MANILA, 25 February 2025: The Philippines’ Department of Tourism is positioning the Philippines as a premier golf tourism destination through its support for the Philippine Golf Convention (GOLFCON) 2025, which convenes from 8 to 9 March at the Marriott Manila Hotel, Pasay City.
Organised by South Pacific Events & Marketing Co, GOLFCON 2025 brings together industry leaders, golf brands, tour operators, and stakeholders to promote collaboration and innovation within the golf sector.
The event will highlight the Philippines’ world-class golf courses, scenic landscapes, and diverse tourism offerings, reinforcing the country’s standing in the global golf tourism market.
High on the convention agenda is the launch of the latest golf club models from leading international and local brands, offering golf enthusiasts and professionals an exclusive first look at cutting-edge technology and performance innovations in golf equipment.
With a strong lineup of panel discussions, business engagements, and exhibitor showcases, GOLFCON 2025 is a platform for fostering partnerships, driving investments, and expanding opportunities for golf tourism in the Philippines.
Fujiyoshida, Japan at Chureito Pagoda and Mt. Fuji in the spring with cherry blossoms.
SYDNEY, 25 February 2025: Australians continue embracing international travel, with the latest ATIA Travel Trends report revealing significant growth in outbound travel, particularly to Japan, Indonesia and the US.
The report, which analyses data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Department of Infrastructure, highlights a 16.2% increase in Australian international trips, rising to 11.6 million in December 2024.
Japan recorded an exceptional 56.9% increase, with 798,710 Australians travelling there over the past year. Indonesia remained a favourite, with 1.68 million Australian travellers, marking a 22.7% rise, while the US saw 735,210 Australian visitors, a 10.2% increase.
China leads inbound growth
Inbound travel to Australia also experienced robust growth, with a 15.1% rise in visitors, reaching 8.27 million. China was the fastest-growing market, with a 66.4% increase in visitor numbers, reaching 891,550 arrivals.
New Zealand remains Australia’s largest source market, with 1.39 million visitors, a 9.5% rise. The US and UK also experienced strong growth, up 8.0% and 7.4% respectively.
Most popular travel months by purpose
According to the report, July was the most popular month for Australians travelling on holiday, with 63.1% of outbound travellers citing leisure as their reason for travel.
For those visiting friends and relatives, January saw the highest percentage at 34.8%, reflecting the holiday season’s influence on travel patterns.
Business travel peaked in March, with 8.7% of outbound travellers departing for work-related purposes.
Airline market share — international & domestic
For international travel, Qantas Airways maintained its lead with a 17.3% market share, carrying 597,000 passengers in the year ending November 2024. Jetstar followed with an 11.7% market share, carrying 402,000 passengers, while Singapore Airlines accounted for a 9.8% market share, transporting 337,000 passengers.
Domestically, Melbourne-Sydney remained the busiest route, with 763,228 seats available in November 2024. Brisbane-Sydney recorded a 93% load factor, reflecting strong domestic demand. Perth-Sydney saw a 7.1% increase in available seats, reaching 163,560 seats by year-end.
Commenting on the findings, ATIA CEO Dean Long said: “The latest data confirms that Australians’ appetite for international travel remains strong, with destinations like Japan, Indonesia and the US seeing significant increases.
“At the same time, inbound travel continues to strengthen, with China’s remarkable growth standing out. These figures underscore the resilience and vitality of our travel and tourism industry.
“As always, we encourage travellers to book with an ATIA Accredited business to ensure a seamless and professional travel experience.”
About ATIA (www.atia.travel) The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s AUD69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.
SINGAPORE, 25 February 2025: Air India and Lufthansa Group are extending their codeshare partnership. This sees Air India enter into a new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines and expand the existing codeshare agreements between Air India, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).
The expanded partnership significantly boosts flight options and connectivity for travellers between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe with the addition of close to 60 codeshare routes operated by the four airlines across 12 Indian and 26 European cities.
Photo credit: Air India
The expanded agreements increased the codeshare routes between Air India, Lufthansa and SWISS from 55 to nearly 100. The new agreement between Air India and Austrian Airlines adds 26 codeshare routes.
Air India will now offer 26 destinations across Europe and three destinations in the Americas beyond its gateways in Europe (Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich), with the ‘AI’ designator code placed on the following services operated by airlines in the Lufthansa Group, including Austrian Airlines for the first time.
Lufthansa
From Frankfurt to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Luxembourg, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Nuremberg, Oslo, Prague, Riga, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Valencia, – Washington DC.
SWISS
From Zurich to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Luxembourg, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia.
Austrian Airlines
From Vienna to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia.
Reciprocally, customers of Lufthansa Group will now be able to connect to Air India’s domestic services to or from 15 points within India, namely Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa Mopa, Goa Dabolim, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram. Lufthansa Group carriers will also add their respective designator codes to Air India’s international services to three destinations from Delhi and Mumbai: Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Additionally, flights currently operated by Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers between India and Germany or Switzerland will be covered under the expanded codeshare partnership. For example, customers who wish to fly between Delhi and Frankfurt will now have three daily flight options each way with ‘LH’ flight numbers, including two flights operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa.
Both airlines plan to progressively include other destinations in their network in the codeshare arrangements.
Air India and the three Lufthansa Group carriers are members of Star Alliance. Frequent flyers will continue to earn and redeem points/miles on all four airlines. At the same time, elite status holders of Air India’s Maharaja Club and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programmes will benefit from Star Alliance Gold benefits including priority services, extra baggage allowance, and airport lounge access worldwide.
DOHA, Qatar, 25 February 2025: Qatar Airways, in partnership with Qatar Airways Holidays, offers football fans travel packages for the world’s most prestigious club competition match, the UEFA Champions League final 2025.
As the Official Airline Partner of the UEFA Champions League, the airline presents a limited opportunity for fans to secure complete travel packages, including flights, hotel accommodation and match tickets to the final in Munich on 31 May 2025.
UEFA Champions League final match tickets and hotel accommodation.
With these all-inclusive travel packages, fans will secure flights and accommodation and category one UEFA Champions League final match tickets, which are also seamlessly integrated for a hassle-free experience.
The travel package includes the following:
Return flights with Qatar Airways
Hotel stay in Munich
Match tickets
The opportunity to collect Avios and Qpoints on your flights, as well as on the total package value
The option to redeem packages using Cash + Avios for even more significant savings.
Football enthusiasts across the GCC, Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and beyond can now quickly secure their spot at one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.
SINGAPORE, 25 February 2025: Korea introduces the e-Arrival card, allowing visitors to submit their entry information online in advance instead of the current paper arrival form system, which will be discontinued in December 2025.
Visitors can now submit the declaration form up to three days before entering Korea, based on Korean Standard Time. However, if they fail to enter Korea within 72 hours after submitting their e-Arrival card, the card will no longer be valid.
The form can be submitted through the e-Arrival card website by entering the required information; the website supports both PC and mobile devices.
Visitors can download a PDF file of their submitted form, but it is not a requirement for entry inspection. For visitors under 14 years old, a family member or another person must complete the declaration form on their behalf. The form can also be submitted on behalf of adults and for multiple people at once.
Fast facts
e-Arrival card website: e-arrivalcard.go.kr
Launched on 24 February 2025 at 1400 KST
Korea Immigration Service website: mojhome.moj.go.kr (Korean, English)
e-Arrival card information can be downloaded in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese
2025 Cherry Blossom Forecast
Meanwhile, the Korea Tourism Organisation is pinpointing the best times to visit to capture cherry blossoms blooming with its annual forecast for 2025. Released on Sunday, KTO notes that this year’s cherry blossoms are expected to bloom three to eight days earlier than average.
The earliest cherry blossoms can be seen in Jeju Island around 22 March, Busan around 23 March, Seoul and Gangneung around 1 April. As cherry blossoms are estimated to peak approximately one week after blossoming, the flowers are expected to fully bloom in Seogwipo, Jeju, after 29 March and in Seoul around 8 April.
For those planning a trip to Korea this spring, plan to see cherry blossoms in full bloom across the country.
Jeju Island: 22 March (Sat) Busan: 23 March (Sun) Jeonju, Jeonbuk State: 26 March (Wed) Gangneung, Gangwon State: 1 April (Tue) Seoul: 1 April (Tue) Chuncheon, Gangwon State: 4 April (Fri)
* Actual blooming and peak dates may differ from forecast dates depending on weather conditions.
HANOI, 24 February 2025: Vietnam targets 22 to 23 million foreign visitors this year following an expansion of its visa exemption scheme for citizens in three more countries — Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
Voice of Vietnam World reported that foreign visitor arrivals to Ho Chi Minh City surged during the recent Lunar New Year, according to the city’s Municipal Department of Tourism.
Director Le Truong Hien Hoa told VOVWorld: “We are investing in high-value tourism products to attract more visitors, encourage longer stays, and provide a richer experience. We are maintaining traditional markets while targeting new ones. More open visa policies are needed to remain competitive with other countries.”
Visitor arrivals to Vietnam surpassed 17.5 million in 2024, representing a significant surge driven by strategic initiatives such as more relaxed visa policies. Expanded air routes and increased flight frequencies, particularly from major Asian and European markets, improved accessibility and facilitated travel to Vietnam. Strong recovery was evident in key markets such as South Korea, China, and India.
As part of the 2025 Tourism Stimulus Programme, Vietnam has announced visa exemptions for Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland for stays up to 45 days, effective from 1 March to 31 December 2025.
Expanded Visa-Free Stays
Vietnam has extended the visa-free duration to 45 days for citizens of:
KOTA KINABALU, 24 February 2025: Sabah welcomes the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) recognition of the state as an ideal place for an international training centre for nature interpretation guides.
Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said this aligns with Sabah’s focus on culture, adventure, and nature tourism.
Datuk Joniston Bangkuai speaking to World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) president Sebastian Frankenberger (2nd right). Also in the photo are Sabah Tourist Guides Association president Roger Rajah (2nd left) and WFTGA Head of Training Viola Lewis (right).
The Sabah Tourism Board chairman added that the state is ready to explore the potential of becoming a dedicated training hub for nature guides and had requested the Sabah Tourist Guides Association (STGA) to discuss the matter further with WFTGA.
“Sabah has the appeal of biodiversity, landscapes, and ecotourism, making it a natural choice for training centres. With a structured plan, we can further position Sabah as a leader in nature-based tourist guide training,” the minister explained.
Datuk Joniston Bangkuai greets participants at the 1st World Federation Tourist Guide Associations Trainer Convention in Kota Kinabalu, on Thursday.
Last Thursday, 20 February, Joniston launched the first-ever WFTGA Trainer Convention, hosted in Sabah in collaboration with STGA. The convention brought together 100 participants from 27 countries, including virtual attendees.
Joniston said the event provides an opportunity for guides to adapt and innovate. “For this industry to thrive, we must continue to learn and evolve. This convention is a step toward a stronger and more sustainable future in tourism. The WFTGA’s recognition of our potential is an opportunity for collaboration, and as a developing region, I hope the federation will support destinations like Sabah and consider us as a future host for its biennial congress”.
Earlier, WFTGA president Sebastian Frankenberger praised the state’s natural environment as an excellent setting for developing nature interpretation guides.
“What beautiful nature you have… Sabah is the perfect place to focus on nature interpretation. We need different training centres, and one dedicated to nature interpretation would be an excellent addition,” he said.
Frankenberger emphasised the need for proper training, highlighting topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), improving guiding standards, and inclusivity within the industry.
Participants engaged in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions designed to help them grow as industry leaders. To complement their learning, participants joined tours around Sabah for firsthand exposure to the state’s tourism offerings, with post-convention activities including river cruises and wildlife encounters.
Present were STGA president Roger Rajah, Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Sabah Convention Bureau chief executive officer Noredah Othman, Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim, and STGA past president Grace Leong, who is also the organising chairperson.
MANILA, 24 February 2025: The Michelin Guide has arrived in the Philippines, setting its sights on Manila and its neighbouring localities plus Cebu, for its highly anticipated 2026 debut.
Last week, Michelin Guide confirmed its inspectors were already exploring the country’s vibrant dining scene, starting with bustling Metro Manila plus the capital’s environs, including Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite.
Photo credit Philippines Department of Tourism.
“In Manila, we see young, talented chefs redefining Filipino cuisine with fresh perspectives, while Cebu, as a leading tourist destination, offers an impressive range of dining experiences with world-class hospitality,” the Michelin Guide publishers said in a press statement.
The arrival of the Michelin Guide is supported by the Philippines Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. She explained: “We extend our warmest welcome to the Michelin Guide, whose international recognition of the Philippines’ rich culinary heritage celebrates the diversity of flavours and exceptional creativity that permeate our nation. We are proud to share our vibrant culture and distinct cuisines with the world, which can be enjoyed through exceptional dining experiences across our dynamic cities and beautiful islands. We invite travellers to visit the Philippines and experience the love, warmth, and creativity of Filipino cuisine while savouring innovative culinary creations shaped by diverse global influences.”
The full restaurant selection of the Michelin Guide Manila and Environs & Cebu 2026 will be unveiled at a special event scheduled for the last quarter of 2025. It will be available exclusively in digital format on all the Guide’s interfaces: website, mobile applications, and social networks. It will join the global Michelin Guide restaurant and hotel selections available free on its digital platforms.
XI’AN China, 24 February 2025: AirAsia X relocated its international flight operations at the Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) from Terminal 3 (T3) to Terminal 5 (T5), effective 20 February 2025.
All AirAsia flights, operated by AirAsia X Malaysia ( D7) and AirAsia Thailand (FD) will arrive at and depart from T5. Affected guests will receive notifications of this change through their registered email and via SMS, along with a new flight itinerary via email. To ensure they are promptly informed of any flight updates, all guests are advised to update their latest contact details with AirAsia.
Additionally, impacted guests are encouraged to reprint their travel itinerary to reflect the correct departure terminal on the day of travel.
For bookings made via travel agents, guests are advised to refer to their respective booking agents for further assistance.
SINGAPORE, 24 February 2025: Oceania Cruises has expanded its signature range of Culinary Discovery Tours by adding 12 new gourmet excursions for 2025.
The new chef-led tours are in diverse locations worldwide from Europe and the UK with new excursions in Amsterdam, Belfast, Invergordon, Valencia, and Valletta to Asia with three new options for Japan sailings in Kobe, Kochi, and Shimizu, plus Busan in South Korea; and North America where new tours are available in Halifax, Quebec City, and Victoria.
The additions mean Oceania Cruises now offers 46 Culinary Discovery Tours, available on its four larger ships, Marina, Riviera, Vista, and Allura, which debuts in July 2025.
The Culinary Discovery Tours are an integral part of the line’s food-focused enrichment programme, which includes The Culinary Centre, the first-ever hands-on cooking school at sea.
Limited to 18 guests and led by Oceania Cruises’ expert Chef Instructors, each Culinary Discovery Tour goes beyond traditional sightseeing, providing access to local markets, acclaimed restaurants, and hands-on cooking classes, both onboard and ashore.
