Visa updates
Direct flights between Philippines and India hinted at for 2025
The much-anticipated direct flights between India and the Philippines are expected to take off within this year.
Japan reports 36.78 million foreign arrivals in 2024
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency reported on Friday, 24th January, that foreign arrivals hit a record high of 36.78 million in the past year.
Philippines seeks to draw tourists in from Europe, India, and Middle East
The Philippines is refocusing its tourism efforts for 2025 in order to woo tourists from Europe, India, and the highly-coveted Middle East luxury market.
Philippine Department of Tourism seeks to draw in more Indian tourists
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) commented on the promising growth in terms of Indian tourists to the country at the 12th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers Meeting on Monday, 20th January.
VFS Global’s new Indonesia e-Visa on Arrival official platform goes live for 97 nationalities
VFS Global has launched its new user-friendly and efficient online platform to make Indonesia’s Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) application process seamless for travellers, promote inbound tourism, and enhance overall customer experience.
IATA wary of proposed increase to UK Electronic Travel Authorisations
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has aired its opposition to the recent UK Home Office proposal to increase the costs of UK Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) by 60 percent to GBP 16.
Vietnam has lifted visa requirements for nationals of Poland, Switzerland and Czechia
Citizens of Poland, Czechia, and Switzerland will be permitted to visit Vietnam without applying for a visa before travelling to the Southeast Asian country.
Shanghai is South Koreans’ top destination
Shanghai has become the top choice for South Korean tourists, thanks to China's 240-hour transit visa-free policy.
Vietnam waives visa for three European nations
The Vietnamese government issued a resolution allowing visa-free entry for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland on Wednesday, 15th January.
Mohak Nahta launches Skylane
Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys, announces the launch of Skylane, a business-to-government (B2G) solution designed to transform visa processing systems.
Turkish Nationals need not apply for ETIAS
The Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye has clarified that all Turkish nationals, without exception, will not be required to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation once the new system becomes operational.
Vietnam and Thailand hold discussions on tourism collaboration
Officials from Vietnam and Thailand are working on tourism collaboration in light of the Six Countries, One Destination initiative.
Singapore still on top in updated Henley Passport Index
The latest update to the Henley Passport Index shows that Singapore reclaimed its crown as the most powerful passport in the world with visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide.
Spain to stop its Golden Visa Program by April 2025
On January 3, 2025, Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE) published Organic Law 1/2025, officially confirming the abolishment of this program.
Italy makes fingerprint collection mandatory
Starting on 11 January 2025, candidates for long-term Schengen visas to Italy, including visas issued for employment and study purposes, among others, are required to visit the nearest embassy in their home country, where they will have their biometrics collected, including their fingerprints
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- Beyond boardrooms and broadcasts: key takeaways from the Singapore MICE Forum 2025
- Global Tourism Economy Forum 2025 opens in Heilongjiang on 15th December
- Philippine Airlines to augment its domestic fleet
- Tourism Authority of Thailand lauds new direct flights from Bangkok to three Japanese destinations
- Goddess Retreats to offer new healing experience from April 2026
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