Here's the latest news from the world of travel.
QATAR: A new partnership between Qatar Airways and Uber for Business aims to enhance the corporate travel experience for businesses and corporate travellers.
Those in Qatar Airways' corporate travel Beyond Business programme can redeem Qrewards for Uber ride vouchers, which are credited directly to their Uber wallets and can be used for global business travel.
The agreement enables Qatar Airways' premium corporate offering to extend beyond air travel, giving businesses greater flexibility in managing end-to-end journeys. Members also enjoy free-of-charge high-speed Wi-Fi on up to 323 Starlink-enabled daily flights, among other benefits.
JAPAN: The 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 get underway on September 19, providing tourists with the opportunity to combine sports and cultural tourism.
The 16-day event will bring together 11,000 athletes and 6,000 team officials from 45 Asian countries. The Games are also expected to attract 1.5 million spectators, adding to demand for hotels, restaurants, and rail services.
Visitors can use its central base to connect via its transportation network to attractions such as Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Ghibli Park.
THAILAND: Thailand's government has proposed a new tax on foreign visitors to boost tourism revenue, despite concerns from tourism operators who are seeing falls in visitor numbers.
Under the proposal, foreign tourists arriving in Thailand would pay about $14 per visit. A 30-day public consultation period has been opened to obtain feedback. Anticipated revenue will go towards developing the tourism sector and providing insurance coverage for visitors.
UAE: The proposed Wynn Al Marjan Island resort has been delayed till late 2027 after the project's total construction cost rose by $600 million to approximately $5.7 billion.
Wynn CEO Craig Billings announced a revised timeline and higher budget. However, interior work is progressing well, while the resort has recruited 425 employees. He said: "What we are building is unlike anything else in the region and continue to believe this will be the most exciting integrated resort opening anywhere in the world in more than a decade."
Wynn Al Marjan Island, located in Ras Al Khaimah, will be the UAE's first integrated gaming resort, following receipt of the country's first commercial gaming license. It will have 1,530 hotel rooms, suites, and villas, and assorted amenities, including the nation’s first regulated casino.
TURKIYE: The 100th Hilton Hotel in Turkiye has been opened next to Istanbul Airport. It is conveniently located near the nearby metro station, providing quick access to Istanbul and tourist attractions such as the Blue Mosque.
The hotel's rooms and suites offer runway views, while amenities include a fitness and wellness centre, a restaurant, café and 24-hour bar, as well as meeting rooms and a 250-capacity ballroom.
MALAYSIA: Langkawi, Malaysia, is to be added as a new port of call for Disney Adventure, Disney Cruise Line's first ship to homeport in Singapore.
The island will be offered on select four-night sailings departing from December 31 2026. "Introducing Langkawi as a day visit on these select four-night sailings gives guests more choice by combining magical days at sea aboard the Disney Adventure with the opportunity to explore another destination in Southeast Asia."
ASIA: IHG One Rewards members can get every third night free at 236 properties across 18 Asia Pacific countries from September 4, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Bookings must be made by September 30, 2026, and require three-day advance notice. Various other conditions apply.
VIETNAM: Palladium Hotel Group is expanding into Vietnam with two hotel projects along with the opening of its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Spanish hospitality group has partnered with Conasi Property Management and Development Corporation to redevelop L'Alya Ninh Van Bay into Bless L'Ayla Ninh Van Bay. Scheduled to open in mid-2027, the all-villa resort north of Nha Trang will offer 54 villas.
The group has also acquired the Hòa Bình Hotel in Hanoi, which will reopen as Bless Hotel Hanoi in 2028 following major renovation. The project will restore the century-old building while upgrading it from a three-star to a five-star hotel.
SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines is making moves to create a new travel experience, but the world will have to wait until November. However, selected members of its Solitaire PPS and PPS Club will get a preview on November 7.
The airline has been battling delays to its next-generation cabin seats, which were due to be unveiled in 2021, but the timeline has been pushed back to 2027.
It is anticipated that SIA will unveil an all-new long-haul First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class cabin products, an elevated dining experience, and next-generation KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system.
UK: Three major UK airports were hit by a "cyber security incident" in which criminal hackers accessed the data of almost nine million people and demanded a ransom. Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted, said hackers obtained customers' details, vehicle registrations and postcodes.
MAG said the hackers demanded an undisclosed ransom for the return of the data, which the group refused to pay. It said "at no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised," and the hacked system did not hold customers' bank or payment details.
TAJIKISTAN: Tajikistan has established a Tourism Development Fund to be financed by tourist taxes, permits, fines, and grants from international financial institutions.
The government adopted a resolution to support tourism service providers and develop the industry. Funding sources include a 5% tax on tour packages sold to Tajik citizens travelling abroad, a tourist tax on foreign visitors' domestic travel packages, permit fees for providing tourism services, deposit income, and grants from international financial institutions.
Resources will be directed toward building and upgrading tourism infrastructure, training personnel, improving service quality, and promoting Tajikistan's tourism potential internationally.
CAMBODIA: Expanding visa-free entry is among measures Cambodia is considering to reverse a decline in international tourism. Government and private-sector representatives met to assess measures already underway and consider new proposals to support the tourism industry.
Among the requests submitted by industry representatives was visa exemptions for several tourism markets identified as priorities. The measure was not adopted, but the fact that it was discussed shows that easing entry requirements is playing an increasingly prominent role.
THAILAND: Thailand has officially published regulations ending its 60-day visa exemption scheme. Starting September 15, 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories will be allowed to stay visa-free for up to 30 days. Travellers admitted to Thailand before the new rules take effect will retain the period of stay granted to them upon entry.
Andy Probert is a British-born, Cyprus-based journalist who covers aviation, hotels, travel, and various topics for publications worldwide.
