https://www.scmp.com/rss/268880/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters South Korea welcomed a record 2.06 million foreign visitors in March, led by Chinese arrivals, government data showed on Thursday, with tourism spending lifted ‌by the comeback tour of K-pop supergroup BTS after a years-long hiatus. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the monthly record helped lift first-quarter arrivals by 23 per cent from a year ago to 4.76 million, also a record for a first quarter. It attributed the trend to the “worldwide popularity of [Korean] culture”,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350291/bts-comeback-drives-record-206-million-tourists-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3350291/bts-comeback-drives-record-206-million-tourists-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:37:01 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial One of Hong Kong’s prime objectives when emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic was to attract visitors back to the city to boost the economy and its international image. Tourists have returned, with almost 50 million arriving last year, a 12 per cent increase on 2024. The figure is expected to rise to 53.8 million this year. Such progress is encouraging. Unsurprisingly, the majority of visitors last year came from mainland China. There were 38 million tourists from across the border. They remain... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348899/hong-kongs-high-value-tourism-pivot-makes-sense-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348899/hong-kongs-high-value-tourism-pivot-makes-sense-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Flight bookings in China have grown 20 per cent year on year ahead of the annual Ching Ming Festival holiday that starts this weekend and follows public school breaks in much of the country – despite higher airfares on account of rising fuel prices. Holiday bookings had reached 2.04 million flight tickets as of Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing figures from data provider TravelSky Technology. CCTV’s Sunday report said cross-border holiday flight bookings inbound and outbound stood at... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348367/chinese-flight-bookings-rise-20-ahead-april-holiday-break-despite-soaring-airfares?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348367/chinese-flight-bookings-rise-20-ahead-april-holiday-break-despite-soaring-airfares?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s airlines are expected to add nearly 2,900 more China-Europe flights to their summer schedules compared with last year, analysts said, as the US-Israel war on Iran hands them an even greater competitive advantage over other global carriers. Unlike many Western airlines, Chinese carriers can fly directly through Russian airspace to Europe rather than taking a lengthy detour, allowing them to offer quicker flights, save on fuel and avoid sending planes over the Middle East. The number of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347994/chinas-airlines-add-2900-flights-europe-russia-access-pays-dividends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347994/chinas-airlines-add-2900-flights-europe-russia-access-pays-dividends?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China’s luxury hotel sector has unlocked new avenues for business growth, fuelled by a boom in inbound tourism and a growing number of foreign business travellers and holidaymakers who favour high-end accommodation. International tourists generally spend more than domestic ones, except for wealthy Chinese travellers. Most visa-free visitors to China are from developed countries with much higher living costs. Even spending at their usual levels, they would generate considerable revenue for... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347704/visa-free-travel-rising-foreign-visitors-boost-luxury-hotel-growth-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347704/visa-free-travel-rising-foreign-visitors-boost-luxury-hotel-growth-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As China undergoes a sweeping economic transition, its regions are also in the process of embracing change. The powerhouses of yesteryear must adapt or risk falling behind, as traditional industries become less reliable growth drivers and new sectors take prominence. In this series, we explore three representative areas of the country as they attempt to navigate this rapidly changing environment. After Joyce Wu moved from Hainan province to Hong Kong in 2013, she marvelled for years at the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347581/chinas-hainan-wants-more-beach-tourism-will-new-customs-rules-cause-sea-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347581/chinas-hainan-wants-more-beach-tourism-will-new-customs-rules-cause-sea-change?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam The Hong Kong Tourism Board will allocate three-quarters of its resources to overseas markets this year in a shift aimed at diversifying visitor demographics and attracting more overnight high spenders. The board also revealed on Wednesday that it would launch a new global campaign by the end of April to promote Hong Kong as a unique world city through social media, advertisements on regional broadcasters and billboards in selected countries. “It is not an easy task to convince those visitors... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347054/hong-kong-tourism-board-woo-overnight-big-spenders-diversify-visitor-mix?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347054/hong-kong-tourism-board-woo-overnight-big-spenders-diversify-visitor-mix?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:08:55 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority aims to increase transparency and the available range of medical insurance products to address rising costs, while also reviewing regulations with an eye towards attracting more international life-insurance buyers. “We would like to see the insurance companies introduce more medical insurance products that are more accessible and affordable for the general public, with sales practices that are fair to consumers,” said Clement Lau Chung-kin, the authority’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346649/hong-kong-regulator-sets-comprehensive-review-medical-insurance-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346649/hong-kong-regulator-sets-comprehensive-review-medical-insurance-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A Chinese tourist touched many people online by telling how a young Japanese girl not only helped her find a bus she needed but also initially gave her 1,000 yen (US$6). The woman traveller, from eastern China’s Zhejiang province, posted her story on March 6, using the alias Yuyu, the news outlet 163.com reported. She was travelling to Okinawa at the beginning of March, and as she did not know much about the transport system in the region, she was checking schedules at a bus station. A young... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346191/thank-you-coming-okinawa-japan-girl-offers-money-china-tourist-pay-bus-fare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3346191/thank-you-coming-okinawa-japan-girl-offers-money-china-tourist-pay-bus-fare?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Hong Kong’s fragile retail recovery is clouding the outlook for shopping mall rents, with Wharf Real Estate Investment Company (REIC) warning that rising geopolitical tensions could add further uncertainty even as visitor traffic improves. The landlord of Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui and Times Square in Causeway Bay said the retail market showed gradual improvement in 2025 as tourism picked up. “Volume increase, however, was not often accompanied by commensurate yield increase,” the company... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3346098/middle-east-tensions-add-uncertainty-hong-kong-retail-rents-wharf-reic-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3346098/middle-east-tensions-add-uncertainty-hong-kong-retail-rents-wharf-reic-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:05:40 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg New Zealand’s tourism industry still needs to do more if it is to regain its title as the nation’s biggest earner of overseas revenue. While foreign visitor spending gained 7 per cent to a record NZ$18.1 billion (US$11 billion) in the 12 months through March 2025, it still lags behind the dairy industry’s NZ$23.1 billion of exports in the same period, according to government data released on Tuesday in Wellington. Tourism overtook dairy as the nation’s top overseas earner in 2016 and remained... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3345202/tourism-once-new-zealands-top-overseas-earner-lags-behind-dairy-post-pandemic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3345202/tourism-once-new-zealands-top-overseas-earner-lags-behind-dairy-post-pandemic?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 01:31:18 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The head of Cambodia’s tourism body is looking to build partnerships with Hong Kong travel agencies as part of a drive to get visitors returning to his country, which has been plagued by safety concerns in recent years. Cambodia Tourism Board CEO Kim Minea also told the South China Morning Post that the government was “determined” to eliminate the notorious scam compounds that had trapped thousands of people, including Hongkongers, in recent years. But Hong Kong tour operators said safety was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344979/scam-hit-cambodia-tries-woo-hong-kong-travel-agencies-have-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344979/scam-hit-cambodia-tries-woo-hong-kong-travel-agencies-have-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:56:52 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China logged an overall increase in travel during the just-concluded Chinese New Year break compared with last year’s holiday period, but analysts said spending per capita stayed flat. The country saw 596 million domestic trips over the extended public holiday that ended on Monday, a year-on-year increase of 95 million, Xinhua reported. About 17.8 million cross-border trips were logged over the same period, it added. Chinese New Year is a crucial period for the travel sector as hundreds of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344699/china-sees-rise-chinese-new-year-travel-capita-spending-remains-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344699/china-sees-rise-chinese-new-year-travel-capita-spending-remains-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:08:27 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu On-demand helicopter services gained momentum during the Chinese New Year amid a travel rush, giving a boost to the country’s low-altitude economy. Demand increased significantly during the hectic holiday period, with overall bookings rising nearly 1.5 times compared with normal levels, said Li Xin, a manager at Shanghai Xinkong Helicopter, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV). Capitalising on the rush, the operator launched a new route on Monday linking Shanghai with Haimen and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344484/helicopter-travel-takes-china-during-spring-festival-rush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344484/helicopter-travel-takes-china-during-spring-festival-rush?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong Visitor numbers in Hong Kong rose about 14 per cent during the Chinese New Year holiday but more residents left the city, while local retailers reported bumper sales of gold products. Some retailers reported single purchases worth millions of Hong Kong dollars within categories such as watches and jewellery, even as the broader retail recovery remained uneven. Immigration Department figures showed trips made by visitors – from mainland China and elsewhere – rose about 14 per cent year on year to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344488/hong-kong-visitor-numbers-jump-chinese-new-year-holiday-gold-sales-shine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344488/hong-kong-visitor-numbers-jump-chinese-new-year-holiday-gold-sales-shine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:05:37 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Thailand led the list of destinations for Chinese tourists travelling overseas during this year’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, as former favourite Japan saw arrivals plummet amid a political dispute with China over Taiwan. The Southeast Asian nation saw roughly 250,000 arrivals from China during the holiday, which ran from February 15 to 23, according to the travel marketing and technology firm China Trading Desk. This year’s Lunar New Year holiday was expected to be a key period for global... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344421/chinese-tourism-japan-plunges-50-over-lunar-new-year-thailand-cashes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344421/chinese-tourism-japan-plunges-50-over-lunar-new-year-thailand-cashes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:14 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee,Alice Li Yeon Woo Lee,Alice Li For his family’s first overseas trip together, Tang Junjie carefully planned a holiday to Japan during China’s longest Lunar New Year break on record. Flights were booked months in advance by the 22-year-old from Sichuan province, who had already made three solo visits to the neighbouring country that has long been a draw for Chinese tourists. But a sudden deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations changed everything. “The original plan was to transit through Seoul on our way to Japan,” Tang said.... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344356/seoul-gains-tokyos-pain-over-lunar-new-year-politics-reshapes-chinas-tourism-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344356/seoul-gains-tokyos-pain-over-lunar-new-year-politics-reshapes-chinas-tourism-map?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese travellers are outspending their Asian peers at the region’s airports in search of gifts, food and luxury purchases, a trade association has found. Passengers from China have led the recovery in Asia’s airport retail since the Covid-19 pandemic, spending twice the regional average on luxury goods, according to a study by the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific and Middle East released earlier this month. China’s travellers have logged the “highest spend per passenger of any... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344297/chinese-shoppers-are-asias-biggest-airport-spenders-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344297/chinese-shoppers-are-asias-biggest-airport-spenders-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A packed bus on its way to Nepal’s capital drove off a mountain highway in Nepal early on Monday, killing 19 people including Chinese and British nationals and leaving another 25 wounded. There were dozens of people on board the bus, which was heading from the resort city of Pokhara to Kathmandu when it drove off the Prithvi highway after midnight, police said. The bus rolled down a mountain slope and landed on the banks of the Trishuli River near Benighat, about 80km (50 miles) west of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3344305/bus-plunges-nepal-mountain-highway-17-dead-chinese-national-missing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3344305/bus-plunges-nepal-mountain-highway-17-dead-chinese-national-missing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:56:01 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Resorts are near capacity in Pattaya, Bangkok restaurants are doing a roaring trade and the strict time slots to visit the Louis Vuitton pop-up “hotel” in the Thai capital are fully booked. As this year’s Lunar New Year holiday draws to a close, Thailand’s tourist businesses are totting up the receipts from what many hope will be an enduring rebound in Chinese visitors. More than 30,000 Chinese visitors have arrived each day since the start of January. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344241/thailand-sees-lunar-new-year-travel-boom-chinese-tourists-back-droves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3344241/thailand-sees-lunar-new-year-travel-boom-chinese-tourists-back-droves?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A tour bus carrying Chinese tourists plunged through the ice on Russia’s Lake Baikal, killing eight people, officials said. One of the Chinese tourists managed to escape from the bus, which was crossing the frozen lake on Friday, Irkutsk regional Governor Igor Kobzev wrote in a Telegram post on Saturday. He said the dead included seven Chinese tourists and the driver. The bus plunged into a three-metre-wide (10-foot-wide) ice crevasse, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry reported. The lake is 18... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3344231/bus-chinese-tourists-crashes-through-ice-russias-lake-baikal-killing-8?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3344231/bus-chinese-tourists-crashes-through-ice-russias-lake-baikal-killing-8?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:53:15 +0000 The Star The Star More people in China are choosing to stay away from their villages and families during Lunar New Year, according to Chinese national and businessman Xue Gang, 44. “Our parents do not mind, and even my parents are currently travelling around China. “Maybe next year I will bring them to Penang to witness the celebrations here,” he said. Xue, who was in Malaysia’s Penang state with his wife, daughter and friends, said festive performances were no longer common to enjoy back home. “If we want to... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343996/chinese-tourists-escaping-cold-flock-malaysia-lunar-new-year-festivities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343996/chinese-tourists-escaping-cold-flock-malaysia-lunar-new-year-festivities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:00:03 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Hongkonger was beaten on the head with a beer bottle while visiting Sapporo, prompting the Chinese consulate in the Japanese city to again warn against travel to the country amid frayed bilateral ties. The consulate said the attack occurred at a restaurant in the early hours of Wednesday and that Japanese police had arrested a suspect at the scene. “The [consulate] has made representations to the local police, requiring the police to seriously hold the perpetrators accountable in accordance... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343938/japan-travel-warning-after-hongkonger-beaten-beer-bottle-sapporo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343938/japan-travel-warning-after-hongkonger-beaten-beer-bottle-sapporo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:45:32 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Harvey Kong Connor Mycroft,Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s visitor numbers on the first two days of Lunar New Year are at least 8 per cent higher than in 2025, with Wednesday’s fireworks display boosting momentum further as tens of thousands of spectators lined both sides of Victoria Harbour for the show. The huge crowd gasped in awe as the 23-minute spectacle to celebrate the Year of the Horse lit up the night skies above Victoria Harbour with 31,888 shells, including pyrotechnics forming the shapes of gold ingots and horseshoes. Chief... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343928/tens-thousands-eagerly-waiting-hong-kong-lunar-new-year-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343928/tens-thousands-eagerly-waiting-hong-kong-lunar-new-year-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:39:56 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The decline in the number of Chinese visitors to Japan accelerated in January, fuelling the first monthly drop since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, offering the clearest sign yet of economic fallout from tensions between the countries. Arrivals from China shrank 61 per cent in January from a year earlier, compared with a 45 per cent decline in December, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) said on Wednesday, citing a shift in the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday and warnings... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343901/chinese-tourist-arrivals-japan-plunge-41-january-amid-simmering-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343901/chinese-tourist-arrivals-japan-plunge-41-january-amid-simmering-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:35:06 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong welcomed 10 per cent more visitors on the first day of Lunar New Year against a year ago, with crowds continuing to flock to hiking trails and tourists packing border crossing checkpoints. The latest Immigration Department data showed that 153,383 visitors arrived in the city on Tuesday, representing a 10.4 per cent increase compared with the first day of Lunar New Year last year. Of these, more than 120,000 came from mainland China. Inbound trips over the first two days of Lunar New... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343899/hong-kong-marks-start-lunar-new-year-surge-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343899/hong-kong-marks-start-lunar-new-year-surge-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:11:15 +0000 Reuters Reuters Chinese and Indian tourists are set to make up for a potential slowdown in growth from US travellers to Europe this year, according to a survey published on ‌Wednesday by the European Travel Commission, with international arrivals to the continent set to rise by 6.2 per cent. This is the first sign of a slowdown in the post-pandemic boom in American travel to Europe, driven by a strong US dollar and economic resilience in North America. An earlier study from industry group the European Travel... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343861/chinese-and-indian-tourists-boost-europes-travel-market-amid-us-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343861/chinese-and-indian-tourists-boost-europes-travel-market-amid-us-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 01:32:25 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall As Beijing urges its citizens to steer clear of Japan, Russian travellers are stepping into the gap – a shift that reflects how sanctions on Moscow, Japan’s cautious diplomatic balancing and a weak yen are redrawing the region’s tourism map. The Mainichi newspaper reported on Sunday that the Japanese embassy in Russia had opened two new visa application centres, in Moscow and St Petersburg, to cope with rising demand. Officials said there were 53,327 visa applications from across Russia in 2019,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343757/russia-emerges-unlikely-growth-market-japan-tourism-china-pulls-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3343757/russia-emerges-unlikely-growth-market-japan-tourism-china-pulls-back?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:00:18 +0000 Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Hongkongers made close to 1.4 million outbound trips in the three days leading up to Lunar New Year’s Eve, a 21.6 per cent increase from the same period last year, while inbound journeys by visitors rose by 5 per cent to more than 550,000. Despite the increase in departing residents, some restaurants reported a slight uptick in bookings for Lunar New Year’s Eve “reunion dinners”, an important custom in which Chinese families gather over a meal. Immigration Department data released on Monday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343716/hongkongers-make-14-million-outbound-trips-ahead-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343716/hongkongers-make-14-million-outbound-trips-ahead-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:54:42 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China’s box office presales topped 200 million yuan (US$28.9 million) by Saturday ahead of the coming Lunar New Year holiday, led exclusively by domestic productions – a decline of more than 60 per cent from about 600 million yuan over the same period last year, according to Taopiaopiao, the online ticketing arm of Alibaba Pictures. Presales are closely watched by distributors and investors as an early indicator of holiday audience demand. Long seen as a crucial pillar of China’s film market,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342186/chinas-box-office-presales-fall-over-60-last-year-crucial-lunar-new-year-window?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342186/chinas-box-office-presales-fall-over-60-last-year-crucial-lunar-new-year-window?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Paris prosecutors' office on Thursday said that nine people were being detained as part of an investigation into a suspected decade-long, €10 million (US$11.8 million) ticket fraud scheme at the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum. The arrests took place on Tuesday as part of a judicial investigation opened after the Louvre filed a complaint in December 2024, the prosecutors’ office said. The loss for the museum over the past decade is estimated to exceed €10 million, it said. Those... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343382/9-arrested-over-louvre-ticket-fraud-scheme-involving-chinese-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3343382/9-arrested-over-louvre-ticket-fraud-scheme-involving-chinese-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 19:56:20 +0000 dpa dpa Vietnam has kicked off the new tourism year by shattering records. According to the national tourism authority, VNAT, almost 2.5 million international visitors arrived in January – the highest number ever recorded in a single month and an 18.5 per cent jump over the previous year. While these figures represent an economic triumph, they also highlight a shifting geopolitical map. Travellers are increasingly bypassing the smouldering border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia in favour of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343332/why-tourists-are-choosing-vietnam-over-thailand-and-cambodia-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343332/why-tourists-are-choosing-vietnam-over-thailand-and-cambodia-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:11 +0000 The Star The Star A stricter control measure is being enforced on Chinese nationals to curb any abuse of the visa-free facility under the Malaysia-China mutual visa exemption agreement, according to Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Saifuddin explained that while Chinese nationals are permitted visa-free entry for up to 30 days per visit, they are subject to a cumulative stay limit of 90 days within any 180-day window. “The provisions under this agreement do not grant continuous 90-day visa-free... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343261/malaysia-enforces-stricter-controls-china-visa-free-entry-curb-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343261/malaysia-enforces-stricter-controls-china-visa-free-entry-curb-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:24:47 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s tourism sector is bracing for a 6 per cent rise in mainland Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, as travel to the city regains momentum. Tickets for high-speed trains from major mainland cities to Hong Kong have been selling fast in the days leading up to the festive period – an upbeat sign for some hoteliers expecting a full house during the holiday. The Travel Industry Council, a federation of local travel trade associations, estimated that up to 1.4 million mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342144/hong-kong-set-lunar-new-year-tourism-bump-6-rise-mainland-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342144/hong-kong-set-lunar-new-year-tourism-bump-6-rise-mainland-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The number of Chinese visitors to Japan dropped sharply last month amid a diplomatic row over Taiwan. With Beijing again warning against travel to Japan during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, analysts have been closely watching to see how much damage the slowdown might inflict on the Japanese economy. Though Chinese tourism has plunged, overall visitor numbers have only dipped slightly as Japanese travel operators pivot to alternative markets. Meanwhile, Japan’s airlines have unexpectedly... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341840/diplomatic-row-drags-how-japan-coping-fall-chinese-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341840/diplomatic-row-drags-how-japan-coping-fall-chinese-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee For Choi Yu-jin, a 31-year-old Seoul-based fashion designer, the perfect getaway requires three elements: value, spotless streetscapes and unforgettable flavours. And Shanghai, she says, delivers on all counts. Three visits since 2024, with a fourth planned for April, are testament to a city that is increasingly capturing the imagination – and wallets – of South Korean travellers, buoyed by visa-free access and a burgeoning reputation for cosmopolitan appeal. “Restaurants and streets were... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341851/chinas-visa-free-waivers-spark-korean-travel-boom-underpin-tourism-revival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341851/chinas-visa-free-waivers-spark-korean-travel-boom-underpin-tourism-revival?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developer Hang Lung Properties is pinning its medium-term outlook on a recovery in mainland Chinese consumption, even as it warned that both the city’s and China’s property markets remain under strain. The commercial landlord, residential developer and hotel owner said it expected a “tough slog” for the broader sector despite signs of improvement in operating conditions, particularly in the second half of the year. Net profit attributable to shareholders fell 16 per cent to HK$1.8... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3341858/hang-lung-flags-tough-slog-property-it-looks-mainland-malls-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3341858/hang-lung-flags-tough-slog-property-it-looks-mainland-malls-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:08:14 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Thailand’s slump in visitors from China has become so acute that Chinese tourism workers in Phuket are learning English for the first time to attract new customers, according to a boat tour organiser. Chanchanat Boonlon said her catamaran business was once a cash cow, fully booked each day during high season by large groups of Chinese visitors who flocked to Phuket, Thailand’s largest island. While the Lunar New Year holiday next month brings hopes of a seasonal bounce, data on arrivals from... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341724/thailand-picks-blackpinks-lisa-tourism-ambassador-will-chinese-visitors-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341724/thailand-picks-blackpinks-lisa-tourism-ambassador-will-chinese-visitors-return?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:00:29 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As Asean tourism leaders met this week to discuss regional matters, observers say a common visitor visa for the bloc and aligned digital connectivity will even out tourism growth and help lagging countries like the Philippines catch up. The 63rd Asean National Tourism Organisation Meeting, held in Cebu in the Philippines on Monday, was also attended by tourism chiefs from Japan, China and South Korea – countries that were instrumental in boosting tourism in the region. In 2024, 20 million... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341622/how-shared-asean-visa-could-help-philippines-find-its-travel-feet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341622/how-shared-asean-visa-could-help-philippines-find-its-travel-feet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:55:49 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall China’s instructions to citizens not to visit Japan during the coming Lunar New Year holiday has been welcomed by some Japanese weary of overcrowding at tourist hotspots, while local travel operators say the immediate impact on business is likely to be limited. Beijing’s advisory, issued on Monday through the Chinese foreign ministry and diplomatic missions, cites security concerns in Japan and a claimed rise in crimes targeting Chinese nationals. It comes amid heightened diplomatic friction... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3341472/japanese-public-welcomes-chinese-tourist-drought-what-about-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3341472/japanese-public-welcomes-chinese-tourist-drought-what-about-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:58:47 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Fans flocked to catch the final leg of Blackpink’s world tour in Hong Kong, with shops reporting a boost of around 30 per cent in business from concertgoers. Kai Tak Sports Park turned into a pink-dotted sea of fans on Saturday, as attendees in matching outfits or waving the band’s signature light sticks filled the venue and nearby shopping centres. “It feels more familiar watching [Blackpink] at home. The atmosphere here is great,” 29-year-old Matt Chan said. Saturday’s show marked the first of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341112/blackpink-fever-hits-hong-kong-fans-pack-kai-tak-final-leg-world-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341112/blackpink-fever-hits-hong-kong-fans-pack-kai-tak-final-leg-world-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 11:53:46 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million foreign visitors in 2025, fuelled by a weak yen that made it one of the world’s cheapest major tourist destinations, but the boom may already have peaked. The number is expected to decline this year amid a political row between Japan and China, and staff shortages in the tourism sector, according to industry forecasts, potentially complicating the government’s ambition to attract 60 million overseas visitors by 2030. In comparison, 31.9 million tourists... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341078/has-japans-tourism-peaked-row-china-set-slow-arrivals-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3341078/has-japans-tourism-peaked-row-china-set-slow-arrivals-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 04:00:18 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Uber Technologies’ strategic partnership with Tencent Holdings’ super app WeChat is yielding significant dividends for the ride-hailing operator as it meets a critical demand for Chinese travellers overseas. Since Uber launched a mini-program on WeChat in July, travellers from the mainland have been actively using Uber’s services via the new channel in 20 markets, said Anthony Wong, who leads Uber’s partnership with Tencent, on Thursday. While the ride-hailing service provider operates in 70... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340037/ubers-wechat-tie-pays-demand-chinese-tourists-rises-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340037/ubers-wechat-tie-pays-demand-chinese-tourists-rises-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Chinese tourist numbers are recovering across Asia after a pandemic-era contraction, buoyed by the expansion of visa-free policies and a stronger yuan. But one thing has not returned: the spending sprees that used to boost duty-free retailers around the world. The trend can be clearly seen in South Korea, which relied on Chinese travellers for 70 per cent of its duty-free sales before Covid-19. Around 5 million visitors from China arrived in the country during the first 11 months of 2025, a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339833/why-are-chinese-tourists-spending-less-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339833/why-are-chinese-tourists-spending-less-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China’s vast outbound travel market is set for further growth in 2026, boosted by the spread of visa-free policies for Chinese nationals and a stronger yuan. But visits to Japan could plummet by nearly 50 per cent amid a political dispute between Beijing and Tokyo, according to analysts and industry insiders. Mainland Chinese travellers are expected to take about 165 million to 175 million cross-border trips in 2026, up from an estimated 155 million last year, the travel marketing and technology... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339348/chinas-outbound-travel-set-soar-10-million-trips-2026-halve-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339348/chinas-outbound-travel-set-soar-10-million-trips-2026-halve-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 08:00:16 +0000 Emily Hung,Lo Hoi-ying,Leopold Chen Emily Hung,Lo Hoi-ying,Leopold Chen Travellers from Hong Kong will have direct high-speed rail access to 16 more mainland Chinese destinations, including Nanjing, Wuxi and Hefei, from January 26, the MTR Corporation has said. The city’s rail operator also said on Sunday that the sleeper train service to Shanghai’s Hongqiao station would be upgraded from four pairs a week to running daily in response to strong demand. Tickets for the upgraded services and extra stops will be available for pre-purchase online from Monday this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339484/hong-kong-offer-direct-high-speed-rail-access-16-more-mainland-chinese-stops?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339484/hong-kong-offer-direct-high-speed-rail-access-16-more-mainland-chinese-stops?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 07:32:04 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Japan’s property market was less likely to deliver significant rewards to investors because of heightened geopolitical tensions with China, more than a tightened monetary policy, according to analysts. “The yield spread is likely to narrow as cap rates are unlikely to widen,” said Chinatsu Hani, head of research at Tokyo-based CBRE. “However, spreads should remain in positive territory.” The Bank of Japan in March last year began unwinding its nearly decade-long negative interest rate policy –... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3339362/have-investors-missed-boat-japans-property-market-amid-tensions-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3339362/have-investors-missed-boat-japans-property-market-amid-tensions-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:30:13 +0000 The Star The Star A female tourist from China, who went diving in Semporna, Malaysia’s Sabah state, has called out another Chinese national who was seen dragging a critically endangered hawksbill turtle, breaking corals deliberately and killing sea slugs during a dive, China Press ­reported. The tourist, known only as Xiaoqing, shared on social media that she visited Sabah and went diving in Semporna on December 31 and January 3. During the first dive, Xiaoqing witnessed another diver from China who was in his... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339289/chinese-tourist-malaysia-accused-harassing-rare-turtle-killing-sea-slugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3339289/chinese-tourist-malaysia-accused-harassing-rare-turtle-killing-sea-slugs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:16:31 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Vietnam welcomed a record number of foreign tourists in 2025, as a resurgence of Chinese visitors and relaxed visa policies helped lure travellers. The Southeast Asian nation received around 21.2 million international visitors last year, up 20 per cent, according to the National Statistics Office. Its previous peak was 18 million, recorded in 2019 before the pandemic. Vietnam’s surge is part of a broader realignment in Southeast Asia’s multibillion-dollar tourism industry, largely at the expense... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338813/vietnam-overtakes-thailand-chinese-tourists-top-choice-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338813/vietnam-overtakes-thailand-chinese-tourists-top-choice-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:52:48 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A ski resort in northeastern China has ignited online controversy over videos showing an instructor carrying a woman guest “princess-style” down a slope as part of a birthday package. A woman identified as Zhao recently posted online about celebrating her birthday at the Northeast Asia Ski Resort in Shenyang, Liaoning province. The venue is the largest in the province and has the most ski runs. In her video, an instructor in white carries her down an outdoor slope as she smiles, holds red... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337715/china-ski-resort-offers-us700-birthday-service-where-instructors-carry-women-guests-down-slope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3337715/china-ski-resort-offers-us700-birthday-service-where-instructors-carry-women-guests-down-slope?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:00:15 +0000