Hopes Rise for Vaccinated Travelers in Europe
GENEVA – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the relaxation of COVID-19 border measures for vaccinated passengers, and the broader use of affordable antigen testing adopted by Spain and France this week. This is tempered by ongoing disappointment at … Continue reading Hopes Rise for Vaccinated Travelers in Europe
China plans high volume of vaccination by end of 2021
BEIJING — In the span of just five days last month, China gave out 100 million shots of its COVID-19 vaccines. After a slow start, China is now doing what virtually no other country in the world can: leveraging the … Continue reading China plans high volume of vaccination by end of 2021
Vietnam investing billions to develop Phu Quoc Island
Phu Quoc – Vietnamese developers are spending billions of dollars to develop Phu Quoc, and island historically known for its fish sauce, into a major tourist resort to rival the likes of Bali and Phuket. The island real estate market … Continue reading Vietnam investing billions to develop Phu Quoc Island
Malaysia goes into serious Covid-Lockdown
KUALA LUMPUR – A brutal wave of COVID-19 infections has pushed Malaysia back into “total lockdown” mode, effective Tuesday, prompting the government to unveil over $9 billion worth of extra stimulus and clouding the prospects for holding a long-anticipated election … Continue reading Malaysia goes into serious Covid-Lockdown
Corona: Vietnam suspends incoming flights
HANOI – Vietnam will suspend incoming international flights to its capital Hanoi from Tuesday as part of the country’s effort to contain a coronavirus outbreak, the government said on Monday. The announcement made no mention of domestic flights. Vietnam has … Continue reading Corona: Vietnam suspends incoming flights
SOJERN: Asia Pacific travel trends and insights
SAN FRANCISCO – South Korea is allowing for more travel flexibility for vaccinated travelers (no quarantine necessary). Australian tourism board is heavily promoting longer domestic vacations. Also, the Australian government appears to be eyeing a mid-2022 border re-opening. Covid cases … Continue reading SOJERN: Asia Pacific travel trends and insights
APA Calls for Stronger EU Commitment in Asia
BERLIN – “If we want to maintain the current level of prosperity in Germany and the EU, we must participate more actively in the dynamic developments in Asia-Pacific. The EU and its member states urgently need a common foreign economic … Continue reading APA Calls for Stronger EU Commitment in Asia
Trains collide in Kuala Lumpur: 200 injured
KUALA LUMPUR – More than 200 people were injured in Malaysia on Monday when two trains collided in the capital Kuala Lumpur, the state-run Bernama news agency reported. The accident occurred at 8:45 p.m. local time when one of the trains, … Continue reading Trains collide in Kuala Lumpur: 200 injured
Hyatt plans first Alila Hotel in Shanghai
SHANGHAI – Hyatt announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into an agreement with an affiliate of Fungseng Prosperity Holdings Limited to develop a 188-room Alila hotel in the Jing’an District of Shanghai. A high-profile conversion project, Alila Shanghai is … Continue reading Hyatt plans first Alila Hotel in Shanghai
Forkast Ltd. raises $1.7 million seed money
HONG KONG – Forkast Ltd., a blockchain-focused multimedia platform, has successfully completed its seed funding round of US$1.7 million, which was oversubscribed. A group of global institutional investors and leading blockchain players participated, including Asia-based AMTD Group, Fenbushi Capital, Alibaba … Continue reading Forkast Ltd. raises $1.7 million seed money