Philippines to offer value-added tax refund to foreign tourists by 2024

Marcos has also approved the launch of an online visa for Chinese, Indian, South Korean and Japanese tourists this year. According to the Department of Tourism, the Philippines recorded 2.65 million international visitors last year, bringing in an estimated $3.68 billion in revenue, exceeding a 2022 target of 1.7 million tourists. Last year’s total included […]

Thailand takes U-turn on COVID vaccination rule for visitors

In November, it recorded 1.75 million visitors, quadruple the number received for the entire previous year when flights and foreign arrivals were limited. Anutin said Thailand was now expecting 7-10 million Chinese visitors, compared to an earlier estimate of 5 million. “This is a good sign for Thailand’s tourism sector…the country’s economy will recover rapidly. […]

Few tourists, deserted streets in casino hub Macau after reopening

Three years on, COVID-19 almost forced Becky Zhang’s specialty food business in Macau to collapse. Established by his grandmother fifty years ago, his shop selling pastries and dried beef survives only thanks to residents who bought small quantities to help keep him afloat. Now, even after the recent reopening of the world’s biggest gambling hub, […]

Stars gather in Venice for George Clooney’s wedding

Celebrities and the world’s media are congregating in Venice for the widely anticipated wedding weekend of a man long considered Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor: George Clooney. The actor and his fiancee, British human rights attorney Amal Alamuddin, were spotted Friday cruising the sun-dappled canals of Venice ahead of their big day. Clooney, 53, and Alamuddin, […]