Compass
Most travel writing about Asia-Pacific stops at the postcard. Real destinations, real visas, real food culture — for travelers who want to actually understand where they’ve landed.
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May- 2026 -30 May
Singapore’s world-leading passport masks a 116-destination gap within Southeast Asia
Passport power is reshaping geopolitical status in Asia. Singapore holds the world's top-ranked passport with visa-free access to 194 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow at 3rd with 193 destinations…
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26 May
Singapore’s tourism revenue falls despite rising arrivals, squeezing mid-market businesses
Singapore's tourism sector recorded 16.9 million international visitor arrivals in 2025 and S$32.8 billion in tourism receipts. However, the Singapore Tourism Board projects 2026 receipts at S$31–32.5 billion, a decline…
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26 May
Thailand cuts visa-free stay to 30 days, impacting 39 nationalities and Indian tourism
Thailand's cabinet has voted to roll back its visa-free entry scheme, cutting the permitted stay from 60 days to 30 days and reducing the number of eligible nationalities from 93…
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26 May
Southeast Asian nations impose new tourist levies and caps to combat overtourism
Southeast Asia's top destinations are shifting to managed tourism with new fees, caps, and zoning rules. Bali charges a US$10 levy, Komodo National Park caps visitors after 221,000 arrivals in…
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22 May
Everest sets single-day summit record, forcing Nepal to weigh new climbing rules
A record 274 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest in a single day from the Nepal side on Wednesday, May 21, 2026, surpassing all previous single-day totals on the…
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22 May
Five Italian divers die in Maldives cave, exposing regulatory gaps for extreme tourism
Five Italian nationals died on 14 May 2026 during a technical cave dive near Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives, making it the deadliest diving incident in the country's recorded history.…
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20 May
Asian travellers now drive global tourism demand, reshaping routes and hotel rates
Outbound travel from China and India has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, and Eastern and Southeast Asia now account for 31.7% of global inspirational travel demand. This shift is behavioural, with shorter…
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Feb- 2026 -24 February
South Korea extends K-ETA visa waiver for Australians and Kiwis — until December 31, 2026
The South Korean government has extended its temporary exemption of the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) for nationals of Australia and New Zealand until December 31, 2026. This simplifies entry…
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24 February
Cambodia-Thailand Border Travel — Avoid All Travel Advisories Issued
Multiple Western governments have updated official advisories in February 2026, recommending to "avoid all travel" for areas within 50 kilometers of the Cambodia-Thailand border. This follows recent armed conflicts and…
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24 February
Palau: Digital entry form with QR code now mandatory for all arrivals
All travelers, including U.S. and Canadian citizens, must now complete the mandatory Palau Entry Form online within 72 hours of their flight's departure. This is a recent and strictly enforced…
