Russia saw a 23% surge in foreign tourist arrivals from January to May 2026, reaching 2 million visitors. This growth is attributed to simplified visa procedures and expanded air travel routes.
Myanmar's tourism sector is seeing increased efforts to recover after the 2021 coup. The country welcomed over 973,000 foreign tourists last year and aims to nearly double this to 1.8 million in 2024, with a focus on Chinese and Thai visitors.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized PM Modi's government for India's declining passport rankings, citing a drop to 125th place and increased passport fees. He questioned the government's tourism policies and visa services, linking them to a weakened global reputation.
The Kashmir Valley is experiencing a significant increase in tourist arrivals this summer, attributed to improved connectivity via the Vande Bharat Express and a rise in personal vehicle travel. While tourism is booming, Srinagar faces traffic congestion, and some hoteliers have lowered room rates despite high occupancy.
Indonesia welcomed 4.68 million foreign tourists from January to April 2026, the highest figure for the period since 2020. Arrivals in April increased month-on-month and year-on-year, driven by visitors from Malaysia, Australia, and China. Domestic tourism saw a decline after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Manali experienced severe traffic congestion on Saturday night due to a surge of tourists amid an intense heatwave across India. Commuters were stranded for hours as vehicles moved slowly on key routes leading to and from the popular hill station.
Manali experienced severe traffic congestion on Saturday night due to a surge of tourists amid a nationwide heatwave. Commuters were stranded for hours as vehicles moved slowly on key routes, with one tourist describing the ordeal. Heatwave conditions are expected to persist across large parts of India.
Langkawi tourism operator Mohamad Zaki Najmi is struggling with increased operating costs due to higher fuel prices, linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. He has raised prices for jet ski and boat tours. Additionally, Zaki reports a recent decline in tourist arrivals on the Malaysian island.
South Korea welcomed over 2.04 million foreign tourists in March 2026, a 33.2% increase from pre-pandemic March 2019, driven by BTS fans attending the group's comeback concert in Seoul. Chinese tourists led with 501,000 arrivals, followed by Japan (482,000), Taiwan (192,000), the United States (152,000), and Vietnam (75,000). Outbound travel also rose, with 2.29 million South Koreans traveling abroad in March.
This opinion piece argues that tourism success cannot be measured by arrival numbers alone, as overtourism strains local communities, transforms living cultural ecosystems into visitor-oriented economies, and reduces traditions to superficial performances. Citing examples from Kyoto and India's tourism data, the author calls for prioritizing residents' well-being over spreadsheets.
Thailand's finance ministry has cut the country's GDP growth forecast to 1.6% for 2026, down from 2.4% in 2025, citing the Middle East war's impact on global energy prices. Tourist arrivals are expected to reach 33.5 million this year, about 2 million fewer than previously estimated, with Middle East visitors falling by a third in March and European arrivals dropping 4%. Core inflation is forecast to hit 3%, up from an earlier estimate of 0.3%.
