#international-tourism — Public Fediverse posts

Vietnam wins 2026 Asia’s Best Cruise Destination award

Have you been on a nice cruise within Asia over the past six months? During the recent 2026 World Cruise Awards, Vietnam won the Asia’s Best Cruise Destination award and ended the 2-year reign of Hong Kong, according to a news article by VnExpress. Vietnam also won another prestigious award.

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

Vietnam has won Asia’s Best Cruise Destination at the 2026 World Cruise Awards for the first time, ending Hong Kong’s two-year reign.

Vietnam beat nine other nominees, including Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, according to the results announced at the sixth annual ceremony in Jamaica on Oct. 12.

Since the category began in 2021, Singapore has won twice, followed by the Philippines in 2023 and Hong Kong in 2024 and 2025.

Vietnam’s cruising experiences range from journeys through limestone islands in the north to river voyages through the Mekong Delta in the south.

In Ha Long Bay, passengers can spend the day sailing between limestone formations before anchoring overnight and waking up to views of the surrounding islands.

Itineraries often combine time aboard with kayaking and cave visits, while onboard activities can include cooking classes and squid fishing, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism’s official website.

Mekong Delta cruises offer a closer look at life along the waterways, the tourism authority says.

Boats pass palm-lined riverbanks and villages, with shore excursions allowing passengers to explore local markets and towns or sample tropical fruit.

Vietnam also won the World’s Best River Cruise Destination at this year’s awards. Ha Long Cruise Port was named Asia’s Best Cruise Terminal.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you were able to join a cruise in Vietnam, how was the experience and what are the things you enjoyed the most about it? Did you get a lot of value in return to what you paid for during the Vietnam cruise?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japan Selected as World’s 2nd Most Favorite Country for Tourists

Japan, which attracted over 42 million foreign tourists in 2025, has been voted as the world’s 2nd Most Favorite Country for tourists in Condé Nast Traveller’s prestigious list of the world’s twenty best countries, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Japan was named the world’s second most favorite country after Greece in British magazine Condé Nast Traveller’s list of the world’s 20 best countries, amid tourism declines and visa fee changes.

The Asian country received a score of 97.01 points out of 100, according to the annual Readers’ Choice Awards’ survey that asks travelers to rate countries on factors such as culture, attractions, cuisine, and overall experience.

“A tourism boom is bringing more visitors to experience its celebrated food scene, soothing onsens, seasonal cherry blossoms and high-speed trains that glide through some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Yet even in a country steeped in heritage, there is always something new to discover, from futuristic attractions to fresh cultural experiences,” the magazine wrote.

Japan welcomed more than 27 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2026, down 2.7% from the same period last year, amid a steep decline from Chinese tourists, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

The Japanese government raised the single-entry visa fee for foreign nationals fivefold, from 3,000 to 15,000 yen, marking the first increase since 1978 amid inflation and a weaker yen, Kyodo News reported.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? When it comes to world travel, is Condé Nast Traveller your main reference for information and updates? If you were able to visit Japan over the past twelve months, how was your trip? Did you visit many cultural sites in Japan?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Leechiu Property Consultants Sees Lower Foreign Tourist Arrivals to the Philippines this Year

During its recent media briefing, property consultancy firm Leechiu Property Consultants Inc. (LPC) says it expects foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines to be lower this year compared to what was achieved in 2025 due to factors like higher fuel prices and other factors, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Leechiu Property Consultants Inc. (LPC) expects foreign tourist arrivals to the Philippines to be lower this year compared with 2025 due to higher fuel costs and more expensive travel.

The number of tourists to the Philippines was flat at 4.4 million in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year after arrivals started to decline from May to August.

During LPC’s third-quarter media briefing last week, LPC senior manager of hotels, tourism, and leisure Adam Domingo said arrivals grew steadily in the first quarter, peaking at 12-percent growth in February, before momentum stalled in April and turned negative year-on-year from May onward.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict doubled jet fuel prices, pushing up airfares and prompting flight cuts. Full-year arrivals are now expected to fall below 2025 levels.

“Unless we change how we do tourism at a basic level, foreign arrivals are likely to stay near today’s levels into next year,” noted Domingo.

He added, “The clearest evidence for what works comes from China and India. Where the Philippines made travel easier, through visa-free entry and additional direct flights, arrivals from both markets grew by more than 50 percent in the first quarter, and China has sustained that pace since February. Reducing travel friction produces results.”

The same logic shows up in the hotel pipeline, with about 70 percent of planned hotel rooms located in areas with direct international flights, which shows that private developers are building where access is strongest.

However, there is a gap as some destinations with strong private-sector commitment, such as Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province, are served by international airports that sit underused because they have no direct international routes.

“Developers are betting on these places, but travelers cannot yet fly to them directly. Government can match that commitment quickly by introducing direct international routes to these destinations. Compared with building or expanding airports, new routes can be put in place sooner and can lift arrivals faster,” said Domingo.

On domestic tourism, which earns four times what foreign travelers bring in, Domingo said, “we also need a closer look at the relocation of turboprop flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Clark. Island destinations that depend on turboprops report that business is down.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will end up having lower foreign tourist arrivals this year compared to last year? Do you think the national government neglected the tourism industry this year due to its hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and meetings at the United Nations (UN)?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Lesser Korean Visitors Arriving in Vietnam

With almost eighteen million foreign tourists counted during the January-September period of this year, Vietnam is on-track to exceed its 2025 record of foreign tourist arrivals. While tourism is indeed booming, there are observations that lesser travelers from South Korea are visiting Vietnam and there are a lot of factors as to why this has been happening for some time now, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Korean arrivals to Vietnam have fallen for two years amid a weaker won, fewer flights and growing competition.

Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months, up almost 15% year-on-year, the General Statistics Office reported. South Korea ranked second, after mainland China, with 3 million arrivals, but was the only top-10 market to record a decline, down about 5%.

Korean arrivals also fell 5% in 2025, when total arrivals hit a record of more than 21 million.

South Koreans made over 19 million overseas trips in the first eight months, up 2%, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Martin Koerner, commercial director of Anam Group, which manages two resorts in Mui Ne and Cam Ranh, says Korean demand is still growing but shifting elsewhere.

Yanolja Research found that only three of the 12 most-visited destinations for Koreans grew in the first half. Japan rose 18.6% to 5.6 million visits, 40% of Korean outbound travelers. Mainland China rose 16%, while Macau grew 0.7%.

The other nine destinations, mostly in Southeast Asia and the U.S., all declined. Vietnam fell more than 2%, and Thailand dropped the most, at 24%.

Pham Hai Quynh, director of the Asia Tourism Development Institute, attributes the decline partly to growing competition from China and Japan.

Quynh says Japan offers a good exchange rate, easy transport and quality service. China has attractive tour prices, visa-free entry for Koreans since late 2025 and more direct flights.

A weak won is a factor. The currency fell to 1,536 won per U.S. dollar on June 3, its lowest since 2009, and now sits around 1,350.

Korea JoongAng Daily reports that the weak currency is changing how South Koreans travel. They are shopping less, opting for Airbnb-style rentals over luxury hotels.

Hanatour, one of South Korea’s largest travel companies, says Korean travelers used to favor cheap tours with shopping stops. Now they choose pricier packages without shopping to cut down on extra spending.

However, travel spending in Japan continues to rise, as the weak yen makes the destination more affordable. In 2025, South Korean visitors spent a record $5.7 billion in Japan.

Koerner adds that beyond cost, the convenience of the trip also shapes Korean choices. A flight of two to three hours to Japan or China beats a six-hour trip to Southeast Asia.

“In this context, Vietnam’s edge as a low-cost destination no longer creates a big enough gap to hold on to Korean visitors,” Quynh says.

Saturation is another problem. Quynh says a destination’s life cycle lasts three to four years, after which travelers seek something new. Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have been promoted in Korea since around 2023, and golf and spa packages have grown familiar.

Fewer flights have hurt too. Higher fuel prices from the Middle East conflict led Korean airlines, mainly low-cost carriers, to cut 1,000 flights between April and June.

Yanolja Research also says Vietnam’s image has been linked to Cambodian scam compounds. Negative sentiment toward Vietnam once reached 18%.

To win Koreans back, Quynh says Vietnam should refresh its image, rely less on cheap beach holidays, and develop cultural, ecological and wellness products. He also urges more promotion in Busan, Daegu and Gwangju cities.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the falling number of Korean travelers visiting Vietnam is growing into a serious problem for the Vietnamese tourism industry? What do you think Vietnam and South Korea should do when it comes to flight connectivity and visa matters?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

New Orleans cuisine showcased to European tourism leaders https://www.diningandcooking.com/us/48616/ #BillyNungesser #BrandUSATravelWeek #CulinaryTourism #DookyChase'sRestaurant #EconomicDevelopment #EuropeanTravel #InternationalTourism #Louisiana #LouisianaDining #LouisianaFood #LouisianaGroceryStores #LouisianaOfficeOfTourism #LouisianaRestaurants #LouisianaTourism #NewOrleans&Co

New Orleans cuisine showcased to European tourism leaders

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Louisiana tourism officials promoted the state’s culinary traditions and travel…
#Europe #EU #BillyNungesser #BrandUSATravelWeek #culinarytourism #DookyChase'sRestaurant #economicdevelopment #European #Europeantravel #internationaltourism #LouisianaOfficeofTourism #Louisianatourism #newOrleans&co.
https://www.europesays.com/europe/156144/

Singapore Leads Southeast Asia in Tourism Development

Singapore emerged as the best among the economies of Southeast Asia in the 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF), according to a news report of VnExpress. Globally, Singapore ranked 13th in a field of 110 economies.

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

Singapore ranked 13th among 110 economies in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index, the highest position among ASEAN.

The city state scored 4.89 points, up 3.4 percentage points from 2024 in the biennial ranking released on Friday by the World Economic Forum, an international advocacy non-governmental organization and think tank based in Switzerland.

Indonesia ranked at 23rd, followed by Malaysia at 26th, Thailand at 38th, Vietnam at 52nd, the Philippines at 57th, and Laos at 75th.

The index measures factors and policies that enable sustainable and resilient development of tourism like business environment, safety and health conditions, price competitiveness, air transport infrastructure, ground and port infrastructure, tourist services and infrastructure, natural resources, and cultural resources.

Singapore received high scores in business environment, safety and security, travel policy and enabling conditions, and infrastructure and services.

Singapore, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia by nominal GDP, is known for its strict laws and low crime rates. It has earned (its) reputation as one of the safest countries in Asia.

The city-state is ramping up investment in large-scale tourism infrastructure as it seeks to strengthen its position as a leading travel and business hub in Asia.

The government announced a S$740 million (US$584 million) tourism funding package, more than twice the S$300 million allocated under the Tourism Development Fund in 2024, in May to strengthen industry resilience until 2040.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you visited Singapore over the past twelve months? Do you think Singapore can keep innovating and improving itself on tourism development?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Vietnam Declared Asia’s Leading Destination of 2026

With its booming tourism industry and the economic gains it has achieved so far, Vietnam was named as Asia’s leading destination during the 2026 World Travel Awards beating the likes of regional rivals Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, according to a VnExpress news report. In fact, this is not the first time Vietnam achieved this particular honor and there were other awards won as well.

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

Vietnam has been named Asia’s leading destination at this year’s World Travel Awards, adding another tourism accolade to the country’s growing reputation.

It beat regional tourism hubs including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to retain the title for a sixth consecutive year.

A series of popular tourism hubs in Vietnam were also honored at different categories, the World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania organizers announced at a gala ceremony on Sunday.

Vietnam’s southern metropolis overtook Singapore, China’s Shanghai and Hong Kong to become “Asia’s leading business travel destination.”

Hanoi was named “Asia’s leading city break destination” while Tam Chuc Complex in the northern province of Ha Nam, around one hour and (30-minute) drive from the capital, was voted “Asia’s leading cultural tourist attraction.”

Ta Xua, one of the highest mountain peaks in Vietnam at over 2,800 m above sea level, was voted “Asia’s leading emerging tourism destination” for the first time. It has a cool climate all year round and is known as a cloud hunting destination from October to April.

Northern highlands town Moc Chau was named “Asia’s leading regional nature destination.” Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam was voted “Asia’s leading national park.”

The 900-square-kilometer national park, which UNESCO recognized as a global heritage site in 2003, is home to over 300 caves and grottoes that date back some 400 million years, including the world’s largest Son Doong.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam and its tourist sites deserved the tourism awards it received this year? Have you toured Vietnam extensively this year? What is the most astonishing tourism destination you have visited there in Vietnam? Do you think Vietnam still has a long way to go to solve its tourism labor shortage?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Indonesian Tourism Industry Earns $8.43 Billion in First Half of 2026

Indonesia, which attracted over fifteen million foreign tourists in 2025, saw its tourism industry earn $8.43 billion in the first half of 2026, according to a news article by VnExpress. The nation attracted 7.45 million foreign tourists in the same time period.

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

Indonesia’s tourism sector generated US$8.43 billion in foreign-exchange revenue in the first half of 2026, up 3% year-on-year, underscoring its growing contribution to the economy.

Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said tourism remained an important driver of economic growth and a major source of foreign exchange for the country, Antara News Agency reported.

Last year, Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, earned $18.27 billion in tourism-related foreign exchange.

The country received 7.45 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, up 5.71% from a year earlier and the highest January-June total since the Covid pandemic, Jakarta Globe reported.

It is targeting 16-17 million international tourist arrivals this year.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Indonesia will be able to attract 16-17 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? Have you ever thought about visiting Indonesia and its many tourist sites?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Indonesia Imposes 10-Year Ban on Australian Tourist for Committing Public Sex Act in Bali

Authorities in Indonesia imposed a 10-year-ban on an Australian tourist who was recently deported for a public sex act committed in Bali, according to a news article by VnExpress. The said sex act was caught on CCTV.

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

An Australian tourist arrested over a public indecency incident on Bali Island has been barred from entering Indonesia for 10 years.

The 28-year-old was deported last week on a Batik Air flight from Denpasar to Brisbane, about two weeks after his arrest at Ngurah Rai International Airport where he was due to board a flight to Brisbane, The Jakarta Post reported.

The deportation came as Indonesian immigration authorities stepped up efforts to maintain public order and security among foreign nationals living in or visiting Bali.

Indonesia’s Immigration Directorate General also imposed a 10-year entry ban on the tourist.

Police said he had engaged in sexual intercourse with an unidentified foreign woman in the yard of a Balinese house in Tibubeneng village, North Kuta district, Badung regency, on Aug. 22. The homeowner caught the pair in the act, Antara News Agency reported.

CCTV cameras at the house also recorded the incident.

The footage later went viral after the homeowner uploaded it to social media as a warning against behavior considered to bring negative energy, in accordance with Balinese Hindu beliefs.

The man could have faced imprisonment for the offense. However, police dropped the case after the homeowner forgave him and asked authorities to halt the legal proceedings.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you have been to Indonesia, did you witness unruly behavior committed by foreign tourists during your stay there? Do you think this development could cause a drop in the number of Australians visiting Indonesia?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Tourism Labor Shortage in Vietnam

As more foreign tourists keep arriving in Vietnam, some questions about the future of the nation’s tourism industry are being raised as a tourism labor shortage has been realized, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Vietnam’s tourism industry is racing ahead, with international arrivals hitting new highs, but the sector is facing a growing shortage of skilled workers, from hotel staff and chefs to foreign-language guides and senior managers.

The third most visited country in Southeast Asia after Malaysia and Thailand welcomed nearly 16 million international visitors in the first eight months of 2026, up 14.4% year-on-year, driving up demand across hotels, travel companies, transport, restaurants and tourist attractions.

A 2026 survey by Hoteljob.vn found that nearly 90% of tourism businesses planned to recruit.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, 89.7% of businesses were hiring, while 71.8% said recruitment was difficult or very difficult. The biggest shortages were among frontline workers, particularly in housekeeping, engineering, food service, front-office operations, and kitchens.

The Politburo’s Resolution dated Aug. 22, along with the government’s action programme adopted on Sept. 7, set the target for tourism to directly contribute 10-12% of GDP by 2030, attracting 45-50 million international visitors and generate total revenue of US$80-90 billion.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang are envisioned as major tourism growth hubs, while Phu Quoc emerges as a new hub. These targets will place greater demands on the tourism workforce, not only in terms of numbers but also skills, from frontline workers and foreign-language guides to managers, technology specialists and professionals delivering high-end services.

Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector, for example, is facing gaps in supervisory and management positions, as businesses seek staff capable of operating in an increasingly digitalized, international and competitive environment.

Foreign-language tour guides are another weak link. Demand is rising rapidly from markets such as Russia and India, while arrivals from Europe and the Middle East are also increasing. Yet training guides with the language skills and cultural knowledge needed to serve these markets can take years.

The labor crunch is even more acute in destinations far from major urban centers.

In Con Dao, hotels and resorts regularly struggle to recruit receptionists, housekeepers, chefs, and service staff, while travel companies face shortages of sales, marketing, and tour guide staff.

Higher salaries have done little to solve the problem. The island’s high cost of living and distance from the mainland make it difficult to attract and retain skilled workers, with many leaving after only a few months.

According to Hoteljob.vn, 79.5% of tourism businesses have raised salaries or improved benefits over the past year. Yet 59.2% cited lower incomes compared with other industries as a key reason young people leave the profession, while limited career prospects were another major factor.

Experts say Vietnam’s tourism labor shortage is not simply about training more people.

The bigger challenge is narrowing the gap between what schools teach and what employers need. Nearly 80% of businesses surveyed said fewer than 20% of young applicants could start work immediately, while more than 84% said new recruits needed at least a month before they could work independently.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam should open its doors and bring in trained tourism workers from overseas to solve their tourism labor shortage?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Thailand Eyes Over $600 Million in Additional Tourism Spending Through Domestic Stimulus

As the government of Thailand plans to spend money to support hotel stays and tourism-related expenses, the nation is targeting more than $600 million in additional tourism spending, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Thailand is targeting more than 20 billion baht (US$601 million) in additional tourism spending through a domestic travel stimulus.

The government plans to spend about 4 billion baht to subsidize hotel stays and other tourism expenses, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said as cited by Bloomberg.

The package, covering one million entitlements, is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet on Sept. 22, Bangkok Post reported.

The measure reflects Thailand’s growing reliance on domestic travelers to support tourism, a major source of jobs and foreign exchange for Thailand.

Thailand received 21.7 million foreign tourists through Sept. 12, down 3.4% from a year earlier. Their spending fell 1.9% to 1.06 trillion baht.

Domestic travel has performed better, with trips by Thais rising 2% to 142 million and spending increasing 1.9% to 824.6 billion baht.

Under the plan, the government will subsidize accommodation by up to 2,000 baht per entitlement. Travelers will also receive co-payment vouchers worth up to 2,000 baht for restaurants, spas, shops and tourism activities, with higher benefits available in secondary destinations. Each person can use up to five entitlements.

The subsidies are scheduled to run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, pause during the peak New Year period, and resume on Jan. 16, 2027, through the end of February.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this development will improve Thailand’s tourism appeal? Do you think the government should be more involved with the tourism industry?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Russian Arrivals to Vietnam to Hit Record High This Year

If the current pace continues, the number of Russians arriving in Vietnam this year will result in a record-high, according to a news article by VnExpress. To be clear, Russia is already a very fast-growing market of tourists for Vietnam which has a booming tourism industry.

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

The number of Russian visitors to Vietnam is forecast to reach a historic record of 1.5 million this year, a senior official has said.

Russian news website news.ru quoted Nikita Kondratiev, Director of the Department for Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects under Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, as saying that even during the pre-pandemic peak in 2018-2019, Russian arrivals to Vietnam stood at only around 700,000-800,000.

The figures show impressive growth in the tourism sector, he noted.

According to the official, key factors behind Vietnam’s growing appeal include the maintenance and expansion of direct air routes, as well as convenient payment options for Russian tourists through QR codes and MIR bank cards at some locations in Vietnam.

The strong interest from the Russian market is fully reflected in recently released statistics.

On Sept. 4, Travel Russian News cited figures from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism showing that Russian arrivals to Vietnam surpassed 1 million in the first eight months of 2026, representing a 165.7% increase year-on-year. This was the highest growth rate among Vietnam’s major international tourist markets.

With this result, Russia jumped from around seventh place in 2025 to become Vietnam’s third largest source market, behind China with 3.54 million visitors and South Korea 2.76 million.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Apart from what was reported, what do you think makes Vietnam such a very attractive place for Russians? Do you think other Southeast Asian nations are discreetly making plans of their own to attract Russian tourists away from 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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

DOT Expects Philippines Tourism Growth with Campaign Rebrand

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is expecting tourism growth for the Philippines as it makes a serious brand adjustment with its “Love the Philippines” campaign, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

For insight, the Philippines counted 4.11 million foreign tourist arrivals for 2026 as of August. While the Philippines remains an international tourism weakling as well as an economic weakling among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), domestic tourism is actually thriving.

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

The Department of Tourism (DoT) said that changing its branding direction in its Love the Philippines campaign will help boost the country’s tourism growth.

“Upon entry into the office, the first mandate that I had carried out was to change the tone of voice of the Department of Tourism with regard to how it communicates to the public,” DoT Assistant Secretary for Branding and Marketing Communications Armand Lorenze “Ren” Sapitan told lawmakers in a House Committee on Appropriations budget hearing.

“We didn’t have to change the members of branding and the marketing team,” he added. “The only thing that we adopted was a change in direction.”

Mr. Sapitan noted that the agency will shift how it approaches the Love the Philippines campaign instead of replacing it through its Discover More to Love program.

“We would not change this campaign because we recognize that the administration only has two years left,” he said. “What we are changing is how we approach the campaign.”

“The way we relate to the people, the way we promote, the way we market our tourism destinations,” he added.

The Discover More to Love program aims to highlight local destinations by partnering with companies, offering travel bundles and discounted offers.

“The Sun Group actually not only invests in marketing, but they also invest in the entire ecosystem,” Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay explained, citing the agency’s relationship with the private sector.

“The tourist attractions, from hotels, the accommodation, the entire village – that’s the kind of investment that is complete; it’s almost like a subsidy,” she added.

Filipino talents BINI and SB19 were also named as the country’s tourism ambassadors who will support the push for domestic travel.

The DoT earmarked a P4.03 billion budget under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), down 4.6% or P196 million from the approved P4.23 billion budget for 2026.

Of the proposed budget, P1 billion will fund branding campaigns, mostly for overseas marketing (60%) and domestic efforts (40%).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that the Philippines will be able to attract more foreign tourists this year? Do you think the DOT’s recent moves will boost both domestic and international tourism for the Philippines?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Russia and the Philippines Emerge as Fast-Growing Tourist Markets for Vietnam

As Vietnam successfully attracted almost sixteen million foreign tourists during the first eight months of this year, Russia and the Philippines have emerged as the fast-growing tourist markets at 166% and 58% respectively, 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…

Tourist arrivals from Russia and the Philippines surged 166% and 58%, respectively, in the first eight months, as Vietnam recorded nearly 16 million international visitors, up more than 14% year-on-year.

The rise in Russian tourists has made Russia the largest European market and the third largest source of international arrivals to Vietnam this year, with around 1 million visitors, only after mainland China (3.5 million) and South Korea (2.8 million).

Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of AZA Travel, said: “Russian tourists enjoy swimming, sunbathing, eating seafood, and relaxing at resorts. Vietnam fully meets these needs, so it is understandable why they are visiting in large numbers,” Dat says.

Kristina Zagumennaya, director of a Russian travel agency, told the Russian news agency Sputnik in early August that Russian tourist flows are shifting between markets. While Turkey remains the top choice, Vietnam and China have recorded outstanding growth.

“Vietnam stands out as a popular choice this tourist season,” Zagumennaya said, noting that multiple charter flights are operating to destinations across the country to meet demand for both beach holidays and cultural tourism.

In addition to charter flights, Vietnam Airlines increased the frequency of its direct Hanoi-Moscow route from three to four flights per week starting in July.

Ranking behind Russia, the Philippines also showed notable growth, despite not being a prominent source market for Vietnamese tourism prior to 2025.

Filipino visitors have risen to nearly 470,000 this year, among the 10 largest group of foreign visitors to Vietnam.

Bui Thanh Tu, marketing director of BestPrice Travel, attributes this rise to more convenient flight routes, especially from Manila and Cebu, competitive costs, and tourism products that differ from the island destinations familiar to Filipinos.

He also cites the viral impact of TikTok and YouTube videos featuring Hanoi, Sa Pa, Da Nang, and Hoi An.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you find it surprising that Russia and the Philippines became the fastest growing tourist markets for Vietnam? Do you think it is only a matter of time before Vietnam could someday attract at least 30 million foreign tourists per 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.

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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Vietnam Attracts Almost 16 Million Foreign Tourists in First 8 Months of 2026

The tourism boom in Vietnam continued strongly as the nation successfully attracted almost sixteen million foreign tourists during the first eight months of 2026, 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 welcomed nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

In the first eight months of this year, the country received nearly 16 million foreign visitors, an increase of 14.4% from the same period in 2025 and equivalent to 63.6% of the full-year target.

The August figure is notable as the month is usually considered part of the low season for international tourism.

The result shows that the country’s tourism market continued to maintain and expand its appeal. Air travel remained the main mode of entry, accounting for 83% of international arrivals, while arrivals by road continued to increase, particularly from neighboring countries.

By region, Asia was still Vietnam’s largest source market, with about 11.8 million visitors in the eight-month period, making up nearly 74% of the total and increasing 7.4% year-on-year.

Europe recorded the strongest growth among major regions, at 53.4%, with about 2.68 million visitors.

Arrivals from the Americas reached around 887,000, up 20.7%, while those from Oceania rose 23.3% to nearly 489,000. Africa sent about 45,000 visitors to Vietnam, up 25.1%.

The tourism authority said the figures show that Vietnam is expanding its reach beyond nearby Asian markets, with strong growth from long-haul markets, helping diversify the visitor base and reduce dependence on individual markets.

By country, China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.54 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 2.76 million visitors, or 17.3%. Together, the two markets provided more than 6.3 million visitors, nearly 40% of the country’s total.

Russia ranked third with more than 1 million visitors, representing a year-on-year increase of about 165.7%, the highest growth among major source markets.

Other key markets also posted strong growth. Visitors from the U.S. increased 20.4%, Cambodia 41.5%, Japan 9.2%, the Philippines 58.8% and Australia 23.3%.

European markets continued to perform well, with arrivals from the U.K. rising 9.8%, France 13.4%, Germany 15.1%, Sweden 25.1%, Switzerland 27%, Poland 51.2% and the Czech Republic 28.2%. In Southeast Asia, tourists from Malaysia grew 20.5%, Singapore 31.7%, and Indonesia 26.7%.

India was another fast-growing market. The number of Indian visitors rose from just 102,000 in 2019 to more than 612,000 in the first eight months of 2026.

The expansion of direct air services between major Indian cities and Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang has helped make Vietnam more accessible to Indian travelers.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam can attract at least 25 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? If you plan to visit Vietnam soon, what are your three main reasons for visiting?

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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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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

https://www.alojapan.com/1537233/more-than-100-traditional-pubs-in-japan-have-to-close-for-half-a-year/ More than 100 traditional pubs in Japan have to close for half a year #BankruptIzakaya #DestinationJapan #InternationalTourism #IzakayaJapan #Japan #JapanTourism #JapanTourism2026 #JapaneseBar #JapaneseCuisine #JapaneseCulinaryExperience #JapaneseIzakaya #JapaneseRestaurant #JapaneseTourism #JapaneseTourismEconomy #TravelNews Izakaya is a model pub serving traditional food in Japan. Photo: JNTO According to Tokyo Shoko Research, 118 izakaya –

More than 100 traditional pubs in Japan have to close for half a year https://www.diningandcooking.com/restaurants/24355/ #BankruptIzakaya #DestinationJapan #InternationalTourism #IzakayaJapan #japan #JapanTourism #JapanTourism2026 #JapaneseBar #JapaneseCuisine #JapaneseCulinaryExperience #JapaneseIzakaya #JapaneseRestaurant #JapaneseRestaurants #JapaneseTourism #JapaneseTourismEconomy #TravelNews

Thailand’s 2026 Tourism Revenue Reaches $29.8 Billion as of August 22

Thailand, one of the leaders of tourism in Southeast Asia, saw its 2026 tourism revenue reach almost $30 billion as of August 22 and it has also attracted over twenty million foreign tourists along the way, according to a report by VnExpress.

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

Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-most visited country after Malaysia, recorded tourism revenue of 984.32 billion baht (US$29.8 billion) between Jan. 1 and Aug. 22, down 2.9% year-on-year, amid a slowdown in tourist arrivals.

The top five sources of tourists contributing to this revenue were China, Malaysia, India, Russia, and South Korea, Nation Thailand reported.

The tourism-dependent country welcomed 20.32 million international visitors during the period, down 2.96% from the same period last year.

Once a tourism powerhouse in Southeast Asia, Thailand has faced a slowdown in foreign arrivals since last year amid growing concerns over kidnapping and visitor safety.

Safety concerns have intensified following the deaths of two Russian tourists and three members of a Thai family in Chon Buri Province earlier this month, Bangkok Post reported.

The recent kidnapping of a Chinese tourist, who managed to escape before being taken across the border into Myanmar, has renewed concerns over the safety of foreign visitors.

The Thai government has cut its forecast for Chinese arrivals in 2026 from 9 million to 7 million.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Thailand’s tourism can somehow attract more foreign tourists and at least match their 2025 numbers? Do you consider Thailand a very safe place for foreigners? If you have visited Thailand before, did you get good value in return on your spending there?

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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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

Madrid puts its invisible heartbeat on the map

Madrid is putting its invisible heartbeat at the centre of a new global tourism campaign, as Madrid Turismo…
#Spain #ES #Europe #Europa #EU #Madrid #destinationmarketing #globaltourismcampaign #havascreative #HavasMedia #Internationaltourism #luxurytravel #madridbeats #Madridtourism #madridtourismcampaign #madridturismo #premiumtravellers #tourismcampaign #travelmarketing
https://www.europesays.com/spain/80415/

Philippines 2026 Foreign Tourist Arrivals Reach 4.11 Million as of August, U.S. and South Korea Remain Top Markets

With the Peso performing terribly in the global currency market, weakening economic growth, high inflation and fears of an economic recession growing, 2026 has not been good for the Philippines. There is a bright spot in tourism, however, as the Philippines saw its 2026 foreign tourist arrivals reach 4.11 million in the January-August period and the United States and South Korea combined for more than 1.5 million tourist arrivals, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

The Philippines has recorded 4.11 million foreign arrivals from January to August, higher by 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Tuesday.

The United States posted the highest number of share at 818,318, followed by South Korea at 727,379, Japan at 350,191, China at 310,088, and Australia at 234,156.

Also making it in the top 10 source markets are Canada with 231,972, Taiwan with 154,957, the United Kingdom with 132,370, Singapore with 126,812, and India with 77,883.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines targets to surpass its 2025 arrival figures to reach between 6.4 million and 6.8 million, or at least 7 million, by the end of 2026.

To achieve this, she said the DOT is intensifying its branding and promotions to reach more tourists in its key source markets.

The DOT is also in active talks with airlines to open up and establish more chartered flights between the Philippines and secondary cities of Korea and China.

DOT Assistant Secretary Ren Sapitan said the agency is also set to sign a contract with a creative agency in November to broaden the country’s marketing efforts and make the Philippines more visible worldwide.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to exceed the 2025 foreign tourist arrivals number by the end of this year? Do you think the DOT is doing a good job to strengthen the Philippines’ attraction of foreign tourists? Considering the Top 10 markets of foreign tourists the Philippines attracted so far, are you convinced that the nation’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit did not create any positive tourism results?

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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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

Tourism Industry of Vietnam Shifts Focus From Visitor Numbers to Spending

As it enjoys the many benefits of the ongoing tourism boom, Vietnam now has the opportunity to truly build itself up economically by means of long-term investments and creating new jobs. That said, the tourism industry of the nation has shifted focus from attracting visitors to higher spending, longer stays and other economic opportunities, 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 shifting tourism growth from attracting more visitors to generating greater value from each trip, with a focus on higher spending, longer stays, green development, technology application and cultural experiences.

The country aims to welcome 45-50 million international visitors and 160 million domestic tourists by 2030, Do Cam Tho, head of the Planning and Finance Division at the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said at HORECFEX Vietnam 2026, a major hospitality and tourism forum.

She said 2026-27 would be a pivotal period in shifting tourism development from expansion in scale to deeper value creation.

Vietnam welcomed 21.2 million international visitors and 137 million domestic tourists in 2025, with total tourism revenue estimated at around VND1 quadrillion ($38.1 billion).

In the first seven months of 2026, the country received nearly 13.92 million foreign tourists, up 13.8% year on year, while domestic visitors numbered about 98 million, with tourism revenue of 675 trillion VND.

International visitors currently spend an average of US$1,200-1,400 per trip in Vietnam, while domestic tourists about 2.4-2.6 million VND (US$92-99).

About 70% of foreign visitors come from China, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Taiwan (China), while markets with higher spending power, including the Middle East, Northern Europe, North America and Australia, still account for relatively small shares.

Tourism is receiving greater attention as Vietnam seeks to achieve rapid national development and make tourism a spearhead economic sector, Tho was quoted by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper as saying.

Under the proposed approach, Vietnam targets total tourism revenue of $80-90 billion by 2030. The country is expected to have about 1.5 million accommodation rooms and tourism is projected to create around 5.8 million direct and indirect jobs.

Among three development scenarios for 2030, the most ambitious targets annual international visitor growth of 15-18%. Achieving it will require institutional reforms, development of the night-time economy, diversification of high-end markets and measures to increase visitor spending.

VNAT said Vietnam will continue to consolidate Northeast Asian and ASEAN markets while expanding into Europe, North America, Australia and other markets with high spending capacity and longer stays.

India, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Russia and Muslim markets have been identified as areas with significant growth potential.

For domestic tourism, the focus will shift from boosting visitor numbers to encouraging higher spending, with an emphasis on two- to three-day weekend getaways, high-end Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, family vacations and night-time tourism.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam’s tourism industry players are fully prepared to make the most of the economic benefits that come with surging foreign and domestic tourism? Do you think new investments related with the tourism boom will be made soon in Vietnam? How many millions of new jobs do you think will be created in Vietnam as a result of the tourism boom?

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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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

Vietnam Attracts 416,000 Visitors From The Philippines During First 7 Months Of 2026

Among the fourteen million foreign tourists Vietnam attracted during the first seven months of 2026 are visitors from the Philippines totaling 416,000, according to report by VnExpress. The authorities have described the Philippines as having the biggest increase among Southeast Asian markets.

The 416,000 of Philippine visitors is significant as there were over 480,000 Filipinos who visited Vietnam in the entire year of 2025. It is recalled that Filipino interest in visiting Vietnam has been strong and the governments of the two nations agreed to cooperate on tourism and air connectivity. As a tourist destination, the Philippines has been very weak attracting only 5.94 foreign tourists in 2025. Vietnam attracted over 21 million foreign tourists that same year.

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

The number of visitors from the Philippines to Vietnam jumped 63.6% year-on-year between January and July to 416,000, the biggest increase among Southeast Asian markets.

In the region, there were huge increases also in the number of arrivals from Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. They increased by 40.8%, 31%, 27.3%, and 21.6%, according to the General Statistics Office.

The tourism industry attributed the jump in the number of visitors from Southeast Asia to a rapidly expanding flight network and growing demand for intra-regional travel.

Indonesia AirAsia launched a direct flight connecting Bali (Denpasar) and Da Nang on March 20 while Vietjet launched a direct route connecting Da Nang and Jakarta on April 29.

In March, Philippines AirAsia launched a new direct route linking Da Nang with Manila in the Philippines.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering the strong Filipino interest on visiting Vietnam, would you be surprised to see Vietnam attract 1,000,000 visitors from the Philippines by the end of this year? What do you think makes Vietnam a special travel destination for Filipinos?

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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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

13.9 Million Foreign Tourists Arrived In Vietnam During First 7 Months Of 2026

With tourism industry of Vietnam is undeniably growing rapidly as almost fourteen million foreign tourists arrived there during the first seven months of 2026, according to report by VnExpress.

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

Vietnam welcomed 13.9 million international arrivals during the first seven months this year, up 13.8% from a year earlier, as the country’s image as a safe and stable destination continued to attract travelers amid geopolitical tensions worldwide.

In July alone, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam reached 1.67 million, down 0.7% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Mainland China remained the largest source of visitors so far this year with 3.08 million, followed by South Korea with 2.38 million.

The rest of the top 10 were Russia, Taiwan, the U.S., Cambodia, India, Japan, the Phillippines and Australia.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering how many foreign tourists it attracted so far this year, do you think Vietnam will eventually hit 24 million foreign tourist arrivals by the end of 2026? Do you think the new Long Thanh International Airport will somehow help attract a large number of overseas travelers once it starts operating this December?

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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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

Vietnam Surpasses Thailand As Southeast Asia’s 2nd Largest Aviation Market

With its booming tourism industry making huge economic impact, Vietnam surpassed Thailand as and emerged as the 2nd largest aviation market in Southeast Asia this past July, 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 surpassed Thailand to become the second largest Southeast Asian aviation market with 7.4 million seats in July, an increase in capacity of 5.6% year-on-year, according to a report by British aviation analytics firm OAG.

Indonesia remained the largest Southeast Asia market with 10.9 million seats, up 0.3% year-on-year.

Thailand, which held the second spot in previous months, slipped to third place with 6.9 million seats, a 3% reduction in capacity, followed by Malaysia and the Phillippines. The report said capacity reduced in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines due to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam Airlines is the largest airline in Southeast Asia in July with 2.81 million seats, growing by just 0.1% year-on-year, according to OAG.

Overall capacity in the Southeast Asian market reduced by 1.2% compared to July last year to 50.4 million seats due to rising fuel costs triggered by political tensions in the Middle East, OAG reported.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering its rapidly growing tourism industry, were you surprised that Vietnam registered 7.4 million seats this past July? Considering what was achieved recently, do you think Vietnam will grow further as an aviation market once its new Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational?

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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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

Several Entertainment Venues In Thailand Ordered To Shut Down

Following the raid of illegal hotels in Phuket, Thailand, the local authorities in Bangkok issued orders to almost eighty entertainment venues to shut down over widespread licensing and safety violations, 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…

Authorities in Bangkok, Thailand’s nightlife hub, have ordered 79 entertainment venues to suspend operations after a week-long inspection campaign uncovered widespread licensing and safety violations across the capital.

Nineteen establishments were ordered to suspend live music performances for lacking the required entertainment permits, while 60 businesses were temporarily shut down for operating without valid licences, Thairath Online news site reported.

The inspections, carried out between July 19 and 26, covered 865 of the city’s 1,204 targeted entertainment venues, or about 72% of the total, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornphrom Vikitsreth said as quoted by The Nation.

The inspections came after a fire tore through a beer hall and live music venue in Bangkok’s Chatuchak District on July 12, killing 36 people and injuring 70 in Thailand’s deadliest blaze in more than a decade.

Authorities said inspections of entertainment venues and similar businesses will continue across Bangkok to strengthen public safety, ensure operators comply with regulations and restore confidence among both local patrons and foreign tourists visiting the city’s nightlife districts.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you plan to visit Bangkok soon, do you think the current crackdown by the local authorities will make the city safer for 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.

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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

Illegal Hotels Raided In Thailand

In Phuket Island in Thailand, the local authorities recently raided three properties – two of which were originally developed for residential purposes – that illegally operated as hotels catering to foreign tourists, according to a news report by VnExpress. This is only a part of the ongoing crackdown against illegal hotels and already something wrong have been uncovered.

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

Thailand has intensified its crackdown on illegal hotels on its largest island Phuket after inspections found three properties operating without licenses.

Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee recently led a joint inspection in Phuket targeting three hotels with about 200, 240, and 45 rooms. Authorities found that none had valid construction permits or hotel operating licenses, according to Bangkok Post.

Investigators said two of the properties had originally been approved as residential buildings or condominiums but were later converted into hotels without authorization.

Officials also carried out online booking tests, confirming the hotels were primarily marketing rooms to European and other foreign tourists, with virtually no Thai customers.

The investigation also uncovered suspected nominee ownership arrangements involving companies with 49% foreign and 51% Thai shareholding. Some properties were legally owned by Thai nationals but leased to Chinese investors, who allegedly operated hotels without the required licenses.

The inspections were part of a broader operation covering more than 10 locations across Phuket. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has been instructed to order businesses to shut down immediately if operators fail to provide the required documentation.

Narucha Kosasivilize, director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, said operating a hotel without a license violated the law and caused widespread harm, according to The Nation.

He said the problem had three major consequences: it hurt the economy by placing legally compliant, tax-paying operators at a disadvantage; it posed safety risks because illegal accommodations often failed to meet government safety standards, putting tourists’ lives and property at risk; and it tarnished Thailand’s image while undermining long-term confidence in the country’s tourism sector.

The Department of Provincial Administration is working with the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Commerce, the Department of Special Investigation, and other agencies to expand investigations into foreign business networks across 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 will be able to find and raid all existing illegal hotels?

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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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

The World Cup promised an economic bump in Houston. Hoteliers and renters say they overpromised – Houston Public Media

Michael Adkison/Houston Public Media Hotel ZaZa, a historic hotel in Houston’s Museum District, decorated for the FIFA World…
#Football #Soccer #WorldCup2026 #2026fifaworldcup #CityofHouston #Economy #hotelzaza #Housing #Houston #Houstonhotels #HoustonMatters #internationaltourism #local #News #PostOakHotel #shorttermrentalsinHouston #sports #WorldCup
https://www.europesays.com/football/39875/

Vietnam Sets December 1 Opening For Ambitious Long Thanh International Airport

With large ambitions on tourism and commerce in mind, Vietnam recently announced that the brand-new Long Thanh International Airport will formally be opened for commercial flights on December 1, according to a news report by VnExpress.

Previously, the new international airport was powered up and the local authorities deployed soldiers to help complete the preparations. It is anticipated that most international flights will be handled by Long Thanh International Airport in 2027. During the first half of 2026, Vietnam attracted more than twelve million foreign tourists.

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

Vietnam will open its largest airport Long Thanh for commercial flights on Dec. 1 and move most of Ho Chi Minh City’s international traffic there within a year under a newly proposed transition plan.

Long Thanh is the biggest and most expensive airport project in Vietnam’s history, built at a cost of VND336.63 trillion (US$12.8 billion).

Sitting about 40 km east of Ho Chi Minh City, it is built first to relieve the chronically overcrowded Tan Son Nhat, which has run for years beyond its designed capacity.

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the state operator building Long Thanh, has said it hopes the airport will grow into a regional transit hub able to rival the established gateways in Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, reclaiming the long-haul connecting traffic that now flows through those hubs rather than Vietnam.

Long Thanh opens with capacity for 25 million passengers a year and reaches its full 100-million design ceiling only in later phases still years away. The target will make it surpass Singapore’s Changi, ranked the world’s best airport which handled a record 69.98 million passengers in 2025 and is expanding toward 140 million.

ACV has submitted a plan to split flights between Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat by region and route distance.

Long Thanh would take all international routes longer than 1,000 km and every cargo flight. Tan Son Nhat would keep shorter international routes flown on Code C jets such as the Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 737.

Every route to East Asia, West Asia, Oceania and Europe would move to Long Thanh. Southeast Asian routes would be divided roughly 55% to the new airport and 45% to Tan Son Nhat.

The handover would run in three phases pegged to airlines’ seasonal schedules.

From Dec. 1, 2026 to March 27, 2027, Long Thanh would take all long-haul international and cargo flights along with new routes and added HCMC-area frequencies, about 19% of the area’s international passenger volume. Tan Son Nhat would keep its existing routes and open no new international ones.

From March 28 to Oct. 30, 2027, all flights to Europe, the Americas, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia would shift to Long Thanh, leaving Tan Son Nhat with its remaining Northeast and Southeast Asian routes.

From Oct. 31, 2027 to March 25, 2028, Long Thanh would handle nearly all international flights, keeping only scheduled sub-1,000 km routes flown by Vietnamese carriers at Tan Son Nhat.

ACV is targeting the transfer of more than 90% of the area’s international passenger traffic to the new airport by 2027.

Domestic flights would stay largely at Tan Son Nhat, though carriers could pick either airport based on demand across all three phases.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that Vietnam could someday attract 30 million foreign tourists by air annually with Long Thanh International Airport at full operation?

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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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

Vietnam Collects Over $9 Billion From Foreign Tourists In First Half Of 2026

Following its current success on attracting tourists from around the world during the first half of this year, Vietnam raked in $9 billion in the said period, 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 collected more than US$9 billion from foreign visitors in the first six months, while Vietnamese spent $8 billion abroad in the same period.

The country recorded a tourism trade surplus of $950 million, compared with a surplus of $480 million in 2025 and a deficit of $380 million in 2024, according to the General Statistics Office.

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and President To Lam, in a meeting with government bodies on Saturday, called for a more detailed analysis of the country’s services trade balance and urged the development of a strategy to rebalance Vietnam’s tourism sector in the coming years.

He said achieving a larger tourism surplus would require upgrading the industry so that international visitors spend more during their stays, while encouraging more Vietnamese travelers to choose domestic destinations.

The country welcomed nearly 12.3 million international visitors in the first six months, up 14.9% year-on-year.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh said the government would continue efforts to develop tourism into a genuine key economic sector.

She said the mutually supportive relationship between tourism and related industries should be strengthened, with the sector shifting from a growth model focused on scale and visitor numbers to one emphasizing quality, higher value-added services, creative products, and distinctive travel experiences.

Vietnam’s tourism industry will also target higher-spending visitors and longer-stay travelers, she added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? With tourism booming in their country, do you think Vietnam can collect at least $20 billion from foreign tourists 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.

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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

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.

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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

Italy forecasts it will top European tourism in summer 2026

Italy is expecting another record-breaking summer for tourism, with government data suggesting it will outperform its main European…
#Italy #Europe #Europa #EU #Calabria #EuropeanTourism #GianmarcoMazzi #GiorgiaMeloni #internationaltourism #Italytourism #italytravel #OTAoccupancy #Sardinia #Summer2026
https://www.europesays.com/italy/30267/

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.

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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

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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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

Tourism’s Contribution To Philippines GDP The Lowest In 3 Years

Given the fact that the Philippines has been having trouble attracting foreign tourists and their money, it has been confirmed that the tourism industry’s contribution to the national economy in 2025 fell down to a 3-year low, according to a news report by BusinessWorld. For insight, the Philippines attracted 5.94 million foreign tourists in 2025 while Indonesia attracted 15.39 million, Vietnam attracted a record-high 21.2 million and Thailand attracted almost 33 million.

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

THE TOURISM industry’s contribution to the Philippine economy fell to its lowest level in three years in 2025, weighed down by weaker tourism spending by foreign visitors, according to data from the statistics agency.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed tourism’s direct gross value added (TDGVA) accounted for 8.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, down from 8.7% of GDP in 2024.

This was tourism’s lowest contribution to the national output in at least three years or since 2022 when it contributed 6.3% to the country’s GDP.

The country’s TDGVA was estimated at P2.27 trillion last year, down by 1.4% from the revised P2.3 trillion in 2024.

The TDGVA measures the value generated from various tourism-related activities and is based on the results of the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts report, which the PSA compiles from the Department of Tourism.

Tourism Congress of the Philippines President James M. Montenegro said the drop reflected external pressures, structural constraints and a weaker recovery in international tourism relative to the rest of the Philippine economy.

“While domestic tourism remained resilient, inbound tourism weakened significantly in 2025, which pulled down overall tourism value creation,” Mr. Montenegro said in a Viber message.

He said a major factor was the slower-than-expected recovery of inbound tourism from key Asian markets such as China and India even after the Philippine government eased visa requirement for Chinese and Indian nationals.

Mr. Montenegro said another challenge is the Philippine tourism industry’s ability to remain competitive in attracting foreign tourists. He said the Philippines should prioritize making key destinations more accessible to major regional markets.

“Many neighboring countries accelerated aggressive tourism recovery programs, including visa-free access, expanded airline incentives, stronger destination marketing, and airport infrastructure improvements. The Philippines continued to face challenges in air connectivity, airport capacity, inter-island transport efficiency, and tourist friction points,” Mr. Montenegro said.

He said that while the Philippines’ tourism sector has one of the highest contributions to GDP in Southeast Asia, it continues to lag behind regional peers in attracting tourists.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you surprised that the Philippines remained weak on attracting foreign tourists even though some reforms were implemented? Do you think the local tourism authorities should focus more on domestic tourism which itself remains strong and growing? What are the biggest hassles that tourists experience here in the Philippines when it comes to traveling by air, sea and land today?

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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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

Spanish hotel chain Meliá to shutter hotels in Cuba in latest blow to island’s tourism sector

HAVANA — Spanish hotel chain Meliá has joined a growing list of companies with a long-standing presence in Cuba that…
#Conflict #Conflicts #War #company #Cuba #GAESA #Government #Hotel #internationaltourism #island #lateblow #meliá #newsanction #operation #spanishhotelchainmeliá #tourismsector #U.S. #wednesday
https://www.europesays.com/3039582/

https://www.europesays.com/3039582/ Spanish hotel chain Meliá to shutter hotels in Cuba in latest blow to island’s tourism sector #company #Conflicts #Cuba #GAESA #Government #Hotel #InternationalTourism #island #LateBlow #meliá #NewSanction #operation #SpanishHotelChainMeliá #TourismSector #US #wednesday

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.

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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

Outbound travel slows as Indians rethink foreign holidays amid crisis and costs

New Delhi: Airlines haven’t yet faced large scale ticket cancellations since Prime Minister Narendra…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Economy #AirfareSurge #BookingsHoldSteady #Business #domestictravel #ForeignTouristArrivals #IndianTourismIndustry #internationaltourism #JetFuelPrices #PrimeMinisterModiTravelAppeal #traveldemand #TravelIndustryGrowth
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/640440/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/482446/ Outbound travel slows as Indians rethink foreign holidays amid crisis and costs #AirfareSurge #BookingsHoldSteady #Business #DomesticTravel #Economy #Éire #ForeignTouristArrivals #IE #IndianTourismIndustry #InternationalTourism #Ireland #JetFuelPrices #PrimeMinisterModiTravelAppeal #TravelDemand #TravelIndustryGrowth

Outbound travel slows as Indians rethink foreign holidays amid crisis and costs

New Delhi: Airlines haven’t yet faced large scale ticket cancellations since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to avoid…
#Economy #airfaresurge #BookingsHoldSteady #business #domestictravel #foreigntouristarrivals #IndianTourismIndustry #internationaltourism #jetfuelprices #PrimeMinisterModiTravelAppeal #traveldemand #travelindustrygrowth
https://www.europesays.com/2986274/

https://www.europesays.com/2986274/ Outbound travel slows as Indians rethink foreign holidays amid crisis and costs #AirfareSurge #BookingsHoldSteady #business #DomesticTravel #Economy #ForeignTouristArrivals #IndianTourismIndustry #InternationalTourism #JetFuelPrices #PrimeMinisterModiTravelAppeal #TravelDemand #TravelIndustryGrowth

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.

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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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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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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  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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