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  1. 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

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #cruise #cruiseShip #EconomyOfVietnam #foreignTourism #foreignTourists #geek #holiday #HongKong #internationalTourism #Japan #localTourists #luxuryCruise #news #Nippon #Philippines #Singapore #SoutheastAsia #touringVietnam #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #tourists #travelBlog #vacation #vacationBlog #Vietnam #VietnamTourism #Vietnamese #VisitVietnam #visitingVietnam #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom #WorldCruiseAwards #worldTravel
  2. sandspice.com/sint-truiden-bel

    Sint-Truiden, Belgium 🇧🇪 Memories & Marriage in the Flemish Countryside

    From Nepal's trails to a formal wedding in Belgium. Surviving Sint-Truiden's pristine etiquette, high-strength Trappist beers, and narrow orchard tracks.

    #BelgiumTravel #SintTruiden #TravelBlog #TravelMisadventures #Haspengouw #VisitBelgium #FlemishCountryside #SandSpice #TravelStories #WeddingTravel
    sandspice.com/sint-truiden-bel

  3. salmon-bat-519734.hostingersit

    Sint-Truiden, Belgium 🇧🇪 Memories & Marriage in the Flemish Countryside

    From Nepal's trails to a formal wedding in Belgium. Surviving Sint-Truiden's pristine etiquette, high-strength Trappist beers, and narrow orchard tracks.

    #BelgiumTravel #SintTruiden #TravelBlog #TravelMisadventures #Haspengouw #VisitBelgium #FlemishCountryside #SandSpice #Tr...
    salmon-bat-519734.hostingersit

  4. Europe’s lost places and geopolitical anomalies

    Coat of arms of the Principality of Seborga. (iStock) Whenever one thinks about Europe’s lost places, images of…
    #Europe #EU #europetravel #geopoliticalanomalies #little-knownplaces #TravelBlog
    europesays.com/europe/165604/

  5. 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

    #Asia #CarloCarrasco #CondéNastTraveller #EconomyOfJapan #Fediverse #foreignTourism #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #holiday #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #internationalVisitors #Japan #Japanese #Mastodon #news #Nippon #overseasTravel #tourism #tourismBlog #tourismIndustry #tourismRevenue #touristBlog #tourists #travelBlog #vacation #visitJapan #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  6. Portuguese Woman Apprehended in Thailand for Overstaying by 1,807 Days

    Recently in Thailand, a woman from Portugal was arrested after she overstayed in the country by more than one thousand and eight hundred days, according to a news article by VnExpress. The Portuguese’s permission to stay in the country expired on January 11, 2021.

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

    A Portuguese woman was arrested in Phuket, Thailand, after police discovered she had overstayed her visa by 1,807 days.

    The arrest took place on Oct. 13 when immigration officers inspected a restaurant in Koh Kaew, Muang Phuket, as part of a campaign targeting foreign nationals accused of immigration offenses, according to Khaosod English.

    When asked for identification, she could not produce her passport, showing officers only a photograph of it on her phone.

    Officers then used Thailand’s immigration biometric system to confirm her details, revealing that she had entered Thailand through Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 20, 2020, under a 30-day visa-exemption scheme and later received an extension.

    Her permission to stay had expired on Jan 11, 2021. The suspect has been charged with remaining in the country illegally.

    Under Thai laws, she faces up to two years in prison, a fine of up to 20,000 baht (US$596), or both for remaining in the country without permission.

    According to The Phuket News, an immigration spokesperson said authorities are stepping up checks to find and arrest foreigners staying illegally in the country.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think there are still a lot of foreigners who overstayed in Thailand? What do you think is the main reason why foreigners overstayed 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #blogging #CarloCarrasco #crime #crimeNews #crimeWatch #EconomyOfThailand #Fediverse #foreignTourists #foreignVisitors #foreigners #illegalAliens #illegalAliensAreCriminals #illegalForeigners #illegalImmigration #immigration #internationalTravel #Mastodon #Portugal #SoutheastAsia #Thailand #tourism #tourismBlog #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #undocumentedForeigners #visitThailand #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  7. HCMC Transforms into Vietnam’s Shopping Hotspot

    When it comes to touring Southeast Asia, which particularly city do you think is ideal for shopping? In recent times, a booming fashion scene backed with strong social media exposure and promotions is turning Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam as a major shopping hotspot and the shopping craze there is only intensifying, according to an article by VnExpress.

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

    Ho Chi Minh City is quickly becoming a shopping hotspot, thanks to a booming fashion scene that has been promoted widely on TikTok and Instagram as both affordable and accessible.

    Chloe, a 22-year-old traveler from Australia, arrived on Tran Quang Dieu Street at the end of September with an empty suitcase and spent nearly US$800 in a single afternoon on clothes.

    She planned to stay in Vietnam for a few weeks before returning home, saying: “I was inspired by a TikToker who came here with an empty suitcase just to fill it by shopping here.”

    “The clothing quality is incredible, and everything is so cheap it feels surreal. It is like paradise for me.”

    Recently, Ho Chi Minh City earned a spot among the 50 most attractive shopping destinations globally in a ranking by Travel and Tour World, a leading Indian travel publication.

    The city is an ideal destination for travelers seeking handcrafted goods, textiles, and Vietnamese-style fashion, the report said.

    Chloe is far from the only tourist visiting just for shopping.

    Jasmine, a 26-year-old from Malaysia, says she travels to Vietnam specifically to buy clothes worn by her favorite idols.

    “I am a huge K-pop fan, and I think Vietnamese clothing not only makes it easy to connect with my idols, but walking the fashion streets here also makes me feel amazing.”

    She says she discovers brands and shopping locations primarily through Instagram, adding, “Every time I try on something here, I know I can afford it.”

    Tina Yong, a prominent content creator with nearly four million followers, whose viral “Vietnam Haul” videos have helped put the local scene on the global map, points out that the appeal lies in discovery.

    “People love discovering a brand they haven’t seen everywhere already.

    “The designs are what catch my eye first, but the quality is what makes me go back.”

    Other visitors echo this sentiment.

    A visitor from Singapore says Vietnamese clothing craftsmanship is remarkable. She says she can buy about 10 times as many trendy items in Ho Chi Minh City, and for a fraction of the cost back home.

    According to U.K. magazine Conde Nast Traveller, Vietnamese retail stands out for its high-quality craftsmanship and use of the same production lines as global brands like Nike and GAP at a cost that is a fraction of western retail prices.

    The rise in foreign shopper numbers has changed how local boutique owners run their stores.

    Nguyen Huu Hoang, 22, consultant for a shop on Le Van Sy, a famous retail street in HCMC, says foreigners make up 80-90% of his shop’s clientele, most of them walk-in customers.

    To reach them, his brands focus on Instagram, posting regular “fit-check” videos to turn online views into real store visits.

    For added insight about shopping in HCMC, watch the video below.

    https://youtu.be/xUkL3fG4u7M?si=2LypoKSigQo7tsG3

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Ho Chi Minh City’s strong appeal as a major fashion and shopping hot spot will last for several years and contribute a lot to the economy of Vietnam? Do you personally know anyone who visited Vietnam mainly for shopping? Do you think there are lots of people who are too influenced by social media to come to go overseas with shopping in mind?

    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

    #accessories #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #CarloCarrasco #clothes #clothing #CondéNastTraveller #designerClothes #EconomyOfVietnam #fashion #Fediverse #foreignTouristArrivals #foreignTourists #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #HoChiMinhCity #HoChiMinhCityHCMC #internationalTravel #lifestyle #Mastodon #overseasTravel #retail #retailers #retailing #sales #selling #shopping #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #touringVietnam #tourism #tourismBlog #tourismIndustry #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #touristDestinations #touristSpots #touristVisa #tourists #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #Vietnam #VietnamTourism #VisitVietnam #visitingVietnam #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  8. [NEW POST] Tra le montagne filippine della Cordillera si celano delle impressionanti risaie a terrazza vecchie di 2000 anni e dichiarate patrimonio dell'umanità dall'UNESCO. Banaue e Batad sono probabilmente i posti migliori dove osservarle.

    #banaue #filippine #viaggi #viaggioinsolitaria #viaggiare #turismofaidate #turismo #travelblog #travel

    @societa

    ramingodentro.com/2026/10/bana

  9. Philippines Targets 6.4 Million International Tourist Arrivals this Year

    The Philippines, which has been enduring economic weakness and high inflation for much of 2026, is targeting 6.4 million international visitor arrivals this year, according a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

    To put things in perspective, international tourists/visitors is a reference to both foreign tourists and overseas Filipinos who arrived in the country. In 2025, the Philippines attracted 5.94 million foreign tourists and 543,000 overseas Filipinos which combine for a grand total of 6.48 million international tourists/visitors. That said, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) target for 2026 technically the same when compared to what was achieved in 2025.

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

    The Philippines expects tourist arrivals to remain flat at around 6.4 million this year amid more muted travel demand due to the ongoing fuel crisis, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

    Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay told reporters last week that the DOT expects international visitor arrivals to remain relatively unchanged from the 6.48 million recorded last year.

    “6.4 [million] is our target because I was really super anxious about the fuel crisis and the accompanying higher airline fees, as well as the lower sentiment for traveling,” Angara-Mathay said.

    Even against this backdrop, Angara-Mathay said tourist arrivals remain relatively strong, having posted 3.46-percent year-on-year growth as of Oct. 6.

    The latest official DOT data showed that visitor arrivals from January to August inched up by 0.8 percent to 4.42 million from 4.38 million in the same period last year.

    “I was afraid that it would go down, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think we’ll be able to match [last year],” Angara-Mathay said.

    Given the expected boost in arrivals during the holiday season, the DOT still sees room for growth this year, especially if the government approves its proposed expansion of the visa-free scheme for Chinese tourists.

    The DOT is pushing to expand visa-free coverage for Chinese nationals to other gateways in hopes of opening more flights between the Philippines and China beyond Manila and Cebu.

    Chinese tourists are currently allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for stays of up to 14 days, provided they arrive through either Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) or Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

    The current arrangement has already resulted in a surge in Chinese visitors this year, with arrivals nearly doubling to 303,567 as of end-August from 156,926 a year ago.

    “There is a direct correlation with taking out that friction of the visa with [increased] travel. So hopefully, everyone’s on board, unfortunately one more agency needs to be convinced,” said Angara-Mathay.

    While she did not identify the agency opposing the visa-free expansion, the DOT chief emphasized that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) are fully on board.

    The DFA authorized visa-free entry for Chinese nationals earlier this year, while BI issued the implementing guidelines.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the tourism industry of the Philippines has what it takes to attract more than enough foreign tourists and returning overseas Filipinos to exceed the DOT’s 2026 target? Do you feel uncomfortable about the Philippine government’s effort to expand visa-free coverage for Chinese nationals to other gateways? Do you prefer to see the authorities focus more on attracting more travelers from Southeast Asia and Europe? What do you think are the three biggest problems of the tourism industry of the Philippines 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

    #AirTravel #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Balikbayan #BureauOfImmigrationBI #CarloCarrasco #China #ChinaVirus #ChineseTourists #ChristmasVacation #Communist #CommunistChina #DepartmentOfForeignAffairsDFA #DepartmentOfTourismDOT #domesticTourists #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #Europe #Fediverse #finance #foreignNationals #foreignTourism #foreignTouristArrivals #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #foreigners #Google #GoogleSearch #jobs #ManilaBulletin #Mastodon #money #news #overseasFilipinoWorkerOFW #OverseasFilipinoWorkersOFWs #overseasFilipinos #overseasTravel #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #PhilippinesTourism #Pinoy #PinoyBlog #SoutheastAsia #tourismBlog #tourismRevenue #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #touristSpots #touristVisa #tourists #travel #travelBlog #travelers #vacation #vacationBlog #WordPress #WordPressCom
  10. Indonesia Attracts 10.5 Million Foreign Tourists in First 8 Months of 2026

    Indonesia, the largest economy of Southeast Asia, successfully attracted 10.5 million foreign tourists during the January-August period this year, according to a news article by VnExpress.

    If Indonesia maintains the current pace, its foreign tourist arrivals should reach 15.75 million by the end of 2026. The nation attracted 15.39 million foreign tourists last year and saw its tourism earnings reach 8.43 billion during the first half of this year.

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

    Indonesia welcomed 10.58 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of the year, up 5.38% year-on-year, driven by a surge from visitors in Asia and Oceania.

    The Southeast Asia’s largest economy received 1.6 million foreign tourist visits in August, up 6.27% from the same month in 2025.

    From January to August, arrivals increased across several regional markets, led by other Asian regions at 8.41%, followed by Southeast Asia at 7.75% and Oceania at 7.36%. Visits from the Middle East rose 1.3% over the same period.

    Indonesia has joined Malaysia and Vietnam in recording growth in international tourist arrivals, bucking a broader decline across regional destinations.

    Malaysia recorded 28.8 million international visitors from January to August this year, up 1.8% year on year and retaining its crown as Southeast Asia’s most visited country.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Indonesia has a chance to attract 16 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? Have you decided recently to visit Indonesia over the next six months?

    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

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #CarloCarrasco #economics #economy #EconomyOfIndonesia #Fediverse #foreignTourism #foreignTouristArrivals #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #holiday #Indonesia #Indonesian #Indonesians #Malaysia #Mastodon #news #SoutheastAsia #tourismBlog #touristArrivals #touristBlog #touristSpots #touristVisa #tourists #travelBlog #travelers #triathlonBlog #vacation #vacationBlog #Vietnam #visitIndonesia #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom
  11. 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

    #AirTravel #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #blogging #CarloCarrasco #corruptUnitedNations #domesticTourism #economics #economy #EconomyOfPhilippines #foreignTourism #foreignTouristArrivals #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #holiday #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Iran #LeeChiuPropertyConsultants #LeechiuPropertyConsultantsLPC #LGBTQ #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #ManilaBulletin #news #PalestinianTerrorists #PhilippineTourism #Philippines #PhilippinesTourism #tourismBlog #tourismIndustry #touristBlog #travelBlog #UnitedNations #UnitedNationsUN #vacation #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  12. 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.

    +++++

    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

    #AirTravel #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #blogging #CarloCarrasco #economics #economy #EconomyOfSouthKorea #EconomyOfVietnam #Fediverse #finance #foreignTourism #foreignTouristArrivals #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #geek #holiday #internationalTourism #Korea #Koreans #Mastodon #money #news #overseasTravel #SoKor #SouthKorea #SouthKoreans #touringVietnam #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristArrivals #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #vacation #vacationBlog #Vietnam #VietnamTourism #Vietnamese #VisitVietnam #visitingVietnam #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  13. Two appointments down, still moving forward. My latest post shares encouraging updates from oncology and cardiology, along with a reminder that there’s a difference between being alive and living, and I’m still determined to do both.

    #Cancer #RealTalk #HeartAndHealth #MyLife #StillMovingForward #TravelBlog #MedicalUpdate #LifeWithCancer #LoveMeAnyways #RickOllie #Writer

  14. What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 158

    Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

    Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

    I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

    #1 Major League (1990) movie reaction videos – When it comes to American sports, I am not really a fan of baseball. That said, I was not too interested with Major League Baseball (MLB). Strangely enough, the 1989 comedy film Major League – which I saw on home video in 1990 – turned out to be entertaining to watch and it became a hot rental in our local community here in the Philippines. As such, American sports movies about baseball became more interesting to see just as cable TV became more common locally. Some film buffs still consider Major League the most entertaining of them all. To find out how much impact Major League has on YouTubers, watch the selected reaction videos below.

    https://youtu.be/Hdj0yNKCZtk?si=SIaiLxKAw9gwX2hL

    https://youtu.be/D6kDNN20k1o?si=qGyP50QE0VaOhG8e

    https://youtu.be/qazuvMf9368?si=bmLHN1DI_TawJ5j4

    https://youtu.be/9EH4kjfRiuA?si=yHAXCnQ_PDJuCFna

    https://youtu.be/EWsgWYuLeg4?si=_fZkeh0Z0DU5aDV5

    #2 The history of TwinBee – Decades ago, I played TwinBee on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) with my friends. It was a fun-filled, vertical-scrolling 2D shooter that had this cute visual design and it was unexpectedly challenging to complete. What I never played, however, was the original arcade game of TwinBee which Konami released way back in 1985. To find out who were the creators behind TwinBee, how its development happened and how it became a game franchise, watch the video below.

    https://youtu.be/Dh-ISK4mngU?si=PPjepiuJ1WeMBn-T

    #3 Nostalgic food alley in central Tokyo – If you have ever visited Tokyo before, were you able to eat at specific places that had a lot of history within? There is this nostalgic food alley in the central part of Tokyo. Having seen the Nippon TV video below, the featured food alley is indeed very interesting and the food offered to customers is captivating to see. I wish I had dined there the last time I visited Japan. Watch and learn from the video below.              

    https://youtu.be/PFRJmcqG8Ko?si=Df816B-k0iXJzAe5

    #4 The Road to the Temple Mount Revealed – In 2023, I visited Israel with my local church on a pilgrimage tour that lasted twelve days, and it was during the last five days when we stayed in Jerusalem. During our tour of Pool of Siloam (where a man-born-blind got healed and gained sight because he followed Lord Jesus’ instructions) we reached one end of the place which turned out to be the entrance leading to the ancient pilgrimage road leading to the Temple Mount. Back then, it was closed but we all saw what it looked like. In recent times, a lot of progress was made on the restoration of the ancient pilgrimage road (the very road where Jews hiked coming from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount) and CBN News has an in-depth feature of it in their video below. I encourage you all to watch it.     

    https://youtu.be/tTIe2Szu4FA?si=WgitkBomcHr7yQIA

    #5 From Mahane Yehuda Market to Jaffa Gate – During the one and only day-off of our 2023 Israel pilgrimage tour, I marched all the way to the Temple Mount and other holy sites inside the Old City of Jerusalem to spend quality time with the Lord. After visiting the grave of Oskar Schindler, I marched all the way back to the modern part of Jerusalem with the Mahane Yehuda market as the final destination. That said, the video of Jerusalem Walker posted below is nostalgic to me as I had two visits to Mahane Yehuda. The only thing was that I have not yet experienced spending time at Mahane Yehuda on a Friday which is often full of people as the Jews prepared themselves for the night before Shabbat. The video below is a must-see.

    https://youtu.be/e_HLBpIjnv8?si=jKlopf0zjhgNzCiN

    #6 You, Me and the Movies reacts to The Fly (1958) – Like most moviegoers, I saw the 1986 version of The Fly without seeing the original 1958 version. Of course, the original The Fly was released long before I was even born and it was still very challenging to see it on home video, UFH TV, cable TV and DVD or Blu-ray. I eventually saw The Fly (1958) on local TV back in the 1990s but it did not engage me enough to complete it. That said, watching reaction videos of it was a more suitable way of seeing it and I can say that I enjoyed You, Me and the Movies’ reaction video of it is entertaining.

    https://youtu.be/pwfGidrzMH4?si=9IJ8MLBpyhcxAYzS

    +++++

    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

    #1980s #1990s #America #arcade #arcadeGames #AshleighBurton #baseball #BeTheFearlessAndAggressiveChurchOfLordJesus #blogging #CarloCarrasco #CBNChristianBroadcastingNetwork #CBNNews #Christianity #EOMReacts #Faith #Famicom #FamilyComputerFamicom #food #foreignTravel #geek #God #ILoveIsrael #ILoveJerusalem #IStandWithIsrael #Israel #Israel2023 #IsraelTravelGuide #Japan #Jerusalem #JesusChrist #Konami #LordJesus #MahaneYehuda #MajorLeague #MajorLeagueBaseballMLB #MajorLeagueBaseballPlayersAssociationMLBPA #MLB #news #Nintendo #Nippon #NipponTV #OskarSchindler #Philippines #pilgrimage #pilgrimageTour #PoolOfSiloam #PopcornInBed #RetroGaming #RhetoricalThrill #Shabbat #SiloamTunnel #sports #TempleMount #The1980s #The1990s #TheFly #TheFly1958 #TheFly1986 #Tokyo #TotallyWhatever #tourism #tourismBlog #travelBlog #TwinBee #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #WhatToWatchOnYouTube #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel #YouMeAndTheMovies #YouTube #YouTuber #YouTubers
  15. Malaysia Attracts Almost 29 Million Foreign Tourists in First 8 Months of 2026

    Malaysia is unsurprisingly the top tourist destination of Southeast Asia as it successfully attracted almost 29 million foreign tourists during the first eight months of 2026, according to a news article by VnExpress. Having attracted over 42 million foreign tourists last year, Malaysia is aiming for 47 million this year.

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

    Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to show positive momentum, recording 28.8 million international visitors from January to August this year, up 1.8% year on year and retaining its crown as Southeast Asia’s most visited country.

    Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director-General (Promotion) Mohd Akbal Setia said the strong performance reflects Malaysia’s continued appeal as a tourism destination and underscores the importance of strengthening international tourism partnerships, The Sun Malaysia reported.

    Mohd Akbal said tourism is an important economic driver, contributing more than 15% to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP), with its benefits extending across the tourism value chain to support businesses and livelihoods, from hotels and e-hailing services to local artisans and family-run restaurants, Malay Mail reported.

    Thailand, traditionally the region’s favorite, ranked second after welcoming 20.93 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2026, down 3.08% from the same period last year, Bangkok Post reported.

    Vietnam followed Thailand with nearly 16 million foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2026, increasing 14.4% from the same period in 2025 and equivalent to 63.6% of the full-year target, according to the General Statistics Office.

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

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you have visited Malaysia over the past six months, what do you think makes it a very attractive destination for tourists from around the world? Do you think Malaysia has enough momentum to achieve its target of 47 million foreign tourists by the end of the year?

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

    +++++

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

    #AirTravel #ASEAN #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #blogging #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #economics #economy #EconomyOfMalaysia #foreignTourists #holiday #Malaysia #news #SoutheastAsia #tourism #tourismBlog #touristBlog #tourists #travel #travelBlog #vacation #visitMalaysia #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  16. Vietnam Tourism Insiders Say Easier Entry, Stronger Connectivity and Better Tourism Services Are Needed

    Having attracted almost eighteen million foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam is clearly one of the must-visit places not only in Southeast Asia but in Asia as a whole. For some tourism insiders, however, Vietnam needs easier entry, strong connectivity by air and land and better tourism services to bridge the so-called competitiveness gap with its Southeast Asian neighbors, 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 needs easier entry, stronger air and land connectivity, better tourism services, and stricter environmental enforcement to bridge its competitiveness gap with Southeast Asian rivals, tourism insiders have said.

    The country climbed seven places to 52nd out of 110 economies in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index, its highest ranking since the Covid-19 pandemic.

    But it ranked behind major Southeast Asian markets. Singapore was 13th globally, Indonesia was 23rd, Malaysia was 26th, and Thailand was 38th.

    The expansion of visa-free policy for more nationalities remains an important feature of Vietnam’s strategy to develop its tourism industry.

    Martin Koerner, commercial director of The Anam Group, a chain of Vietnamese luxury resorts, tells VnExpress International: “Vietnam should continue to make entry as frictionless as possible. Visa policies have improved considerably, but we should continue benchmarking ourselves against the easiest destinations in the region.”

    Every additional administrative barrier matters when an international traveler can choose between Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other destinations, he says.

    Vietnam has made it easier for foreign visitors to enter and stay in the country, including through 90-day e-visas and 45-day visa exemptions for citizens of 24 countries, including several in Europe.

    But the country has not yet waived visas for some major tourism markets such as China and India, unlike Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

    Vietnam also needs stronger air connectivity, with more direct flights from major cities in Europe, Australia, North America, India, and the Middle East as connections influence long-haul travelers’ destination choices, Koerner adds.

    Dr Matt Kim, a lecturer in tourism and hospitality management at RMIT Vietnam, says infrastructure and accessibility require further improvement, particularly international air connectivity and transport links between destinations in the country.

    Long Thanh International Airport scheduled to begin commercial operation later this year will be transformational, but an airport alone does not create a destination, he says.

    Efficient connections between airports and tourism centers, better roads, rail infrastructure, and seamless domestic transportation will be equally important, he says.

    He wants the tourism industry to improve service quality and develop skilled professionals.

    “To compete more effectively with regional destinations such as Thailand and Singapore, Vietnam needs to improve not only its facilities, but also service standards and professional training.“

    Environmental pollution is another concern, with foreign tourists frequently complaining about it despite praising Vietnam’s scenery.

    Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you agree with the opinions of the tourism insiders about what Vietnam needs to do to remain competitive with its regional neighbors? If you have been to Vietnam over the past six months, how do you rate the quality of entry, tourism services, air-land connectivity and the tourism workers? With the way things are going now, do you think Vietnam will be able to attract 30 million foreign tourists in 2027 or 2028?

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

    +++++

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

    #AirTravel #America #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #blogging #CarloCarrasco #China #CommunistChina #domesticTravel #economics #economy #EconomyOfVietnam #Europe #Fediverse #foreignTravelers #geek #holiday #India #Indonesia #internationalTravel #Malaysia #Mastodon #MiddleEast #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Singapore #SoutheastAsia #Thailand #touringVietnam #tourism #tourismBlog #touristBlog #travelBlog #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #vacation #vacationBlog #Vietnam #VietnamTourism #Vietnamese #VisitVietnam #visitingVietnam #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom #WorldEconomicForum #WorldEconomicForumWEF #worldTravel
  17. Did you know Yokohama Chinatown's streets are shifted by 45 degrees, making Google Maps almost useless? 🧭 I explored this historical maze, prayed at Kanteibyo Temple, and tried Taiwanese fried chicken!

    Read more👇
    shounan3ss3pegasus.infinityfre

  18. Vietnam Attracts 522,000 Visitors from the Philippines During First 9 Months of 2026

    The Philippines, which is currently the host of the ASEAN Summit and is also one of the economic weaklings of Southeast Asia, continues to grow tremendously as a tourism market for Vietnam as an estimated 522,000 Filipinos visited the said nation during the first nine months of 2026, according to a news report by VnExpress.

    It should be noted that more than 480,000 Filipinos visited Vietnam for the entire year of 2025, and the Philippines is one of the fastest growing tourism markets for the Vietnam tourism industry this year along with Russia.

    Historically speaking, the number of Philippine visitors welcomed by Vietnam was 49,266 in 2022, 153,168 in 2023, 265,947 in 2024 and 482,173 in 2025. At 522,000 as of the end of September, the number of Philippine visitors arriving in Vietnam could reach around 700,000 by the end of this year.

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

    Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.5% year-on-year, bucking a decline in arrivals across several Southeast Asian destinations.

    Mainland China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.95 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 3.05 million visitors, or 17.3%.

    Russia ranked third with 1.1 million, followed by Taiwan (964,000) and the U.S. (746,000), according to the General Statistics Office.

    The rest of the top 10 were Cambodia (688,000), Japan (674,000), India (670,000), the Philippines (522,000) and Australia (485,000).

    In September, foreign visitors declined by 11.3% from August but rose by 16.5% year-on-year to 1.77 million.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Considering the strong interest of Filipinos to visit Vietnam, do you think it is possible for Vietnam to attract at least one million visitors from the Philippines next year if not this year? Do you think more Filipinos will realize the great value they could get by visiting Vietnam?

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

    +++++

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

    #ASEAN #ASEANSummit #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #blogging #CarloCarrasco #EconomyOfVietnam #geek #holiday #internationalTravel #Japan #Mastodon #news #Nippon #overseasTravel #Philippines #Russia #SouthKorea #SoutheastAsia #Taiwan #touringVietnam #tourism #tourismBlog #touristArrivals #touristBlog #touristDestinations #touristSpots #travel #travelBlog #vacation #vacationBlog #Vietnam #VietnamTourism #Vietnamese #VisitVietnam #visitingVietnam #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  19. Food and Beverage Vendors Plus New Details for Sip & Stroll: An Early Christmas Bazaar Revealed

    Very recently, the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) revealed new details as well as a list of approved food-and-drinks vendors for their upcoming Sip & Stroll: An Early Christmas Bazaar which will happen on November 21 and 22, 2026, at the Phase 2 park grounds. For each day, the bazaar will start from 10AM until 8PM.

    For the upcoming bazaar, there will be over forty-five dry goods vendors participating. This ensures that customers will see a wide variety of products for sale ranging from clothing to houseware, toys, accessories, shoes and more. There will be a lot of items that customers can acquire for Christmas gift-giving.

    With regards to the food and vendors approved by the AHVA, the list is as follows in the image below.

    The official list of food and beverage vendors for the Sip & Stroll early Christmas bazaar. (image sourced from AHVA website)

    In addition, the AHVA confirmed that there will be acoustic performers and DJs who will provide entertainment in the afternoon of each day of the bazaar. There will also be game booths for additional enjoyment.

    Pay attention to the new details here. (image sourced from AHVA website)

    The Phase 2 park grounds is the main venue of Sip & Stroll: An Early Christmas Bazaar, and both the covered basketball court and the pickleball court (formerly the badminton court) will be used too. For the non-residents who have private vehicles (without Alabang Hills Village stickers) and intend to attend the bazaar, be ready to leave your ID card at the village gate and tell them were you are headed. Once inside, it is a must that you should follow their rules and speed limits at all times. Be aware that finding available parking spaces can be a bit of a challenge, and be respectful to the nearby homes.

    If you have inquiries for Sip & Stroll: An Early Christmas Bazaar, send your email to [email protected]

    +++++

    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

    For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

    #AHVA #AHVAStickers #Alabang #AlabangBlog #AlabangHills #AlabangHillsBazaar #AlabangHillsStickers #AlabangHillsVillage #AlabangHillsVillageAssociationAHVA #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #BarangayCupang #bargains #beverage #beverages #BFHomes #blogging #business #businessDeals #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #Christmas #ChristmasBazaar #ChristmasGift #ChristmasGifts #ChristmasShopping #CityOfMuntinlupa #drinks #entertainment #Fediverse #food #foodAndDrinks #foodAndBeverage #foreignTourists #foreignTravelers #foreigners #fun #geek #giftGiving #Google #GoogleSearch #holidayShopping #JapaneseFood #KoreanFood #LasPiñas #localCommunity #localTourism #Mastodon #meals #MetroManila #Muntinlupa #MuntinlupaCity #news #pastries #pastry #Philippines #shopping #shoppingBazaar #SipStrollAnEarlyChristmasBazaar #snacks #socialMedia #SouthMetroManila #SouthSnippets #Southies #specialEvents #tourism #tourismBlog #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  20. 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.

    +++++

    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

    #AirTravel #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #diversity #economics #economy #EconomyOfSingapore #employment #Facebook #Fediverse #finance #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #foreignVisitors #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #Inclusion #Indonesia #Instagram #internationalTourism #internationalTravel #Investagrams #jobs #labor #Laos #Malaysia #Mastodon #money #mustSee #Philippines #Singapore #socialMedia #Thailand #tourism #tourismBlog #tourist #touristBlog #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #vacation #visitSingapore #VnExpress #VnExpressInternational #VnExpressNet #WordPress #WordPressCom #work #WorldEconomicForumWEF #worldTravel
  21. What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 157

    Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

    Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

    I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

    #1 Popcorn in Bed’s X-Men movie reaction videos – I enjoy watching the movie reaction videos posted by Popcorn in Bed. For the most part, Cassie and her sister Carly (who joined her many times in reaction videos) are pretty reactive to the movies they saw for the first time ever regardless of genre. Recently, I replayed watching their reaction videos of the live-action, X-Men movies (the main ones specifically) from 2000’s X-Men to 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse. Each X-Men reaction video of theirs is fun to watch and I noticed how Cassy and Carly discovered who the characters are, familiarized themselves with them, and still succeeded on following the stories even though there were so many characters in each film. That said, I encourage you all to watch their videos below.

    https://youtu.be/rWHaYw2_60M?si=BHaXD98dhA_–Ci2

    https://youtu.be/So6m45UeO98?si=6DyQ82f-sFTbTLcL

    https://youtu.be/ke9eprY-6jU?si=khyVs1qpIZ-8zfyb

    https://youtu.be/BvLJp_DJkXA?si=MeWYLEsCERlfpPq7

    https://youtu.be/fmHAoDvF89Y?si=JtDN_Ye_tTx6WQvf

    https://youtu.be/D5JAY0-AOvE?si=p-FPDHmqDQNOMDd5

    #2 The Sherman Oaks Galleria today – You may not have visited the Sherman Oaks Galleria in California, but you might have seen it in films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Chopping Mall, Commando, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Indeed, the said shopping mall was used as a location in the movies and given the fact that a lot of shopping malls across America have closed down, revisiting the Sherman Oak Galleria’s legacy is both nostalgic and even educational. To find out what the Sherman Oaks Galleria looks like today, watch the video below. Tell me if you can recognize the malls spots that appeared in movies.

    https://youtu.be/UvRplNA1Uyo?si=DZbPdRzaPo1ClufT

    #3 Magic Johnson’s 1996 Comeback as a Lakers Player – Looking back at the career of Magic Johnson, the 1990s was a series of drastic changes about him. He quickly retired in 1991 because he had Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but returned as a player in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game and represented the United States as a Dream Team members in the Barcelona Olympics. He retired again in 1992 as controversy and protests grew from players over his plan to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers for the 1992-93 season. He came back to the NBA as Lakers head coach in 1994 winning 5 games and losing 11, and eventually stepped down. In 1996, he came back as a player for the Lakers taking a new role as a power forward. Magic Johnson’s presence on the basketball courts looked exciting on face value but there was a lot of tension behind the scenes and even division among the Lakers. To discover what happened, watch the video below.

    https://youtu.be/G_bJs-BPS6A?si=n74PFOcHHj2Go0dh

    #4 Eels to eat in Japan – I enjoy eating Unadon, the classic Japanese dish that has eel (unagi) grilled in the kabayaki way and served in a rice bowl. I had Unadon during my visits to Japan and in Japanese restaurants (both locally and overseas). Eels are truly popular in Japan. Even though supply constraints of live eels are felt by consumers and businesses, somehow the Japanese food joints found ways to secure enough of them and offer them to hungry customers in creative ways. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

    https://youtu.be/x3MWX7DqF9M?si=azaxs9yrP-_Yoeo0

    #5 Retro World Expo 2026 – I always wanted to attend a retro gaming convention in America. I saw this video about Retro World Expo 2026 which took place in Connecticut and it was enjoyable to see. There is nothing like playing classic arcade games and classic console/computer games running on their original hardware. Watch the video below.

    https://youtu.be/NyMT0p1qk_8?si=FJX-b0F0VfFb8Adz

    #6 You, Me and the Movies react to Resident Evil: Degeneration – If you are a fan of the Resident Evil games and movies, do you really enjoy watching the computer-generated Resident Evil movies? Back in 2008, the pure-CGI movie Resident Evil: Degeneration was released in cinemas and there was some excitement for it among RE enthusiasts as it had fan-favorite characters Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Not only that, RE fans who were disappointed with the Milla Jovovich-led live-action movies wanted to see RE movies that were more connected with the games they enjoyed. You, Me and the Movies recently posted their reaction video about Resident Evil: Degeneration and it is a must-watch.

    https://youtu.be/hikyGLzHxoc?si=0QSD30IM7xovSDGp

    #7 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Transformers: The Movie – Finally, Ashleigh Burton saw the animated classic The Transformers: The Movie and posted her reaction video of it. It is nice that the animated movie got featured by her as this year marks its 40th anniversary. Go watch her video now! It’s fun to watch.

    https://youtu.be/fNvouP3etMA?si=V5bgOpCH-zIu8C9J

    #7 Deathmate and the 1990s comics revisited – As a long-time comic book reader, I personally witnessed the presence and impact of the Deathmate crossover comic books in 1993. The Deathmate comics published by Valiant were released on time while those from Image Comics really arrived late. Local comic book collectors near me had no excitement for Deathmate even though famous artists like Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio participated in it in various degrees. The video below is very comprehensive with its focus on not just Deathmate but also the comic book speculator boom, the 1990s comics trends, the intrigue behind the scenes and more. Watch the video now.

    https://youtu.be/FmY_cdGfQNs?si=5VSfN0KvneqZ4lNm

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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

    #1980s #1990s #amusement #animation #AshleighBurton #Asia #California #CarloCarrasco #cartoons #CGI #ChatGPT #ChoppingMall #cinema #ClaireRedfield #comicBook #comicBooks #comics #comicsBlog #commando #Connecticut #crossovers #Deathmate #DreamTeam #eel #entertainment #entertainmentBlog #Facebook #FastTimesAtRidgemontHigh #Fediverse #film #food #foodTourism #foodie #foreignTourists #fun #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #holiday #horror #humanImmunodeficiencyVirusHIV #illness #illustratedLiterature #ImageComics #Inclusion #Instagram #Japan #JimLee #LeonKennedy #LeonSKennedy #literature #LosAngeles #LosAngelesLakers #MagicJohnson #malls #Mastodon #meals #MillaJovovich #movies #mustSee #mustWatch #NationalBasketballAssociationNBA #NBA #Nippon #NipponTV #nostalgia #OlympicGames #Olympics #onlineVideos #Philippines #PopcornInBed #ResidentEvil #ResidentEvilDegeneration #RetroGaming #RetroWorldExpo #Reviews #RobLiefeld #sciFi #scienceFiction #ShermanOaksGalleria #shoppingMalls #socialMedia #SummerOlympics #Terminator2JudgmentDay #The1980s #The1990s #TheTransformers #TheTransformersTheMovie #tourism #tourismBlog #tourists #Transformers #travel #travelBlog #Tumblr #Twitter #unadon #unagi #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #vacation #Valiant #ValiantComics #video #videoBlog #videoGames #videos #WhatToWatchOnYouTube #WhilcePortacio #woke #Wolverine #WordPress #WordPressCom #XMen #XMen2000 #XMenApocalypse #XMenDaysOfFuturePast #XMenFirstClass #XMenTheLastStand #X2XMenUnited #YouMeAndTheMovies #YouTube #YouTuber #YouTubers
  22. P50-million Expansion Facility of New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corp. in Subic Bay Freeport Zone Inaugurated

    New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corporation – a dynamic commercial vehicle dealership and direct importer specializing in reconditioned Japanese surplus trucks and other types of industrial machines – formally inaugurated its P50 million facility inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), according to the official announcement by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

    Reflecting the robust growth of the trucking industry within the Freeport zone, New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corp. inaugurated its PHP 50-million expansion facility at the Tipo Hightech Eco Park (THEP) on September 21, 2026.

    “The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) takes great pride in developments like this,” said SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño. “A Freeport’s strength lies in the enterprises that choose to invest, expand, and remain within its borders.”

    Aliño noted that New Asahi Group’s decision to consolidate its expertise in sourcing, importation, reconditioning, fabrication, and after-sales support under the Apex Trucks brand, and to do so here in Subic, is a strong vote of confidence in both the Freeport and the favorable business (climate) that the SBMA diligently maintains.

    The expansion spans 5,231.60 square meters within THEP and is projected to create 25 additional jobs. The facility will handle importation, exportation, transshipment, warehousing, rebuilding, and trading of trucks, buses, as well as heavy and industrial equipment.

    New Asahi Group Subic Trading Corporation specializes in the dealership and importation of commercial vehicles, focusing on reconditioned Japanese trucks, heavy equipment, and industrial machinery. Operating under the Apex Trucks name, the company is involved in the import, export, transshipment, storage, rebuilding, and wholesale of trucks, buses, heavy and industrial equipment, along with new and used spare parts and accessories.

    The inauguration ceremony was graced by prominent figures including SBMA Chairman Eduardo Jose L. Aliño; New Asahi Group Chairman Ahamed Mohamed Mohamed Hussain; President Shukry Hussain; CEO Riza Nazeer; SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business & Investment Barney W. Lee III; and Olongapo City Mayor Atty. Rolen C. Paulino, Jr., who collectively led the ribbon-cutting.

    Representatives from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Philippines, along with Xantheng (Subic) International Corporation (XSIC) President Simon Su and XSIC Vice-President for Operations Kelly Uy, were also in attendance.

    Subic Bay Freeport Zone continues to manage a consistent inflow of truck and heavy equipment imports through its major locators.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that this expansion inside the SBFV will inspire the remaining freeport investors to maintain their operations?

    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

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #EduardoJoseLAliño #Facebook #Fediverse #finance #foreignInvestors #foreignTourists #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #holiday #infrastructure #Instagram #internationalTrade #internationalTravel #Investagrams #investing #investment #investors #jobs #localTourists #LuzonEconomicCorridorLEC #Mastodon #money #NewAsahiGroupSubicTradingCorp #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #publicService #SBMA #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #SriLanka #SubicBay #SubicBayFreeportZone #SubicBayMetropolitanAuthoritySBMA #technology #TipoHightechEcoParkTHEP #tourism #tourismBlog #tourists #trade #trading #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  23. Did you know Antigua has 365 beaches? You could vacation here for a year and visit one beach per day or maybe one week or just for 1 day. Check out my blog to see the best things to see and do:
    #Travel #cruise #beach #BUCKETLIST #TravelBlog backpackandsnorkel.com/Antigua/

  24. Strategic Partnership Between SBMA and Hellenic ASEAN Business Council Established

    Economic cooperation and growth between the Philippines and Greece got boosted recently as a result of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Hellenic ASEAN Business Council (HABC) formally signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which sealed a strategic partnership, according to the official announcement by the SBMA. As of this writing, five foreign companies have expressed interest to invest within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

    To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

    The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Hellenic ASEAN Business Council (HABC) have formalized a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance economic cooperation and growth between Greece and the Philippines.

    The MOU was signed on 17 September 2026 at Building 225 in Subic Bay Freeport by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and HABC Chairman Nick Stasinopoulos. The agreement aims to promote bilateral trade, investment, tourism, logistics, maritime cooperation, infrastructure development, and sustainable economic growth, leveraging active engagement from both private sectors and institutional partners.

    This collaboration will spotlight investment opportunities within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) and facilitate business matching, trade delegations, and commercial ventures in key sectors. Specific areas of focus include shipbuilding, ship repair, port operations, logistics, marine maintenance, tourism, cruise terminal development, and waterfront enhancements.

    “Subic Bay has evolved into one of the Philippines’ premier investment and economic hubs,” said Aliño. “We are proud to welcome HABC and the broader Hellenic business community as partners in this promising new chapter. This agreement represents a shared commitment to fostering enduring ties that will benefit both our nations for years to come.”

    Stasinopoulos emphasized the significance of the pact, noting, “Today’s signing marks a vital milestone in strengthening the relationship between Greece and the Philippines. Our partnership builds on ongoing dialogues, visits, and direct exchanges between both sides.”

    Highlighting the maritime sector’s role, he added, “The synergy between our countries is undeniable — Greece is home to the world’s largest maritime communities, while the Philippines is a key contributor to the global maritime workforce. Subic Bay has emerged as a crucial maritime and economic hub, integrating port operations, logistics, manufacturing, and investment.”

    The HABC chairman outlined the council’s objectives under the agreement: “We aim to facilitate greater exchanges between Greek and Philippine maritime stakeholders, identify mutual investment opportunities, foster business partnerships, and encourage the sharing of knowledge and expertise.”

    Five companies have already expressed interest in investing within the SBFZ, including ERMA Tech Group, a global leader in sustainable maritime technologies specializing in decarbonization, water and wastewater treatment, and marine equipment solutions. Also among the interested investors is Fontanakis Ship Repair, a Piraeus-based Greek company specializing in ship repairs, dry-docking services, engineering studies, and yacht building and restoration.

    Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that trade and cooperation between Greece and the Philippines will create positive economic impact in the near future? Do you think this will make the Subic Bay Freeport Zone even more attractive to foreign investors?

    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

    #ASEAN #Asia #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Bing #business #businessNews #CarloCarrasco #ChatGPT #economics #economy #EconomyOfThePhilippines #EduardoJoseLAliño #Facebook #Fediverse #finance #foreignInvestors #foreignTourists #geek #Google #GoogleSearch #governance #Greece #HellenicASEANBusinessCouncilHABC #holiday #infrastructure #Instagram #internationalTrade #internationalTravel #Investagrams #investing #investment #investors #jobs #localTourists #LuzonEconomicCorridorLEC #Mastodon #money #news #Philippines #PhilippinesBlog #Pinoy #publicService #SBMA #socialMedia #SoutheastAsia #SubicBay #SubicBayFreeportZone #SubicBayMetropolitanAuthoritySBMA #technology #tourism #tourismBlog #tourists #trade #trading #travel #travelBlog #Twitter #WordPress #WordPressCom #worldTravel
  25. [NEW POST] Manila viene spesso visitata frettolosamente prima di scappare subito in qualche isoletta, ma è un peccato, perché invece ha tantissimo da offrire a chi ha tempo e pazienza per esplorare i suoi quartieri.
    Ecco dunque la mia personalissima guida di viaggio all'immensa capitale delle Filippine:

    #manila #filippine #viaggi #viaggioinsolitaria #viaggiare #turismofaidate #turismo #travelblog #travel

    @societa

    ramingodentro.com/2026/10/mani

  26. Vietnam Attracts 17.7 Million Foreign Tourists in First 9 Months of 2026

    Vietnam successfully attracted 17.7 million foreign tourists during the first nine months of 2026 having China, South Korea and Russia as their top 3 tourist markets, according to a news report by VnExpress. As it currently stands, Vietnam saw its foreign tourist count rise by 14.5% compared to the year before and it is looking more likely for the nation to exceed its 2025 overall foreign tourist count of 21.2 million by the end of this year.

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

    Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.5% year-on-year, bucking a decline in arrivals across several Southeast Asian destinations.

    Mainland China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.95 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 3.05 million visitors, or 17.3%.

    Russia ranked third with 1.1 million, followed by Taiwan (964,000) and the U.S. (746,000), according to the General Statistics Office.

    The rest of the top 10 were Cambodia (688,000), Japan (674,000), India (670,000), the Philippines (522,000) and Australia (485,000).

    In September, foreign visitors declined by 11.3% from August but rose by 16.5% year-on-year to 1.77 million.

    Martin Koerner, commercial director of The Anam Group, a chain of luxury resort hotels in Vietnam, said what is particularly encouraging is Vietnam’s diversification of source markets.

    European arrivals increased by more than 50%, while arrivals from markets including the United States, Australia and India also recorded strong growth. This makes Vietnam less dependent on only one or two major Asian source markets, he added.

    “Vietnam is no longer seen simply as an inexpensive holiday destination. Increasingly, it is being

    recognized as a destination capable of delivering sophisticated, world-class hospitality,” Koerner said.

    Several Southeast Asian countries have faced declines in international arrivals amid the impact of the Middle East crisis.

    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? Do you know anyone who visited Vietnam recently and mentioned positive things about their tour? How interested are you right now to visit 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

    #AirTravel #America #ASEAN #AssociationOfSoutheastAsianNationsASEAN #Australia #Cambodia #CarloCarrasco #China #CommunistChina #economics #economy #EconomyOfVietnam #Fediverse #foreignTourism #foreignTouristArrivals #foreignTourists #foreignTravel #foreignTravelers #holiday #India #internationalTravel #Japan #Mastodon #news #Nippon #overseasTravel #Philippines #Russia #SouthKorea #SoutheastAsia #touringVietnam #tourism #tourismBlog #touristBlog #travelBlog #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmericaUSA #USA #vacation #vacationBlog #Vietnam #VietnamTourism #Vietnamese #VisitVietnam #VnExpress #WordPress #WordPressCom
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