Instead of requiring passports to be repeatedly presented, cameras for facial scanning were installed at the checkpoints, where passengers’ biometric scans would be matched to the passport image shared from their digital wallet or app. Security, privacy and consent were prioritised through the trial, Air New Zealand said, ensuring participants were fully aware of when,

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) on 9 April published a sweeping ‘Tourism Revival Blueprint 2026’ that commits HK$1.66 billion (US$212 million) to attract high-value visitors and rebuild the city’s meetings-and-events pipeline. The strategy, first reported by Travel and Tour World, places special emphasis on business travellers, mainland weekenders and long-haul premium segments whose spending

Officials from Hong Kong and the Macao SAR will meet on 10 April to draft a roadmap for the full resumption of cross-border commuting after Hong Kong recorded 12 consecutive days with no untraceable local Covid-19 infections. Macao’s Health Bureau stated that if the SAR maintains a clean epidemiological record for 14 days, the two

The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has officially been crowned the best airport in the world at the Global Travel Awards 2026. The result comes from a vote where 2.5 million travellers from more than 150 countries across the globe had their say. After years of playing catch-up with top-tier airports in Asia, the Middle

Just six weeks after electronic travel authorisation (ETA) became mandatory for all non-visa-exempt visitors, the UK Government has applied a 25 % price increase. From 8 April 2026 the digital permission now costs £20, up from £16. For those unsure how to navigate the new digital permit, VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) can submit the ETA

Vancouver International Airport is experiencing a fresh wave of disruption on April 9, with publicly available data indicating more than 50 delayed flights and at least seven cancellations affecting major routes to Toronto, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Munich and other destinations served by Air Canada, WestJet, Lufthansa, American Airlines and additional carriers. Get the

Hong Kong’s aviation sector received a major boost on 9 April when officials confirmed that both Japan and South Korea will abolish the special limits that have, since late 2024, capped the number of passenger flights airlines could operate from the city. Under the rules imposed at the height of the post-pandemic recovery, Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s boundary control points were pushed to near-pre-pandemic volumes during the rare five-day Easter–Qingming holiday that ran from April 3-7. According to official Immigration Department tallies reported by China Daily, a combined 6.27 million inbound and outbound passenger movements were recorded–28 percent higher than the four-day Easter period in 2025. Behind the headline number

Vietnam confirmed on Thursday that top leader To Lam will visit China next week at the invitation of counterpart Xi Jinping, his first foreign trip since becoming president. To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, takes an oath as Vietnam’s president during a National Assembly’s session in Hanoi on April 7, 2026,

The overlapping Qingming Festival and public holiday in China’s Hong Kong from April 3 to 7 brought a surge in cross-border traveling between the special administrative region and neighboring Shenzhen City in the southern Guangdong Province on the mainland. Data released by Shenzhen’s rail authorities showed that from April 3 to 7, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong

UK holidaymakers are being urged to follow guidance before jetting off abroad Fiona Callingham Lifestyle writer 15:57, 09 Apr 2026 Brits are urged to do one thing before going on holiday abroad(Image: Getty) Brits planning foreign holidays are being advised to follow important guidance before departure. According to experts, the advice applies to “all” travellers.

The United Kingdom consistently ranks as a top tourist destination among American travelers. But tourism industry experts fear this might change after the U.K. officially increased its mandatory Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fee as of the deadline on Wednesday, April 8. Americans, who are no longer exempt from getting an ETA for short-term visits up

Indian holiday-makers and business travellers heading to the United Kingdom will pay more from 8 April: the fee for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rises from £16 to £20—about ₹2,463 at today’s rates—only seven weeks after the digital permit became mandatory for travellers from 85 visa-exempt nations. Although Indian citizens still need a separate

The cost of the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has leapt from £16 to £20 with effect from 8 April 2026—the first increase since the digital permission launched 18 months ago. The Home Office confirmed the change in an updated factsheet and fee table published overnight and carriers were instructed to apply the higher

The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB) set a new traffic record on 6 April, handling 29,800 vehicles in 24 hours, Zhuhai’s immigration police reported the next day. Of those, 22,800 were Hong Kong- or Macao-plated passenger cars, underscoring the popularity of the ‘Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Cars’ scheme that allows private motorists to drive into

A fire contractor that notified the government about deactivating Wang Fuk Court‘s fire safety systems did so despite never conducting inspections at the estate, the firm’s director has said. Wang Fuk Court residential buildings after the fire. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Hearings into the deadly Tai Po blaze in November continued on Wednesday with testimony from

Pet ownership is increasingly influencing travel decisions among Indian travellers, with demand rising for pet-friendly accommodation and flexible itineraries. Booking.com data highlights how pets are shaping destination choices, travel modes, and experiences, signalling a shift towards more personalised and inclusive travel planning. Booking.com has revealed that nearly 15 million global searches for pet-friendly accommodation were

London, UK | Image credit: chan lee/Unsplash Overview The UK has increased its ETA fee from GBP 16 (USD 21.47) to GBP 20 (USD 26.83), applicable from April 8. British and Irish citizens, including dual nationals, don’t need an ETA presently. But, they must present a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement. Your next

Hong Kong can strengthen its position as an international tourism destination by expanding into new source markets and higher-value segments, according to a report by the WTTC. The report, Travel & Tourism in Hong Kong SAR, China: Recovery, Gaps, and the Road Ahead, highlights the need to diversify beyond China and increase engagement with markets