Here’s the latest global travel news for Wise Travellers everywhere:
Cambodia: Air Cambodia is showing intent to be a major player in Asia after ordering up to 20 B737 MAX jets, the largest single-aisle aircraft order unveiled at the Singapore Airshow.
This marks the Southeast Asian carrier’s first purchase of fuel-efficient Boeing planes and aligns with its plans to expand its network across Asia.
“This investment, Air Cambodia’s largest narrow-body purchase, will let us launch direct services to important markets across North and Southeast Asia, offer competitively priced travel and support our next phase of growth,” said Air Cambodia’s CEO Dr David Zhan.
The 737-8 can carry up to 178 passengers in a two-class configuration and has a range up to 3,500 nautical miles. The carrier currently operates a fleet of six Airbus A320/321 and regional jets on domestic and international routes, including Vietnam, India, Thailand, and China.
Italy: Visitors wanting to look at Rome’s Trevi Fountain will now have to fork out a fee of €2 for the privilege. The charge aims to better manage crowds at the 18th-century fountain, which is one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Visitors, both domestic and international, will have to pay the fee between 9am and 10pm. Access on Mondays and Fridays is from 11.30am. Residents living in Rome are exempt.
Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said it creates ‘a more orderly experience, and overall an improvement in the quality of the visit to one of Rome’s most important monuments.’
Japan: Central Japan Railway Company is testing the L0 Series, a Japanese Maglev train capable of reaching speeds up to 603 km/h. This is ahead of current record breaker, China’s Shanghai Maglev at 465 kmh, while the record rail speed in Europe is 354 kmh.
The new service would operate on the Tokyo-Nagoya route, currently served by Shinkansen bullet trains.
The L0 Series Chuo-Shinkansen line is under construction to enable these speeds, and may well be extended to serve Osaka. The €60 billion project is set to be completed by 2035.
Shanghai: Andaz Shanghai ITC has opened in the ITC Xujiahui complex, a new landmark in the city’s historic district. Andaz Shanghai ITC uses motifs to depict the Xujiahui district’s storied past across its 267 rooms and suites, rooftop bar, and neighbourhood-style corridors.
The hotel highlights Shanghai’s blend of century-old buildings and soaring modern skyscrapers, such as its third-storey entrance, which features a glass-brick wall and moss-hued rugs inspired by Shanghai’s European-style laneways.
Rooms range from 45 sqm to 147 sqm executive suites, all with floor-to-ceiling views, a seating zone, and a selection offering outdoor terraces. There is also a rooftop bar, a European and Shanghainese deli and wine bar at the West Wing, and all-day dining at the East Wing.
Dubai: The iconic Waldorf Astoria is to be brought to Dubai, following an agreement between real estate company AVENEW Development and Hilton.
The project will feature two sites: Waldorf Astoria Dubai Islands, a 150-room hotel, and Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Islands, which will offer 120 premium furnished apartments. The hotel will feature multiple food and beverage venues, while owners of the residences will have full access to the hotel, including amenities such as an outdoor pool, a fitness studio and spa.
“The Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Islands are best-in-class homes designed to deliver enduring value supported by a globally recognised service standard,” AVENEW Development Managing Partner Rasha Hassan said.
Carlos Khneisser, Chief Development Officer at Hilton, said: “This signing represents another exciting step as we expand our luxury portfolio across the region and reinforces the growing momentum of our branded residential offering.”
Thailand: Airports of Thailand, the public authority that manages airports at Bangkok Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, and Phuket, has confirmed it will increase the departure tax.
A key driver of AOT’s medium-term outlook is the planned increase in the international departure Passenger Service Charge (PSC). The Civil Aviation Board approved the adjustment last December, raising the fee from 730 baht (USD23) to 1,120 baht (USD35) per passenger.
Formal enforcement is expected around mid-2026, pending approval from the transport minister. The additional income will be used primarily for capital investment, such as for the South Terminal project at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Despite the charges, AOT believes passenger numbers will increase by up to 6% in 2026 following a record of 126 million passengers in 2025.
Türkiye: Hilton has also announced a significant expansion in Türkiye, signing five new hotel agreements spanning four brands.
The latest deals underline Hilton’s confidence in Türkiye’s tourism strength, growing business demand and rising appetite for lifestyle hospitality concepts.
The new agreements broaden Hilton’s footprint in key destinations, particularly Istanbul, Antalya, and Kocaeli, while also strengthening both its flagship and focused-service offerings.
Two additional Tapestry Collection by Hilton projects are planned for Istanbul. The company says that lifestyle hotels, often defined by design-forward spaces, locally inspired storytelling, and neighbourhood integration, are increasingly resonating with travellers seeking authentic experiences.
Taiwan: Carrier Starlux Airlines has confirmed it will launch its first-ever service to Europe. The Taipei-Prague route will begin on August 1, 2026, with a thrice-weekly frequency, rising to four per week by October.
The airline has previously maintained long-haul flights to America’s West Coast, but the ordering of 18 new Airbus A350s signifies its plans to expand its international network.
London: Wizz Air will launch a new twice-weekly route from London Gatwick to Santorini, Greece, from July 1.
The addition follows the airline’s recently announced summer launch connections to Chania, Corfu, Mykonos, Rhodes and Zakynthos.
“The addition of Santorini to our London Gatwick network comes at the perfect time ahead of the peak summer season,” commented Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK.
Japan: A rise in disruptive tourist behaviour is behind the cancellation of a cherished Japanese cherry blossom festival near Mount Fuji.
Officials in the central Japanese city of Fujiyoshida announced they would no longer host the Arakurayama Sengen Park cherry blossom festival this year. The event has been held for the past decade and attracts about 200,000 tourists annually.
Fujiyoshida mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said: “Behind Mount Fuji’s beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened. To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival.”
Singapore: Singapore is tightening entry to its territory due to new, stringent multiple layers of security kicking in this month.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will issue No-Boarding Directive (NBD) notices to airline operators at Changi and Seletar Airports, to prevent undesirable or prohibited travellers, and those who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, from boarding flights bound for Singapore.
Airlines that receive an NBD notice must not allow these travelers to board the flight for Singapore. ICA may also issue NBDs against travellers who do not meet Singapore’s entry requirements, such as possessing a valid visa or a travel document with at least six months’ validity.
Travellers who are denied boarding but still wish to travel to Singapore will be required to write to ICA to seek approval for entry before arranging a new flight. Around 42,000 foreigners were denied entry in the first 11 months of 2025, a 26% increase on 2024.
Andy Probert is a freelance journalist whose work about global travel news, aviation, business and human-interest features has appeared internationally in print and digital formats.
