Tourism in Asia-Pacific will not see a recovery until 2024 as China’s borders remain closed, keeping an estimated 140 million mainlanders stuck at home, according to analysts.

Although optimism is rising, with China’s borders still closed, a full recovery in the Asia-Pacific tourism industry remains a distant prospect, analysts say.

Hotel companies and investors were likely to reduce investments in China in the coming years, despite the number of hotels currently under construction reaching a record high in the first quarter of 2022, because of the country’s Covid-19 measures, analysts said.

Malaysia opened its borders to international travel on Friday, but celebrations were tempered by a controversy surrounding the MySejahtera app which might not be fully government owned as many were led to believe.

Known as the “grand old dame”, The Peninsula Hong Kong has withstood several tumultuous periods throughout its more than 90-year history. But the Covid-19 pandemic is the toughest challenge the iconic hotel and its operator have faced yet, a top executive said.

The easing of restrictions for vaccinated travellers comes as South Korea faces its largest Covid-19 surge yet, with more than 400 deaths on Thursday alone.

For the 320 licensed hotels in one of Asia’s busiest hubs for business travel and tourism, Hong Kong’s zero-Covid approach may sound the death knell for an industry that hired as many as 34,606 people last September.

A global travel divide is deepening as some countries ditch Covid-19 restrictions including quarantines, isolation and even mandatory testing for good, while others cling to years-old curbs.

The return of Chinese and Malaysian tourists, the largest groups of visitors to Thailand before the pandemic, is seen by the industry as key to a sustainable rebound.

Visiting Thailand in a pandemic is different, say travellers who took advantage of its opening up from November 1 to visit Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Paris and other European cities dominate the list compiled by Euromonitor International, owing to their more relaxed travel policies amid the pandemic.

What does it take to get into South Korea from Singapore and not serve quarantine? The Post joins the inaugural flight to Incheon under the two countries’ vaccinated travel lane arrangement.

Investors are snapping up commercial properties despite lingering Canberra-Beijing tensions. Singapore and US funds have rushed in while Hong Kong-based investors have made their presence felt.

The city state has also announced travel schemes with Finland and Sweden, meaning it now has deals with 16 countries.

Rental market may soften as more expats in Hong Kong invest in homes offshore as they consider leaving the city for good due to strict travel curbs.

Rents in Lantau have fallen by 10 to 15 per cent since the first quarter of last year as airline industry employees left in droves amid the downturn.

Elsewhere, Cambodia will start to reopen to vaccinated tourists from next month, New Zealand’s vaccine mandate is being expanded to more workers, and Vietnam has started vaccinated children.

Singapore officials say they are working to establish more agreements, including with neighbouring Malaysia.

International asset managers and banks urge Financial Secretary Paul Chan to provide a road map of how the city plans to resume normal operations like other financial centres.

The Australian PM said the arrangement could be rolled out ‘within the next week’.

Here are the experts’ views on how to make sure you’re best protected, and what to be mindful of at all times.

Announcement marks Singapore’s most extensive easing of travel restrictions since borders were shut last March.

How did the launch of the Langkawi bubble for domestic Malaysian holidaymakers go? Travellers and hotels mainly gave it the thumbs up, but Covid-19’s ‘new normal’ still takes some getting used to.

A planned reopening of its borders is unlikely to have foreigners rushing back to Australian residential property, giving locals some space to cope with soaring home prices, analysts said.

Malaysian hotspot Langkawi will reopen to vaccinated domestic tourists from September 16, while Bali has eased social restrictions and could see foreign visitors return soon.

Thai developers are trying to trim their inventory of unsold flats by auctioning them online next month. It may interest Hongkongers planning to emigrate or seeking cheaper retirement homes.