News

Thailand Gears Up for Grand Diwali Festival 2026 With Seven Cultural Events Across Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

Thailand is getting ready to host seven Diwali celebrations in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket from November 3 to November 29 2026. These events are part of an effort to highlight Indian culture boost tourism and draw more international travelers during one of Thailand’s busiest travel periods. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is supporting the Amazing Thailand Grand Diwali Festival 2026 which will include five diya-lighting ceremonies, Bollywood music, Indian food, cultural shows and fun activities for visitors. The celebrations will turn tourist spots into lively cultural hubs showing the strong ties between Thailand and India. This comes before the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations, between Thailand and India in 2027. Organised by the Indian Association of Thailand and the Thai–India Trade and Tourism Association, the festival involves cooperation with TAT, the Embassy of India in Bangkok and public- and private-sector partners.

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Vietnam’s Hanoi Targets 50.5M Visitors by 2030 as Historic Attractions Draw Global Interest.

Hanoi’s tourism industry is booming. Its rich history and culture combined with a steady increase in tourists from Vietnam, China, South Korea, India and other countries make Hanoi a must visit destination. With a combination of lively streets in the Old Quarter, ancient temples and authentic craft villages you can experience Vietnam’s unique cultural heritage first hand. Hanoi aims to become a top tourist destination, welcoming between 47-50.5 million tourists per year, including up to 15 million international tourists by 2030. New luxury hotels, improved transport and exciting culture make Hanoi a top tourist destination in Southeast Asia. Hanoi, Vietnam, is preparing for a remarkable tourism boom as domestic visitors and growing international travel demand support its ambitious 2030 plans. China, South Korea, India, Japan, the United States, and other countries are important markets for Vietnam’s growing tourism industry. Hanoi aims to attract more of these travelers through its historic sites, ancient villages, and upgraded hotels. Under its latest tourism strategy, the capital aims to welcome between 47 million and 50.5 million visitors annually by 2030. This includes up to 15 million international visitors. The plan could help transform Hanoi into one of Southeast Asia’s major cultural tourism destinations.

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Japan Introduces a New Tax Refund System to Attract Visitors to Tokyo and Beyond.

Beginning from Nov 1, 2026, Japan adopts the “Pay now, get refunded later” airport tax system in order to encourage retail activities and curb fraudulent activities. Japan is now on the peak of an unmatched tourism boom period, with a record number of 36.87 million foreign tourists contributing an enormous 8.1 trillion yen to its economy. The driving force behind this economic success is the nation’s “tax-free shopping” infrastructure, which is a major source of retailing activity that contributes an estimated 2.4 trillion yen. However, in order to continue with this unparalleled growth and keep up with the global retail industry standards, Japan introduces sweeping policy changes. From November 1, 2026 onwards, Japan will adopt a new system of “Pay now, get refunded later” airport tax system. This strategic pivot is not merely a defensive measure against domestic resale fraud; it is a calculated enhancement of the tourist experience. By eliminating bureaucratic friction at the point of sale, Japan aims to drive even deeper engagement with its diverse local economies, from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the historic merchant districts of Kyoto.

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Azerbaijan Partners With PATA to Boost Asia-Pacific Tourism and Travel Trade Growth.

Azerbaijan is strengthening its position in Asia-Pacific tourism through a strategic partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), designed to expand travel trade cooperation, destination promotion and international visitor growth. The agreement connects Azerbaijan’s tourism industry with important Asian source markets, including China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. By combining regional tourism expertise with international business engagement, the collaboration creates opportunities for stronger tourism connections and improved destination awareness. The initiative also supports Azerbaijan’s wider efforts to develop inbound travel, encourage tourism partnerships and strengthen its presence within the global tourism market through sustained industry cooperation. Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the Pacific Asia Travel Association establishes a framework for connecting the country’s tourism industry with established and emerging travel markets across Asia Pacific. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Baku on 29 October 2026 during the PATA Hosted Buyers Baku 2026 Summit. The partnership brings together the Azerbaijan Tourism Board’s destination development responsibilities and PATA’s regional tourism network.

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US Film Tourism Turns Small-Town Sets Into High-Yield Travel Destinations.

US film production tax credits create small-town shooting locations that become popular tourist attractions overruling the competition from other countries. In the US heartland, the quiet downtown areas and historical front doors of the towns are being restructured into an economic transformation. While the local economy was previously dominated by vacation tourism, a new catalyst of both cultural and economic value has arisen: the movie screen inspired tourism, also referred to as set-jetting. With viewers of TV shows and films becoming more and more interested in visiting the real locations depicted in their favourite movies rather than traditional beach vacation spots, federal policymakers, hotel companies, and Hollywood movie producers have united into a powerful alliance. The dynamic of modern media consumption has altered the traditional travel-planning funnel. Audiences no longer simply watch compelling stories; they actively seek to inhabit them.

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Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay to Host a Landmark Sailing Festival in December 2026.

Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay will host a sailing festival in December 2026 for the first time. The world-famous Ha Long Bay will host its first ever international sailing festival in Vietnam from 15th to 19th December 2026. This event in Tuan Chau Port, Quang Ninh Province will promote the area by bringing together 12 sailing teams from around the world including 7 from different countries in Asia. The festival will take place in one of the most breathtaking places on the planet, with the aim being to promote sailing in the area by attracting tourists from abroad. This will increase tourism to the area during the traditionally low period of the year-end. It will also help Quang Ninh to realize their dream of becoming a well-known destination for large international maritime sporting events. The inaugural Halong Sailing Festival 2026 will take place at Tuan Chau Port between 15 and 19 December, introducing a new international sporting attraction to one of Vietnam’s most celebrated coastal destinations.

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