Porto and Seoul complete the top three in the reader-voted awards, while Australia and Portugal each place two cities among the top six. KEY TAKEAWAYS Melbourne leads Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 global friendliness ranking with 98.52 points. Porto ranks second with 98.33 and Seoul third with 97.94. Australia and Portugal each have two cities among… Read the full news article
ETC and Interrail research finds more first-time visitors and multi-country itineraries despite a decline in long-haul travel intentions. KEY TAKEAWAYS Intent to visit Europe fell to 34% from 38% a year earlier across seven long-haul source markets. Among respondents planning a European trip, 52% have booked flights, up from 42% last autumn. First-time visitors represent… Read the full news article
Virtuoso highlights cycling journeys on five continents, from short wildlife rides to multiday cultural tours, with departures extending into 2029. KEY TAKEAWAYS Virtuoso profiles cycling experiences across Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania and Africa, ranging from two-hour rides to 12-day journeys. Backroads says its cycling business is 40 percent above pre-pandemic levels, partly supported by… Read the full news article
The October-November programme links major Seoul festivals with regional events, travel-focused recommendations and extra ticket discounts outside the capital region. KEY TAKEAWAYS The 2026 Korea Is Performing campaign runs from October 1 to November 30 and promotes around 1,700 performances nationwide. SPAF, PAMS and the RE:BOUND Festival are among the main events connected through the… Read the full news article
The new DOT platform publishes arrivals, outbound travel, tourism GDP and employment data with downloadable datasets, while the US leads source markets through August. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Philippines Department of Tourism has launched an open data dashboard covering visitor arrivals from 2010, outbound resident travel from 2023–2025, tourism economic contribution and employment. International visitor arrivals… Read the full news article
Kinosaki Onsen, Khao Yai, Sumba, Damyang, Ba Be Lake and Alishan feature in a new rest-focused travel list built around quieter settings, natural darkness and slower stays. KEY TAKEAWAYS Agoda has highlighted six Asian destinations for travellers planning trips around rest, quiet and recovery rather than intensive sightseeing. The list features Kinosaki Onsen, Khao Yai,… Read the full news article
Seven agreements spanning Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Australia deepen the carrier’s destination-marketing role as its regional network expands. KEY TAKEAWAYS Malaysia Airlines formalised or reaffirmed seven tourism partnerships at MATTA Fair 2026 covering Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Australia. The agreements combine joint marketing, destination promotion,… Read the full news article
The carrier is linking automated aerospace manufacturing, intelligent aircraft maintenance and low-altitude traffic management in a three-part technology showcase at BEXCO. KEY TAKEAWAYS Korean Air is exhibiting at World Smart City Expo 2026 at BEXCO in Busan from September 9 to 11 with a three-part future aviation framework. The Future Aviation AX zone focuses on… Read the full news article
Bottled water and blankets are being sent to Kathmandu on September 8 and 12 after the group moved 10.5 tons of South Korean government aid earlier this month. KEY TAKEAWAYS Korean Air dispatched the first Hanjin Group relief shipment from Seoul Incheon to Kathmandu on September 8 aboard flight KE695. A total of 1,000 boxes… Read the full news article
The existing Asiana Business Lounge West will transition to a Star Alliance facility in Q4 2026, preserving premium lounge access for eligible passengers after Asiana leaves the alliance on December 16. KEY TAKEAWAYS Star Alliance and Incheon International Airport Corporation have signed an MOU to establish a dedicated Star Alliance lounge in Terminal 1. The… Read the full news article
Malaysia Airlines will return to Busan in December and raise frequencies to Fukuoka, Brisbane and Surabaya, while Firefly prepares its first China service and MAG builds a larger in-flight catering operation near KLIA. KEY TAKEAWAYS Malaysia Airlines will resume Kuala Lumpur–Busan flights on 2 December 2026 with four weekly Boeing 737-8 services, returning to the… Read the full news article
Amadeus data shows international bookings up 5%, strong growth from the Americas and Asia-Pacific, and a rise in medium-length hotel stays during the singer’s September–October run KEY TAKEAWAYS International flight searches to Paris for September 11 to October 17 are 11% above the comparable 2025 period, while flight bookings are up 5%, according to Amadeus… Read the full news article
The Busan agreement starts with depot-level maintenance for Royal Thai Army Black Hawks and is designed to expand into wider Thai Armed Forces aircraft support and technical training KEY TAKEAWAYS Korean Air and state-owned Thai Aviation Industries signed a Teaming Agreement on September 2 at the Korean Air Tech Center in Busan. The partnership will… Read the full news article
The strategic partnership will explore broader codeshare, loyalty and operational cooperation as Korean Air prepares to combine with Asiana Airlines in December 2026 KEY TAKEAWAYS Japan Airlines and Korean Air have signed a strategic partnership agreement designed to deepen a relationship that dates back more than 60 years. The airlines plan to evaluate broader codeshare… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Korean Air will launch a new non-stop service between Seoul Incheon and Melbourne, operating three times a week from 18 December 2026 to 14 March 2027. The seasonal route, served by Boeing 787-9 aircraft on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, responds to growing travel demand between South Korea and Australia and complements Korean Air’s… Read the full news article
(NEWS) SINGAPORE, 2026-Jul-1 — /Travel PR News/ — Luxury travel in Asia Pacific is becoming less about age-based assumptions and more about the personal motivations behind each journey. According to a press release published by Marriott International, new research from the Luxury Group by Marriott International identifies four distinct luxury travel mindsets among affluent Gen Z… Read the full news article
(NEWS) SEOUL, South Korea, 2026-Jun-12 — /Travel PR News/ — Urban greening initiatives are becoming an increasingly important part of corporate sustainability strategies, particularly in major cities where expanding green space can improve environmental quality, community wellbeing and climate resilience. In Seoul, Korean Air is continuing that effort through the latest phase of its Green… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Agoda has partnered with KakaoBank to integrate its hotel booking experience into the KakaoBank app, giving users of one of South Korea’s leading digital banks direct access to Agoda’s global accommodation inventory. The collaboration reflects the increasing overlap between travel services, financial technology and everyday digital platforms, allowing customers to browse and book… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Pacific Asia Travel Association has announced a new group of elected board members during the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Gyeongju. The new board includes representatives from travel companies, tourism authorities, universities and industry organisations across the Asia-Pacific region, including Tripadvisor, Intrepid Travel, Tourism Malaysia and Bangkok University. PATA said the expanded board… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Pacific Asia Travel Association has unveiled the full programme and speaker line-up for the PATA Annual Summit 2026, which will take place in South Korea from 11 to 13 May under the theme “Navigating Towards a Resilient Future.” The summit coincides with PATA’s 75th anniversary and will gather tourism leaders, economists, destination marketers,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Amadeus has expanded its long-standing partnership with Hanatour, South Korea’s leading travel seller, through a new agreement that will see Hanatour adopt a wide range of modern, AI-powered travel technology solutions to improve customer service and operational efficiency. The collaboration builds on Hanatour’s ongoing digital transformation efforts and aims to support its growth… Read the full news article
(NEWS) TOKYO, 2025-Nov-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Amadeus is strengthening its ground-transportation offerings through a new integration with SmartRyde, the Japan-based airport transfer specialist whose services span more than 1,000 airports worldwide, according to recent news. As one of the travel industry’s most widely used technology platforms, Amadeus will now enable travel sellers to access… Read the full news article
(NEWS) SEOUL, 2025-Aug-27 — /Travel PR News/ — Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have joined forces in a meaningful corporate social responsibility initiative that blends sustainability with community support. The two carriers launched an upcycling campaign that transformed retired airline uniforms and old firefighter suits into 1,000 portable battery pouches. The pouches, designed with flame-retardant linings… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) All Nippon Airways has broadened its NDC-powered ticket distribution with Trip.com from Japan to eleven additional markets—Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines—effective June 24, 2025. Customers booking ANA flights on Trip.com in these regions will be able to purchase the same fare classes and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) T’way Air is launching a non-stop route from Vancouver to Seoul, South Korea, starting July 12, 2025. The new service, operated four times a week with an Airbus 330-300, will cater to the growing demand for travel between Canada and South Korea, especially in Vancouver, home to a large Korean community. This year-round… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Air Canada has broadened its intermodal travel options by adding rail and bus connections in Italy, Spain, Britain, and South Korea, offering seamless air-to-land itineraries for customers. This expanded strategy, launched in partnership with AccesRail, enables travelers to book both air and land segments in one itinerary, enhancing convenience and sustainability for short-haul… Read the full news article
voco Seoul Myeongdong to welcome guests by the middle of this year (IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement to rebrand a 576-room property in Seoul’s vibrant Myeongdong district as voco Seoul Myeongdong, marking the brand’s second venture in South Korea after voco Seoul Gangnam. Partnering with Gravity Asset Management’s Seoul South… Read the full news article
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023-Aug-26 — /Travel PR News/ — Ethiopian Airlines Group, the fastest-growing global airline brand and the continent’s largest airline, is pleased to announce that it will increase its weekly passenger flights to Seoul, Republic of Korea, to six, effective October 28, 2023. Ethiopian will also deploy the latest Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the route. The… Read the full news article
Resort’s Breathtaking Design Takes Inspiration From Traditional Island Life, Inviting Guests To Be Nourished And Revitalized In Body, Mind, and Spirit SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, 2023-Mar-31 — /Travel PR News/ — JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, announced the opening of JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in Seogwipo, Jeju. Perched… Read the full news article
A FREE trip to Busan to be won Enjoy up to 50% off storewide Earn 8X airasia points for every transaction with airasia Super App KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 2023-Feb-21 — /Travel PR News/ — airasia Super App, the leading travel super app in the region, debuts its first airasia Super App Super Sale, with Feb-ulous… Read the full news article
