Travel
US passport falls behind 36 countries as travel advantage erodes
Thirty-six countries now offer their citizens greater travel freedom than the United States, according to the July 2026 Henley Passport Index. Although the U.S. is officially tied for 10th place,…
Trump’s tougher border image is starting to cost billions in tourism
The U.S. recorded a sharp drop in international tourism in 2025 despite continued growth in global travel demand, according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). Analysts cited…
Trump admin suspends visa applications from 75 countries
The Trump administration will halt immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries starting Jan. 21. About the policy: A State Department cable sent to U.S. missions, seen by Reuters,…
Wealth-based immigration gatekeeping expands with visa bond list tripling
The Trump administration has expanded the number of countries whose passport holders must post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the U.S., bringing the total to 38 nations, with the latest…
Trump admin wants 5 years of social media history from tourists entering U.S.
The Trump administration is proposing mandatory social media screening for tourists from 42 visa waiver countries, requiring them to disclose five years of their online activity before entering the…
Japan eyes tripling departure tax to combat overtourism
Japan is weighing a plan to triple its departure tax from 1,000 yen ($6.40) to 3,000 yen ($19.20) per person as record visitor numbers fuel growing concerns about overtourism’s toll on local…
Italian pizzeria owner apologizes for mocking Taiwanese tourists
An Italian restaurant owner has issued a video apology to the Taiwanese community following a wave of negative online reviews sparked by his criticism of a tour group’s dining habits. Patrizio…
Taiwanese visitors wear badges in S. Korea to avoid anti-Chinese hostility
Taiwanese tourists visiting South Korea have begun wearing identification badges to avoid being mistaken for Chinese nationals amid escalating xenophobic incidents targeting Mandarin speakers. State…
Trump admin’s new $250 visa fee adds more barriers to US travel
The Trump administration’s new $250 “visa integrity fee,” set to take effect Oct. 1, threatens to further reduce international travel to the country, particularly impacting visitors from Asia and…
CDC issues travel alert as chikungunya outbreak surges in China
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 travel alert on Aug. 14 warning of an “elevated risk” of chikungunya virus exposure in China’s Guangdong province. About the…
Growing number of American expats weigh renouncing US citizenship: survey
Nearly half of American expatriates are now considering giving up their U.S. citizenship, a recent survey of 1,100 Americans found. Greenback’s 2025 Expat Trends Survey revealed that 49% of Americans…
Iconic K-drama turns tiny Swiss village into a tourist destination
The Swiss village of Iseltwald has experienced a major tourism surge after a 2020 episode of the hit Korean drama “Crash Landing On You” featured its lakeside dock as a romantic setting. The scene…
Trump admin eyes travel ban for 36 more countries
The Trump administration is reportedly mulling potential entry restrictions affecting citizens from 36 new countries, substantially broadening travel policies enacted previously. Scope: State…
‘Overwatch’ D.va voice actor: WestJet has not apologized after flight mistreatment
U.S. voice actor Charlet Takahashi Chung says WestJet has contacted her following her disturbing experience during a flight to Los Angeles — where crew members allegedly mistreated her after she was…
Filipino resort sets record for ‘world’s largest building in the shape of a chicken’
A resort in the Philippines’ Talisay City made it into the Guinness World Records for having the “world’s largest building in the shape of a chicken.” Ricardo Cano Gwapo Tan, the founder of…
US tourist accused of defacing torii gate in Japan
A 65-year-old U.S. man was arrested in Tokyo last Wednesday for allegedly defacing a torii gate at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Shibuya. Steve Hayes, who arrived in Japan on Nov. 11 with his family,…
‘Overwatch’ actor mistreated by WestJet crew after alleged harassment by white passenger
U.S. actor Charlet Takahashi Chung took to Instagram to share her harrowing experience during a WestJet flight, accusing crew members of mistreatment after she reported another passenger for…
Americans looking to move abroad after Trump’s win flood Google
Following Donald Trump’s re-election victory, a wave of Americans has turned to the internet for information on relocating abroad. Google searches related to emigration reached unprecedented levels,…
Report reveals wealthy Asians’ travel preferences
A new study from travel technology company Expedia reveals that despite rising inflation in Asia, the region’s growing mass-affluent travelers are prioritizing luxury experiences and long-haul trips.…
Watch: Japan’s new life-size Gundam blessed by Shinto priest
A Shinto priest blessed a life-size RX-78F00 — Japan’s latest Gundam replica — just before Bandai Namco completed its assembly on Yumeshima Island in Osaka City on Wednesday. A video shows the priest…
Singapore’s biggest airport launches biometric system clearing travelers in 10 seconds
Singapore’s Changi Airport has rolled out a fully passport-free clearance system that drastically reduces processing time for traveling residents. Initially tested in Terminal 3, the system has been…
Join the free hunt for a $380,000 coin hidden somewhere in Singapore
A cash hunt game known as “Hunt The Mouse” returns to Singapore from Oct. 10 to Nov. 9, with its biggest-ever prize pool of 1 million Singaporean dollars ($765,000). Dubbed the “world’s simplest…
This traditional Korean dish is now winning over foreigners in South Korea
Gukbap, a traditional pork rice soup, is gaining popularity among foreigners in South Korea. Restaurants in Seoul’s tourist hotspots have reportedly seen a surge in customers lining up to try gukbap…
Travelers crown Japan best country in the world for 2nd straight year
Conde Nast Traveler named Japan the best country in the world for the second year in a row in its 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. The annual survey, which asks travelers to rate their experiences across…
World’s first Nintendo Museum offers nostalgic journey for gamers
Nintendo officially opened its first museum in Uji, Japan, on Oct. 2, providing a unique opportunity for video game fans to explore the company’s 135-year history. The museum, housed in the company’s…
Japan is offering free domestic flights for foreign tourists
Japan Airlines (JAL) is wooing foreign tourists to explore Japan by offering complimentary domestic flights. Announced on Sept. 13, the offer is available to travelers who choose to book a round-trip…
Indian travel vlogger says he was racially abused in South Korea
Nomadic Indian, a travel vlogger from India with over 1.7 million YouTube followers, claimed he was subjected to racial discrimination during a recent visit to South Korea. The content creator, whose…
Japan’s famous cat island may soon lose its feline residents, insider warns
Aoshima, an island in Japan’s Ehime Prefecture home to around 130 cats, is reportedly in danger of losing them all. Known Aioshima tipster @aoshima_cat, who frequently shares updates about the…
Asia dominates list of best hotels in the world for 2024
Thailand luxury hotel Capella Bangkok, situated along the Chao Phraya River, topped this year’s “World’s 50 Best Hotels” list. The expert panel of judges behind the annual list highlighted the…
Singapore holds world’s largest illumination event
With over 20 million LED lights, Illumi — stylized as “illumi” and touted as the “world’s largest illumination event” — made its international premiere at Singapore’s Bayfront Event Space, next to…
Indonesia, Philippines recognized as top 2024 travel destinations
The 31st World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony, held in the Philippines on Sept. 3, honored destinations and businesses across the region for their outstanding contributions to the…
Crying toddler locked in plane bathroom by strangers sparks outrage in China
Two female passengers sparked outrage in China after they locked a crying toddler in a bathroom of a Juneyao Airlines flight from Guiyang to Shanghai on Aug. 24. The incident came to light after one…
Thailand leads ASEAN in push for joint visa allowing easier travel
Thailand is leading a groundbreaking initiative to establish a joint-visa program among six ASEAN countries, aiming to boost tourism and economic integration in the region. Driven by Prime Minister…
Chinese province becomes tourist hotspot after ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ release
Shanxi province in northern China experienced a surge in tourism following the highly anticipated release of “Black Myth: Wukong” on Aug. 20. Tourism reportedly increased by 50% in August compared to…
Universal Studio Japan to open adults-only ‘Resident Evil’ attraction
Universal Studios Japan has teamed up with Capcom for an upcoming “Resident Evil” attraction set to open later this year for Halloween. Titled “Biohazard Night of Heroes” (with “Biohazard” being the…
North Korea is reopening to foreign tourism
North Korea is reopening its borders to foreign tourists in December, starting with the northeastern city of Samjiyon. This marks the first time in five years the country’s reclusive ruling regime…
