwhile, the SC said Section 5 of the law’s implementing rules and regulations limit the refund to retail and tangible goods, including clothing, apparel, electronics, gadgets, jewelry, accessories, souvenirs, food or non-food consumables, and other items intended for personal use.

    The petitioner, however, argued that the law violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection as it excludes Filipino citizens.

    For its part, the SC said equal protection does not require identical treatment for all persons.

    It said the act also distinguishes foreign tourists from Filipino citizens.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund system follows the basic rule of VAT that goods are taxed where they are consumed. If the goods are consumed in the Philippines, they remain subject to Philippine VAT.

    Meanwhile, the SC added that VAT refund for foreign tourists is a well-established international practice.

    The Philippines is among the last few countries in Asia to adopt such a system. Our Asian neighbors, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan have long implemented this VAT refund mechanism for foreign tourists,” it said.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s decision on the law about VAT refund for foreign tourists? Apart from the VAT refund for foreign tourists, what problems that plagued the Philippine tourism industry should the government solve this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #BankOfThePhilippineIslandsBPI #Bing #BongbongMarcos #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #corruption #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #Facebook #floodControlScandal #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #GMANetwork #GMANews #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #holiday #Instagram #internationalVisitors #Investagrams #justice #law #Marcos #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PresidentMarcos #publicService #RepublicActNumber12079RA12079 #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #SupremeCourt #tax #taxation #taxes #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #vacation #valueAddedTaxVAT #VATRefund #Visitors #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  2. Philippines Supreme Court Upholds Law Granting VAT Refund To Foreign Tourists

    Remember the law granting value-added tax refund (VAT refund) to foreign tourists signed a few years ago? That law was challenged and recently the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 12079 (the act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists), according to a news report by GMA News.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

    The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the constitutionality of a law that grants value-added tax (VAT) refunds on select local purchases by non-resident foreign tourists.

    In a 30-page decision, the SC En Banc dismissed a petition challenging the validity of Republic Act 12079, or an act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists, adding Section 112-A to the National Internal Revenue Code.

    Granting VAT refund to foreign tourists was not arbitrarily done. It is a policy decision based on legitimate state interests, i.e. the need to remain competitive as a global tourist destination,” the SC said.

    “In fine, foreign tourists may be granted privileges and benefits that are not extended to Filipino citizens, so as long as these distinctions are based on reasonable and justifiable classifications, as in here,” it added.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund applies to goods brought from duly accredited stores and taken out of the country within 60 days from purchase. The goods must be priced at least P3,000 per transaction.

    Meanwhile, the SC said Section 5 of the law’s implementing rules and regulations limit the refund to retail and tangible goods, including clothing, apparel, electronics, gadgets, jewelry, accessories, souvenirs, food or non-food consumables, and other items intended for personal use.

    The petitioner, however, argued that the law violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection as it excludes Filipino citizens.

    For its part, the SC said equal protection does not require identical treatment for all persons.

    It said the act also distinguishes foreign tourists from Filipino citizens.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund system follows the basic rule of VAT that goods are taxed where they are consumed. If the goods are consumed in the Philippines, they remain subject to Philippine VAT.

    Meanwhile, the SC added that VAT refund for foreign tourists is a well-established international practice.

    The Philippines is among the last few countries in Asia to adopt such a system. Our Asian neighbors, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan have long implemented this VAT refund mechanism for foreign tourists,” it said.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s decision on the law about VAT refund for foreign tourists? Apart from the VAT refund for foreign tourists, what problems that plagued the Philippine tourism industry should the government solve this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #BankOfThePhilippineIslandsBPI #Bing #BongbongMarcos #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #corruption #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #Facebook #floodControlScandal #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #GMANetwork #GMANews #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #holiday #Instagram #internationalVisitors #Investagrams #justice #law #Marcos #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PresidentMarcos #publicService #RepublicActNumber12079RA12079 #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #SupremeCourt #tax #taxation #taxes #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #vacation #valueAddedTaxVAT #VATRefund #Visitors #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  3. Philippines Supreme Court Upholds Law Granting VAT Refund To Foreign Tourists

    Remember the law granting value-added tax refund (VAT refund) to foreign tourists signed a few years ago? That law was challenged and recently the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 12079 (the act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists), according to a news report by GMA News.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

    The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the constitutionality of a law that grants value-added tax (VAT) refunds on select local purchases by non-resident foreign tourists.

    In a 30-page decision, the SC En Banc dismissed a petition challenging the validity of Republic Act 12079, or an act creating a VAT refund mechanism for non-resident tourists, adding Section 112-A to the National Internal Revenue Code.

    Granting VAT refund to foreign tourists was not arbitrarily done. It is a policy decision based on legitimate state interests, i.e. the need to remain competitive as a global tourist destination,” the SC said.

    “In fine, foreign tourists may be granted privileges and benefits that are not extended to Filipino citizens, so as long as these distinctions are based on reasonable and justifiable classifications, as in here,” it added.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund applies to goods brought from duly accredited stores and taken out of the country within 60 days from purchase. The goods must be priced at least P3,000 per transaction.

    Meanwhile, the SC said Section 5 of the law’s implementing rules and regulations limit the refund to retail and tangible goods, including clothing, apparel, electronics, gadgets, jewelry, accessories, souvenirs, food or non-food consumables, and other items intended for personal use.

    The petitioner, however, argued that the law violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection as it excludes Filipino citizens.

    For its part, the SC said equal protection does not require identical treatment for all persons.

    It said the act also distinguishes foreign tourists from Filipino citizens.

    According to the SC, the VAT refund system follows the basic rule of VAT that goods are taxed where they are consumed. If the goods are consumed in the Philippines, they remain subject to Philippine VAT.

    Meanwhile, the SC added that VAT refund for foreign tourists is a well-established international practice.

    The Philippines is among the last few countries in Asia to adopt such a system. Our Asian neighbors, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan have long implemented this VAT refund mechanism for foreign tourists,” it said.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s decision on the law about VAT refund for foreign tourists? Apart from the VAT refund for foreign tourists, what problems that plagued the Philippine tourism industry should the government solve this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #BankOfThePhilippineIslandsBPI #Bing #BongbongMarcos #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #corruption #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #economicConfidence #economicDynamism #economicGrowth #Facebook #floodControlScandal #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #GMANetwork #GMANews #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #holiday #Instagram #internationalVisitors #Investagrams #justice #law #Marcos #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PresidentMarcos #publicService #RepublicActNumber12079RA12079 #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #SupremeCourt #tax #taxation #taxes #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #vacation #valueAddedTaxVAT #VATRefund #Visitors #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  4. Vietnam Attracts 12.3 Million Foreign Tourists In 1st Half Of 2026

    Tourism in Vietnam continues to boom as the nation attracted more than twelve million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, according to a news report by VnExpress.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam received 12.3 million international visitors in the first six months of the year, a 14.9% increase from the same period last year, fueled by the country’s reputation as a safe destination amid global geopolitical uncertainty.

    In the second quarter alone, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam reached 5.49 million, up 18.2% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office.

    Mainland China remained the largest source of visitors so far this year with 2.69 million, followed by South Korea with 2.1 million. The rest of the top 10 were Russia, Taiwan, the U.S., Cambodia, India, Japan, the Phillippines and Australia.

    The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism attributed the strong growth to the country’s reputation as a safe and stable destination amid global political uncertainty.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What do you think makes Vietnam very attractive to visitors from around the world? Have you thought about visiting Vietnam soon?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #America #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Australia #Bing #Cambodia #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #China #CommunistChina #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #India #Instagram #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #Japan #jobs #labor #money #mustSee #Philippines #Russian #socialMedia #SouthKorea #Taiwan #tourism #tourismBlog #tourismIndustry #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #touristDestinations #touristSpots #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #vacation #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work
  5. New Campaign To Boost Domestic Tourism In The Philippines

    In a serious attempt to boost domestic tourism in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has a new campaign titled “Discover More to Love”, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    This new move by the DOT makes sense since it is very difficult for the nation to attract foreign tourists. The DOT admitted that Vietnam and other destinations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are more affordable for foreign travelers.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    The Department of Tourism (DOT) is leading a new campaign called “Discover More to Love” to boost domestic travel within the Philippines.

    Among its major features is the introduction of curated and discounted travel-related packages by local tourism stakeholders, including several hotels from across the country.

    In an interview over the weekend, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the campaign would not replace but instead complement the DOT’s primary tourism branding “Love the Philippines,” with the intention of allowing tourists to define their travel experience in their “own personal way.

    “(The thrust is) local muna pero hopefully, we will expand that to international (The thrust would be initially domestic, but hopefully, we will expand that internationally),” she said.

    “The Filipinos love to travel, especially Gen Z and the others, it’s an adventure for them, and we want them to be sound board on what else we can do to improve.”

    Domestic travel remains a strong driver of tourism in the Philippines. Last year alone, it generated at least PHP3.26 trillion in tourist spending, up by 3 percent from PHP3.16 trillion in 2024.

    Beyond strengthening local travel, Angara-Mathay said the DOT is also stepping up efforts to recover the decrease in Korean travelers, while continuing to woo the rest of its top source markets.

    She admitted that the competitive pricing in other Southeast Asian destinations is pulling in more Koreans, which traditionally has been the Philippines’ number one source market for foreign visitors.

    “South Korea’s population is declining, but they’re travelers. Ngayon, ‘yong slot natin kinuha ng Vietnam, kinuha ng other ASEAN countries kasi kalahati lang ang kanilang cost to go there (Now, our slot has been taken by Vietnam and other ASEAN countries because it only costs half to go there),” she explained.

    The DOT, for its part, she said, would continue engaging stakeholders to introduce and craft new “tour bundles” to make the cost of travel to the Philippines more affordable and “predictable.”

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT’s new campaign will significant boost domestic tourism which itself has been thriving? Do you think it is possible for domestic tourism spending to reach P4 trillion this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #BongbongMarcos #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #corruption #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #DiscoverMoreToLove #DitaAngaraMathay #domesticTourism #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #Facebook #floodControlScandal #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #Instagram #internationalTravel #Investagrams #LoveThePhilippines #Marcos #news #PhilippineNewsAgencyPNA #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PNA #PNAGovPh #PresidentMarcos #publicService #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #Vietnam #visitPhilippines #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  6. Vietnam Deploys Hundreds Of Soldiers To Work On New International Airport

    To ensure the completion of the ambitious Long Thanh International Airport, Vietnam deployed hundreds of soldiers to work on it as a shortfall of workers was realized, according to a VnExpress news article. The new international airport has been scheduled for a December 2026 opening and it has been anticipated to handle most flights in 2027.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam has deployed hundreds of soldiers to help build its largest airport, the VND336.63 trillion (US$12.8 billion) Long Thanh, as contractors scramble to cover a shortfall of nearly 2,000 workers before a year-end deadline to open the country’s new aviation hub.

    The deployment signals the urgency around a flagship project that has already slipped past its original 2025 opening date.

    Hundreds of officers and enlisted soldiers have been brought onto the site in Dong Nai City in the country’s south to reinforce a civilian workforce that has struggled to keep pace with one of Southeast Asia’s biggest construction projects.

    The move was confirmed during a June 13 inspection by Construction Minister Tran Hong Minh, who was told by an Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) representative that more than 76% of the total project value had been completed.

    The workforce has been topped up in recent weeks but still falls nearly 2,000 short of the roughly 9,000 workers the site needs, with several units calling in military personnel to bridge the gap.

    The labor crunch reflects a wider squeeze in southern Vietnam, where a cluster of megaprojects is competing for the same pool of skilled construction workers.

    The nearby Bien Hoa-Vung Tau expressway and the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway are pulling engineers and machine operators away from the airport, and the harsh conditions across the vast, largely open site have made workers hard to retain.

    To claw back time before the rainy season, contractors have added engineers, workers and equipment and moved to round-the-clock construction in three shifts and four rotating crews, part of a 180-day campaign to accelerate to the finish.

    The airport is now expected to be substantially complete and to begin trial operations in September, with commercial flights targeted for late 2026.

    ACV said finishing work on the passenger terminal still lacks skilled technical labor, while other packages are short of machinery operators.

    The investor has ordered contractors to staff up for day-and-night work, prioritizing foundation and stone-base work to limit disruption when the rains peak.

    At the terminal, which Minh called the project’s “heart,” he urged crews to complete each task definitively, down to the smallest item, and to push outdoor work first to stay ahead of the weather.

    The schedule could not slip, he said, and crews had to race against time.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think having hundreds of Vietnamese soldiers will be effective on completing the new international airport ahead of the December 2026 launch?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #AirTravel #airport #airports #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #construction #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalAirports #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #jobs #labor #LongThanh #LongThanhInternationalAirport #military #militaryLifestyle #money #mustSee #socialMedia #soldiers #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #vacation #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work
  7. America Is Currently Top Market Of Foreign Visitors For The Philippines

    It is not a secret that the Philippines has been having trouble attracting visitors from overseas. There was a tourism boom in Southeast Asia in 2025 and the Philippines fell way behind its neighbors (note: Vietnam attracted over 21 million visitors while Indonesia attracted over 15 million). When it comes to foreign tourists counted in 2025, the Philippines attracted 8,375 less compared to 2024.

    In fairness, domestic tourism here in the Philippines is thriving as Filipinos and their families do have a strong appetite for local travel and holidays. On the aspect of foreign tourism with statistics counted as of June 16 this year, the United States has emerged as the top market for the country, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    The Philippines has welcomed 2.9 million foreign visitors from January 1 to June 16, 2026, led by those from the United States, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

    Preliminary figures released Thursday showed tourists from the U.S. reached 591,569 out of the country’s total inbound arrival of 2,955,014 during the period.

    The DOT has yet to provide the full breakdown of top visitor arrivals, but said the U.S. “has now become our number one source market,” and it expects the figures to further grow.

    At the general membership meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) on June 17, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the DOT will intensify its push for more tourism and investment partnerships with the U.S.

    We no longer see tourism simply as promotion. We see it as a platform for long-term investment,” she said, citing as example the USD3.4 billion in investments, pipeline opportunities, and financial support the Philippines secured during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent state visit to Japan.

    “This is the direction we are pursuing — tourism as a connector sector that brings together aviation, infrastructure, healthcare, and regional development.”

    The DOT, she said, will also work closely with relevant government agencies to improve and expand air connectivity across the country.

    “To make this more systematic, we will convene regular airline and airport connectivity discussions with carriers, airports, stakeholders, and government agencies. The goal is simple: solve bottlenecks together and turn plans into actual flights,” she added.

    At the same time, Angara-Mathay said DOT would sustain efforts to develop the Philippines’ high-value tourism segments such as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), gastronomy, wellness, education, and retirement tourism.

    “Once people can get here more easily, the next question is what kind of experience we offer them. And that brings me to high-value tourism. Our goal is not simply to bring in more visitors, but to make every visit more meaningful, longer stays, higher spending, and deeper engagement with our destinations and communities,” she said.

    To put things in perspective, 2,955,014 foreign visitors attracted in the first 167 days of 2026 is equivalent to an average of 17,694.69 per day. At that rate, the Philippines could attract more than 6.4 million this year and exceed the 2025 count. However, the DOT did not specify if the current count excludes Filipinos with foreign citizenship (or dual citizenship) based overseas.  

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the United States overtook South Korea as the top market of foreign visitors to the Philippines? Under the new leadership of the DOT, do you feel confident that improvements on attracting foreign visitors will happen this year? What do you think the Philippines has when it comes to attracting American tourists?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #America #AmericanChamberOfCommerceOfThePhilippinesAmCham #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #BongbongMarcos #business #businessConfidence #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #corruption #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #DitaAngaraMathay #DonaldJTrump #DonaldTrump #Facebook #floodControlScandal #foreignInvestors #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #holiday #Instagram #internationalTravel #Investagrams #investors #Japan #Marcos #news #OrganizationForEconomicCooperationAndDevelopmentOECD #PhilippineNewsAgencyPNA #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #PNA #PNAGovPh #PresidentMarcos #PresidentTrump #publicService #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Trump #Twitter #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #USA #vacation #visitPhilippines #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  8. America Is Currently Top Market Of Foreign Visitors For The Philippines

    It is not a secret that the Philippines has been having trouble attracting visitors from overseas. There was a tourism boom in Southeast Asia in 2025 and the Philippines fell way behind its neighbors (note: Vietnam attracted over 21 million visitors while Indonesia attracted over 15 million). When it comes to foreign tourists counted in 2025, the Philippines attracted 8,375 less compared to 2024.

    In fairness, domestic tourism here in the Philippines is thriving as Filipinos and their families do have a strong appetite for local travel and holidays. On the aspect of foreign tourism with statistics counted as of June 16 this year, the United States has emerged as the top market for the country, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    The Philippines has welcomed 2.9 million foreign visitors from January 1 to June 16, 2026, led by those from the United States, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

    Preliminary figures released Thursday showed tourists from the U.S. reached 591,569 out of the country’s total inbound arrival of 2,955,014 during the period.

    The DOT has yet to provide the full breakdown of top visitor arrivals, but said the U.S. “has now become our number one source market,” and it expects the figures to further grow.

    At the general membership meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) on June 17, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the DOT will intensify its push for more tourism and investment partnerships with the U.S.

    We no longer see tourism simply as promotion. We see it as a platform for long-term investment,” she said, citing as example the USD3.4 billion in investments, pipeline opportunities, and financial support the Philippines secured during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent state visit to Japan.

    “This is the direction we are pursuing — tourism as a connector sector that brings together aviation, infrastructure, healthcare, and regional development.”

    The DOT, she said, will also work closely with relevant government agencies to improve and expand air connectivity across the country.

    “To make this more systematic, we will convene regular airline and airport connectivity discussions with carriers, airports, stakeholders, and government agencies. The goal is simple: solve bottlenecks together and turn plans into actual flights,” she added.

    At the same time, Angara-Mathay said DOT would sustain efforts to develop the Philippines’ high-value tourism segments such as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), gastronomy, wellness, education, and retirement tourism.

    “Once people can get here more easily, the next question is what kind of experience we offer them. And that brings me to high-value tourism. Our goal is not simply to bring in more visitors, but to make every visit more meaningful, longer stays, higher spending, and deeper engagement with our destinations and communities,” she said.

    To put things in perspective, 2,955,014 foreign visitors attracted in the first 167 days of 2026 is equivalent to an average of 17,694.69 per day. At that rate, the Philippines could attract more than 6.4 million this year and exceed the 2025 count. However, the DOT did not specify if the current count excludes Filipinos with foreign citizenship (or dual citizenship) based overseas.  

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the United States overtook South Korea as the top market of foreign visitors to the Philippines? Under the new leadership of the DOT, do you feel confident that improvements on attracting foreign visitors will happen this year? What do you think the Philippines has when it comes to attracting American tourists?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  9. America Is Currently Top Market Of Foreign Visitors For The Philippines

    It is not a secret that the Philippines has been having trouble attracting visitors from overseas. There was a tourism boom in Southeast Asia in 2025 and the Philippines fell way behind its neighbors (note: Vietnam attracted over 21 million visitors while Indonesia attracted over 15 million). When it comes to foreign tourists counted in 2025, the Philippines attracted 8,375 less compared to 2024.

    In fairness, domestic tourism here in the Philippines is thriving as Filipinos and their families do have a strong appetite for local travel and holidays. On the aspect of foreign tourism with statistics counted as of June 16 this year, the United States has emerged as the top market for the country, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    The Philippines has welcomed 2.9 million foreign visitors from January 1 to June 16, 2026, led by those from the United States, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

    Preliminary figures released Thursday showed tourists from the U.S. reached 591,569 out of the country’s total inbound arrival of 2,955,014 during the period.

    The DOT has yet to provide the full breakdown of top visitor arrivals, but said the U.S. “has now become our number one source market,” and it expects the figures to further grow.

    At the general membership meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) on June 17, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the DOT will intensify its push for more tourism and investment partnerships with the U.S.

    We no longer see tourism simply as promotion. We see it as a platform for long-term investment,” she said, citing as example the USD3.4 billion in investments, pipeline opportunities, and financial support the Philippines secured during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent state visit to Japan.

    “This is the direction we are pursuing — tourism as a connector sector that brings together aviation, infrastructure, healthcare, and regional development.”

    The DOT, she said, will also work closely with relevant government agencies to improve and expand air connectivity across the country.

    “To make this more systematic, we will convene regular airline and airport connectivity discussions with carriers, airports, stakeholders, and government agencies. The goal is simple: solve bottlenecks together and turn plans into actual flights,” she added.

    At the same time, Angara-Mathay said DOT would sustain efforts to develop the Philippines’ high-value tourism segments such as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), gastronomy, wellness, education, and retirement tourism.

    “Once people can get here more easily, the next question is what kind of experience we offer them. And that brings me to high-value tourism. Our goal is not simply to bring in more visitors, but to make every visit more meaningful, longer stays, higher spending, and deeper engagement with our destinations and communities,” she said.

    To put things in perspective, 2,955,014 foreign visitors attracted in the first 167 days of 2026 is equivalent to an average of 17,694.69 per day. At that rate, the Philippines could attract more than 6.4 million this year and exceed the 2025 count. However, the DOT did not specify if the current count excludes Filipinos with foreign citizenship (or dual citizenship) based overseas.  

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the United States overtook South Korea as the top market of foreign visitors to the Philippines? Under the new leadership of the DOT, do you feel confident that improvements on attracting foreign visitors will happen this year? What do you think the Philippines has when it comes to attracting American tourists?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  10. Vietnam’s New International Airport Powers Up For December 2026 Launch

    The ambitious Long Thanh International Airport of Vietnam was recently switched on using the main power supply which is a milestone and already the local authorities are working on a series of preparations needed for the planned December 2026 commercial launch, according to a VnExpress news report. It has been anticipated that the new international airport will handle most flights in 2027.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Long Thanh airport, the VND336.63 trillion (US$12.8 billion) project set to become Vietnam’s largest, has switched on its main power supply, clearing one of the last big infrastructure hurdles before a planned commercial launch at the end of 2026.

    The airport’s project management board said on June 10 it had energized the power system together with the Dong Nai Power Company, feeding electricity from a dedicated 110 kV substation into the receiving station run by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the state-owned developer building the airport about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City.

    Stable, continuous power is a prerequisite for what comes next: a series of trial runs that will test the terminal, baggage systems and ground operations before passengers arrive. ACV plans three rounds of trial operations in September, October and November, with official commercial service targeted for December 2026.

    The milestone caps a frantic stretch of construction. On June 1, ACV launched a 180-day sprint to finish the airport on time, a push that follows years in which the project wrestled with labor shortages, contractor payment delays and volatile material prices. Roughly 76% of the total project by value is now complete, and the most critical pieces are further along. The aircraft apron near the terminal is more than 88% finished, the fuel system more than 92%, and the connecting roads close to 90%. The passenger terminal, the centerpiece, has its main structure up and is about two-thirds of the way through interior work and equipment installation.

    The airfield itself is already operational. Long Thanh’s first runway and apron are complete, and the runway received its first calibration flight in September 2025. In December, a Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 made the first technical landing, followed days later by the first official flight, both treated as symbolic markers of how close the long-delayed project had come.

    Power for the site runs through a substation the Dong Nai Power Company inaugurated on Dec. 16, 2025, built for more than VND158 billion ($6 million). It carries two transformers with a combined capacity of 80 MVA and feeds the airport through six separate 22 kV lines, enough to cover a construction site that already consumes about 730,000 kWh a month and will draw far more once systems are powered up for testing. The station is designed to run unmanned, monitored remotely.

    Long Thanh is one of Vietnam’s most ambitious infrastructure bets. Spread across roughly 5,000 hectares, the first phase will handle 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo a year. Later phases are designed to lift capacity to as much as 100 million passengers annually, which would make it the country’s largest airport by a wide margin and, ACV hopes, a regional transit hub able to compete with the established gateways in Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think all the preparations will be completed before the new international airport launches this December? Do you think the new Long Thanh International Airport will be launched on time at the end of this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    Note: Cover photo of the Long Thanh International Airport is credited to VnExpress.

    +++++

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  11. Vietnam Achieves 12.4% Tourism Growth In 1st Quarter Of 2026

    Vietnam, a nation that was previously ravaged by war, saw its tourism industry grow by 12.4% in the first quarter of 2026 which is four times higher than the average for the Asia Pacific region, according to a news report of VnExpress. Already Vietnam attracted more than 10 million international visitors during the first five months this year.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam’s tourism sector grew by 12.4% in the first quarter of 2026, outpacing both regional and global averages, according to data from the United Nations Tourism Organization.

    UN Tourism reported on June 2 that international tourist arrivals worldwide rose by 2% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching around 307 million travelers.

    Meanwhile, data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism showed that the country welcomed nearly 6.8 million international visitors during the first three months of the year, up 12.4% from the same period in 2025.

    The growth rate was four times higher than the average for Asia-Pacific.

    The momentum continued into the first five months of the year, with international arrivals increasing by nearly 15%.

    The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism attributed the strong performance to several factors, including political stability, welcoming environment, diverse tourism products, and improving service quality.

    Tourism officials also cited effective tourism promotion campaigns, market diversification efforts, visa facilitation measures, and expanded international flight connections as key drivers of growth.

    Amid ongoing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, the results underscore the resilience and adaptability of Vietnam’s tourism industry.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam will close the gap with Thailand and Malaysia when it comes to attracting foreign tourists this year? Do you think the current tourism boom will create even more jobs and new businesses in Vietnam?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

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  12. Vietnam Achieves 12.4% Tourism Growth In 1st Quarter Of 2026

    Vietnam, a nation that was previously ravaged by war, saw its tourism industry grow by 12.4% in the first quarter of 2026 which is four times higher than the average for the Asia Pacific region, according to a news report of VnExpress. Already Vietnam attracted more than 10 million international visitors during the first five months this year.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam’s tourism sector grew by 12.4% in the first quarter of 2026, outpacing both regional and global averages, according to data from the United Nations Tourism Organization.

    UN Tourism reported on June 2 that international tourist arrivals worldwide rose by 2% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching around 307 million travelers.

    Meanwhile, data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism showed that the country welcomed nearly 6.8 million international visitors during the first three months of the year, up 12.4% from the same period in 2025.

    The growth rate was four times higher than the average for Asia-Pacific.

    The momentum continued into the first five months of the year, with international arrivals increasing by nearly 15%.

    The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism attributed the strong performance to several factors, including political stability, welcoming environment, diverse tourism products, and improving service quality.

    Tourism officials also cited effective tourism promotion campaigns, market diversification efforts, visa facilitation measures, and expanded international flight connections as key drivers of growth.

    Amid ongoing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, the results underscore the resilience and adaptability of Vietnam’s tourism industry.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam will close the gap with Thailand and Malaysia when it comes to attracting foreign tourists this year? Do you think the current tourism boom will create even more jobs and new businesses in Vietnam?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #jobs #labor #Malaysia #money #mustSee #socialMedia #Thailand #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #vacation #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work
  13. 10.6 Million Foreign Tourists Visited Vietnam In January-May 2026 Period

    Vietnam, a nation that was previously ravaged by war, continues to be a strong magnet of visitors as 10.6 million foreign tourists have visited in the first five months of this year, according to a news report by VnExpress. The reported figure is significant as Vietnam attracted over 21 million foreign tourists last year.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam received a record 10.6 million international visitors in the first five months of 2026, up 14.9% year-on-year.

    Data released by the General Statistics Office shows there were 1.78 million arrivals in May alone, up 17%.

    The 10 largest source of visitors during the period were mainland China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Cambodia, the U.S., India, Japan, the Philippines and Australia.

    The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism attributed the strong growth to the country’s reputation as a safe and stable destination amid global political uncertainty.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam will be able to attract as many as 25 million foreign tourists by the end of 2026? Do you plan to visit Vietnam someday?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

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  14. Malaysia Now Has Little Caesars

    Recently in Malaysia, the most-visited Southeast Asian country in the first quarter this year, Little Caesars opened its first outlet in the country marking its ongoing global expansion, according to a VnExpress news report.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Little Caesars, the world’s third-largest pizza chain only after Domino’s and Pizza Hut, has opened its first outlet in Malaysia, marking the brand’s global expansion.

    The new outlet was launched on May 24 in Damansara Utama, a suburb of Petaling Jaya in Selangor.

    The outlet serves Little Caesars’ signature Hot-N-Ready classic pepperoni pizza and crazy puffs pepperoni, while also incorporating localized offerings such as Chicken Hawaiian, 3 Cheese Edge to Edge, and Classic Veggie pizza, the chain said in a statement.

    The chain is known globally for its affordable pizzas, Crazy Bread, and quick grab-and-go style meals.

    Little Caesars, billed as the “Best Value in Pizza,” was founded by Mike Ilitch and Marian Ilitch as a single family-owned restaurant in 1959 and is headquartered in Michigan. It has since grown into the world’s third-largest pizza chain, operating restaurants across all 50 U.S. states and 31 countries and territories.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you were to visit Malaysia today, would you make an effort to visit Little Caesars and have a meal there? If you have dined at Little Caesars before, what is your favorite among their food offerings? Do you think Little Caesars will be able to do good business in Southeast Asia?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  15. Chinese National Gets Banned By Thailand After Causing Damage At Suvarnabhumi Airport

    Recently in Thailand, the authorities permanently banned a Chinese national who caused damage on two automated immigration gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport, according to a VnExpress news report.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    A Chinese tourist has been permanently banned from re-entering Thailand after allegedly damaging automated passport control gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Southeast Asia’s second largest airport by land area.

    The 30-year-old man, identified as Zheng Liwei, was accused of vandalizing two automated immigration gates at the airport on Wednesday while attempting to clear passport control for a flight back to China, Bangkok Post reported.

    According to reports, Zheng became increasingly agitated after repeatedly failing to complete the airport’s automated screening process.

    Video footage circulating online appears to show him slamming his passport against the scanner before kicking the glass barriers and forcing his way through the checkpoint.

    Immigration officers quickly intercepted the man after he allegedly crossed the gate without authorization, police told local media outlet The Nation.

    Airport security officers, assisted by the man’s wife, later restrained him after he allegedly shouted abuse in both Chinese and English and attempted to assault immigration personnel.

    He has been charged with property damage, an offense punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht (US$1,800), or both.

    Zheng also faces a separate charge of insulting a public official while on duty, which carries a penalty of up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.

    Thai immigration authorities have revoked his visa and placed him on a permanent blacklist, effectively banning him from re-entering the country.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the authorities in Thailand made the correct responses to the Chinese national? Did you ever witness a fellow foreign traveler causing trouble at an airport while you traveled overseas over the past six months? Have you ever been to Suvarnabhumi Airport?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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  16. Malaysia Is The Most-Visited Southeast Asian Country In 1st Quarter Of 2026

    When it comes to attracting foreign tourists in the first quarter of this year, Malaysia is number one with 10.6 million tourists attracted and that is more than a million ahead of 2nd placer Thailand, according to a news report by VnExpress. It is recalled that Malaysia counted 42.2 million international visitor arrivals in 2025, and it will host the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2027.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Malaysia welcomed 10.6 million tourists in the first quarter of this year, up 5% year-on-year, reinforcing its position as the most visited country in Southeast Asia.

    Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing said arrivals continue to grow despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Malay Mail.

    Although there is a dip in tourists from the Middle East, there is a slight increase in the number of tourists coming from Asian and European countries,” he said.

    Thailand, traditionally the region’s favorite, ranked second after receiving 9.3 million arrivals between January and March, a slight year-on-year decrease of 2.3%, Bangkok Post reported.

    Vietnam welcomed 6.76 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2026, marking the highest quarterly figure ever recorded and a year-on-year increase of 12%, according to the General Statistics Office.

    Malaysia has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s tourism bright spots in recent years, supported by flexible visa policies and infrastructure improvements.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Malaysia will be able to attract 47 million foreign tourists by the end of 2026? If you have visited Malaysia before, what do you think makes it very attractive to foreigners?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

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  17. Tourists from Spain and Peru Deported By Thailand After Committing Sexual Act On A Moving Vehicle

    If you are touring a foreign land, you better behave yourselves in order to maintain a good standing as a foreign visitor. This is an important lesson to learn as Thailand deported a Spanish man and a Peruvian woman who got caught doing a sex act while riding a moving vehicle locally called the tuk-tuk, according to a news report by VnExpress. The deported ones already confessed their act of indecency.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Thai immigration authorities have deported a Spanish man and a Peruvian woman after they were allegedly caught performing a sex act on a moving tuk-tuk in popular island Phuket earlier this week.

    The 41-year-old man and 43-year-old woman were filmed engaging in oral sex aboard the tuk-tuk on Sunday, in an incident that sparked public criticism over damage to Thailand’s tourism image, Bangkok Post reported.

    Police interrogated the couple on Monday night and both confessed to their act, Nation Thailand reported.

    They were charged with public indecency and immigration police said that the couple have been blacklisted and deported.

    Public sex and indecent acts are punishable by fines of up to 5,000 baht (US$155) under Thai law.

    However, the penalties have done little to deter some tourists from engaging in public nudity and other inappropriate behaviour outdoors.

    On April 12, a French couple, both 24, were arrested after allegedly engaging in a public sex act on Rayee Beach. The pair were later deported after videos circulated online showing the nude woman straddling her boyfriend and performing sexual acts in full view of beachgoers.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Did you spot any foreign tourists who misbehaved or broke laws in your country lately?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #deport #deportation #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Europe #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #illegalAliens #immigration #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #jobs #labor #money #mustSee #oralSex #Peru #Peruvian #sex #socialMedia #SouthAmerica #SoutheastAsia #Spain #Spanish #Thailand #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #tukTuk #Tumblr #vacation #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom
  18. Tourists from Spain and Peru Deported By Thailand After Committing Sexual Act On A Moving Vehicle

    If you are touring a foreign land, you better behave yourselves in order to maintain a good standing as a foreign visitor. This is an important lesson to learn as Thailand deported a Spanish man and a Peruvian woman who got caught doing a sex act while riding a moving vehicle locally called the tuk-tuk, according to a news report by VnExpress. The deported ones already confessed their act of indecency.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Thai immigration authorities have deported a Spanish man and a Peruvian woman after they were allegedly caught performing a sex act on a moving tuk-tuk in popular island Phuket earlier this week.

    The 41-year-old man and 43-year-old woman were filmed engaging in oral sex aboard the tuk-tuk on Sunday, in an incident that sparked public criticism over damage to Thailand’s tourism image, Bangkok Post reported.

    Police interrogated the couple on Monday night and both confessed to their act, Nation Thailand reported.

    They were charged with public indecency and immigration police said that the couple have been blacklisted and deported.

    Public sex and indecent acts are punishable by fines of up to 5,000 baht (US$155) under Thai law.

    However, the penalties have done little to deter some tourists from engaging in public nudity and other inappropriate behaviour outdoors.

    On April 12, a French couple, both 24, were arrested after allegedly engaging in a public sex act on Rayee Beach. The pair were later deported after videos circulated online showing the nude woman straddling her boyfriend and performing sexual acts in full view of beachgoers.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Did you spot any foreign tourists who misbehaved or broke laws in your country lately?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #deport #deportation #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Europe #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #illegalAliens #immigration #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #jobs #labor #money #mustSee #oralSex #Peru #Peruvian #sex #socialMedia #SouthAmerica #SoutheastAsia #Spain #Spanish #Thailand #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #tukTuk #Tumblr #vacation #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom
  19. New Tourism Chief Says Philippines Counted 2.24 Million Foreign Visitor Arrivals As Of April 27

    New Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines counted a total of 2.24 million foreign visitor arrivals this year as of the 27th of April, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    Tourism demand in the Philippines remains strong despite volatilities and challenges besetting the industry, Tourism chief Dita Angara-Mathay said Wednesday.

    Speaking at the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) conference on tourism resilience in Makati City, Angara-Mathay said foreign visitor arrivals from January to April 27, reached 2.24 million, up nearly 9 percent year-on-year.

    “What this tells us is simple: tourism demand is still strong-but more sensitive, more selective, and more dynamic,” she said.

    Thus, Angara-Mathay said the DOT would make a “more active and deliberate role” in stakeholder coordination to further strengthen tourism in the Philippines.

    She said the agency will also continue to position tourism resilience as an economic priority, given its close to 9 percent contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and support for employment.

    “My background in trade, investments, and industry development shapes my perspective. I see tourism not just as a sector, but as an ecosystem—one that depends on investment flows, supply chains, enterprise development, infrastructure, and market access,” she said.

    “It requires inputs. It requires coordination. It requires investment. And it requires discipline in execution. This lens will guide our work,” she stressed.

    Angara-Mathay said DOT’s strategic direction in the next coming years would be focused on connectivity, domestic tourism, destination readiness, investment, ease of entry, and priority markets, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe.

    “Some of the challenges we face-particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and investment-will take time. These are structural issues,” she said. “They require sustained effort and long-term commitment. So I ask for patience. But patience does not mean delay. We begin now.”

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT will perform better and be more strategic under the new secretary Angara-Mathay? Are you convinced that the Philippines is indeed attracting more foreign tourists this year? Do you think the Philippines will be able to get out of its 2025 foreign tourist slump, attract more visitors from overseas and become more competitive with its Southeast Asian neighbors by the end of this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #Blog #blogging #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #commerce #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #DitaAngaraMathay #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #Facebook #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #Instagram #internationalTourism #Investagrams #news #PhilippineNewsAgencyPNA #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #PhilippinesTourism #Pinoy #PNA #PNAGovPh #publicService #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom
  20. New Tourism Chief Says Philippines Counted 2.24 Million Foreign Visitor Arrivals As Of April 27

    New Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines counted a total of 2.24 million foreign visitor arrivals this year as of the 27th of April, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    Tourism demand in the Philippines remains strong despite volatilities and challenges besetting the industry, Tourism chief Dita Angara-Mathay said Wednesday.

    Speaking at the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) conference on tourism resilience in Makati City, Angara-Mathay said foreign visitor arrivals from January to April 27, reached 2.24 million, up nearly 9 percent year-on-year.

    “What this tells us is simple: tourism demand is still strong-but more sensitive, more selective, and more dynamic,” she said.

    Thus, Angara-Mathay said the DOT would make a “more active and deliberate role” in stakeholder coordination to further strengthen tourism in the Philippines.

    She said the agency will also continue to position tourism resilience as an economic priority, given its close to 9 percent contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and support for employment.

    “My background in trade, investments, and industry development shapes my perspective. I see tourism not just as a sector, but as an ecosystem—one that depends on investment flows, supply chains, enterprise development, infrastructure, and market access,” she said.

    “It requires inputs. It requires coordination. It requires investment. And it requires discipline in execution. This lens will guide our work,” she stressed.

    Angara-Mathay said DOT’s strategic direction in the next coming years would be focused on connectivity, domestic tourism, destination readiness, investment, ease of entry, and priority markets, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe.

    “Some of the challenges we face-particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and investment-will take time. These are structural issues,” she said. “They require sustained effort and long-term commitment. So I ask for patience. But patience does not mean delay. We begin now.”

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT will perform better and be more strategic under the new secretary Angara-Mathay? Are you convinced that the Philippines is indeed attracting more foreign tourists this year? Do you think the Philippines will be able to get out of its 2025 foreign tourist slump, attract more visitors from overseas and become more competitive with its Southeast Asian neighbors by the end of this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #Blog #blogging #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #commerce #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #DitaAngaraMathay #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #Facebook #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #Instagram #internationalTourism #Investagrams #news #PhilippineNewsAgencyPNA #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #PhilippinesTourism #Pinoy #PNA #PNAGovPh #publicService #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom
  21. 8.8 Million Foreign Tourists Visited Vietnam In January-April 2026 Period

    When it comes to international tourism, Vietnam continues to be a fast-growing tourist destination as it successfully attracted almost nine million foreign tourists in the first four months of 2026, according to a news report by VnExpress. With the way it is going, Vietnam could easily break its all-time record of 21.2 million foreign tourists attracted in 2025.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam drew 2.03 million international visitors in April, lifting the first four months’ total to 8.8 million, a 14.6% year-on-year increase and about 35% of its 2026 target of 25 million arrivals.

    The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said the figures highlight the country’s rising profile as a safe, stable and increasingly compelling destination.

    It is the first time Vietnam has surpassed 2 million foreign arrivals for four straight months, and the first time the January – April tally has reached 8.8 million.

    The 10 largest source markets during the period were mainland China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Cambodia, the U.S., India, Japan, Australia and the Philippines, together accounting for roughly 72% of total arrivals. China and South Korea alone contributed nearly 40%.

    The visitor mix is becoming more diversified, with several emerging markets gaining traction.

    Russia stood out with growth of nearly 300% year-on-year, buoyed by the return of direct flights, strong demand for extended holidays, and Vietnam’s competitive edge in safety, infrastructure, natural assets and cost.

    Southeast Asia maintained strong momentum, led by the Philippines, which surged 73.4% to enter the top 10, overtaking Malaysia. Cambodia rose 41.6%, Indonesia 30.1%, Singapore 29.8%, Malaysia 21.7%, amd Thailand 8.4%.

    In South Asia, India continued to emerge as a key market, expanding 59.1% and signalling substantial room for further growth.

    Europe recorded the fastest regional expansion, up 53.3% year-on-year in the first four months. Western and Northern European markets posted solid gains, including the U.K. (10.4%), France (12.1%) and Germany (14.5%).

    Visa-waiver markets such as Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic also delivered strong increases of 52.7%, 19.4% and 23.1%, underscoring the effectiveness of visa facilitation in boosting demand.

    According to VNAT’s Tourism Information Center, global uncertainties, from geopolitical tensions to security risks, are making safety an increasingly decisive factor in travel choices.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering what was achieved in the first four months this year, do you think Vietnam will be able to attract between 25 million to 30 million foreign tourists by the end of 2026? Do you know anyone who will be visiting Vietnam soon?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #AirTravel #America #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #Cambodia #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #China #CommunistChina #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Europe #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalFlights #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #Japan #jobs #labor #money #mustSee #Nippon #offshoreAirport #Philippines #Russia #socialMedia #SouthKorea #Thailand #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #vacation #Vietnam #VietnamTourism #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work
  22. New Tourism Chief Says Philippines Counted 2.24 Million Foreign Visitor Arrivals As Of April 27

    New Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines counted a total of 2.24 million foreign visitor arrivals this year as of the 27th of April, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

    Tourism demand in the Philippines remains strong despite volatilities and challenges besetting the industry, Tourism chief Dita Angara-Mathay said Wednesday.

    Speaking at the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) conference on tourism resilience in Makati City, Angara-Mathay said foreign visitor arrivals from January to April 27, reached 2.24 million, up nearly 9 percent year-on-year.

    “What this tells us is simple: tourism demand is still strong-but more sensitive, more selective, and more dynamic,” she said.

    Thus, Angara-Mathay said the DOT would make a “more active and deliberate role” in stakeholder coordination to further strengthen tourism in the Philippines.

    She said the agency will also continue to position tourism resilience as an economic priority, given its close to 9 percent contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and support for employment.

    “My background in trade, investments, and industry development shapes my perspective. I see tourism not just as a sector, but as an ecosystem—one that depends on investment flows, supply chains, enterprise development, infrastructure, and market access,” she said.

    “It requires inputs. It requires coordination. It requires investment. And it requires discipline in execution. This lens will guide our work,” she stressed.

    Angara-Mathay said DOT’s strategic direction in the next coming years would be focused on connectivity, domestic tourism, destination readiness, investment, ease of entry, and priority markets, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe.

    “Some of the challenges we face-particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and investment-will take time. These are structural issues,” she said. “They require sustained effort and long-term commitment. So I ask for patience. But patience does not mean delay. We begin now.”

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT will perform better and be more strategic under the new secretary Angara-Mathay? Are you convinced that the Philippines is indeed attracting more foreign tourists this year? Do you think the Philippines will be able to get out of its 2025 foreign tourist slump, attract more visitors from overseas and become more competitive with its Southeast Asian neighbors by the end of this year?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #Blog #blogging #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #commerce #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #DitaAngaraMathay #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #Facebook #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #Instagram #internationalTourism #Investagrams #news #PhilippineNewsAgencyPNA #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #PhilippinesTourism #Pinoy #PNA #PNAGovPh #publicService #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom
  23. Ambitious Offshore Airport Planned By Vietnam

    Regardless of external developments, it is clear that tourism in Vietnam is booming (for reference click here and here) and that makes travel an essential part of the nation’s economy and society. With the future of greater travel and accessibility in mind, Vietnam is aiming even higher as their government announced the plan of creating an offshore airport, according to a news report by VnExpress.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam is considering an unprecedented aviation project that would see an airport built on an artificial island off Nha Trang, a major tourism destination.

    The Ministry of Construction has submitted amendments to the national airport master plan for 2021-2030 to the government for approval.

    It includes a new 497-hectare airport at Van Phong, around 65 kilometers from Nha Trang, on land reclaimed from the sea, according to the government’s portal.

    To be situated in Van Thang Commune, it is estimated to cost VND9.2 trillion (US$360 million) and handle around 1.5 million passengers annually by 2030, increasing to 2.5 million by 2050.

    Authorities expect the airport to support regional economic growth, positioning Van Phong as a marine logistics and economic hub and enhancing connectivity and boosting tourism.

    Offshore airports have been built in several Asian geographies. Japan’s Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay at a cost of some $20 billion, is among the most well-known examples.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam’s ambitious plan to build and operate an offshore airport will come true? Have you ever spent time in an offshore airport before?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #AirTravel #artificialIsland #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalFlights #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #Japan #jobs #KansaiInternationalAirport #labor #money #mustSee #NhaTrang #Nippon #offshoreAirport #Osaka #socialMedia #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #vacation #VanPhong #VanThangCommune #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work
  24. Ambitious Offshore Airport Planned By Vietnam

    Regardless of external developments, it is clear that tourism in Vietnam is booming (for reference click here and here) and that makes travel an essential part of the nation’s economy and society. With the future of greater travel and accessibility in mind, Vietnam is aiming even higher as their government announced the plan of creating an offshore airport, according to a news report by VnExpress.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam is considering an unprecedented aviation project that would see an airport built on an artificial island off Nha Trang, a major tourism destination.

    The Ministry of Construction has submitted amendments to the national airport master plan for 2021-2030 to the government for approval.

    It includes a new 497-hectare airport at Van Phong, around 65 kilometers from Nha Trang, on land reclaimed from the sea, according to the government’s portal.

    To be situated in Van Thang Commune, it is estimated to cost VND9.2 trillion (US$360 million) and handle around 1.5 million passengers annually by 2030, increasing to 2.5 million by 2050.

    Authorities expect the airport to support regional economic growth, positioning Van Phong as a marine logistics and economic hub and enhancing connectivity and boosting tourism.

    Offshore airports have been built in several Asian geographies. Japan’s Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay at a cost of some $20 billion, is among the most well-known examples.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam’s ambitious plan to build and operate an offshore airport will come true? Have you ever spent time in an offshore airport before?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #AirTravel #artificialIsland #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalFlights #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #Japan #jobs #KansaiInternationalAirport #labor #money #mustSee #NhaTrang #Nippon #offshoreAirport #Osaka #socialMedia #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #vacation #VanPhong #VanThangCommune #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work
  25. Ambitious Offshore Airport Planned By Vietnam

    Regardless of external developments, it is clear that tourism in Vietnam is booming (for reference click here and here) and that makes travel an essential part of the nation’s economy and society. With the future of greater travel and accessibility in mind, Vietnam is aiming even higher as their government announced the plan of creating an offshore airport, according to a news report by VnExpress.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Vietnam is considering an unprecedented aviation project that would see an airport built on an artificial island off Nha Trang, a major tourism destination.

    The Ministry of Construction has submitted amendments to the national airport master plan for 2021-2030 to the government for approval.

    It includes a new 497-hectare airport at Van Phong, around 65 kilometers from Nha Trang, on land reclaimed from the sea, according to the government’s portal.

    To be situated in Van Thang Commune, it is estimated to cost VND9.2 trillion (US$360 million) and handle around 1.5 million passengers annually by 2030, increasing to 2.5 million by 2050.

    Authorities expect the airport to support regional economic growth, positioning Van Phong as a marine logistics and economic hub and enhancing connectivity and boosting tourism.

    Offshore airports have been built in several Asian geographies. Japan’s Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay at a cost of some $20 billion, is among the most well-known examples.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam’s ambitious plan to build and operate an offshore airport will come true? Have you ever spent time in an offshore airport before?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

    +++++

    Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #AirTravel #artificialIsland #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #diversity #economics #economy #employment #Facebook #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #Instagram #internationalFlights #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #Japan #jobs #KansaiInternationalAirport #labor #money #mustSee #NhaTrang #Nippon #offshoreAirport #Osaka #socialMedia #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #vacation #VanPhong #VanThangCommune #Vietnam #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work
  26. Luxury Hotels In Thailand Slash Prices To Deal With Tourism Slowdown

    As the armed conflict in the Middle East continues to cause economic disruptions, hiked oil prices and impact international air travel, luxury hotels in Thailand have been cutting down their prices as a way to deal with the slowdown on tourism, according to a news report of VnExpress.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

    Luxury hotels across Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, are rolling out deep discounts to attract domestic travelers as international arrivals weaken due to disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.

    Thai residents and expatriates are being offered discounts of up to 70% at five-star hotels, where nightly rates can typically reach US$1,000, Bloomberg reported.

    At Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, one of the capital’s most iconic riverside properties, rooms are now priced below $300 per night. In southern Thailand, a luxury resort overlooking the dramatic limestone cliffs of Railay Beach is offering stays from around $430 per night, roughly half its usual rate.

    The steep promotions come as flight cancellations and airspace closures tied to the conflict in Iran disrupt key Europe-Asia travel routes, making journeys to Thailand more complex and costly.

    Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism fears a loss of 596,000 visitors and 40.9 billion baht ($1.29 billion) in revenues if the conflict drags on for more than eight weeks.

    Phangnga Province has already seen a sharp decline in European arrivals and estimates losses at nearly 1.7 billion baht ($52.3 million), according to its hotel association, Bangkok Post reported.

    Authorities are also preparing contingency measures to offset any decline in arrivals from long-haul markets including Europe and the U.S. Thailand experienced a tourism downturn last year amid a combination of kidnapping incidents, flooding and border conflict.

    The country is aiming to attract 37 million foreign visitors this year, a projected increase of more than 11% from 2025 but that target is increasingly at risk.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Does the discounting of room rates by luxury hotels in Thailand entice you to visit them? How long do you think the slump of tourism will last?

    You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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