China Expands Visa-Free Policy to More European Travelers

The total number of visitors to Macau for the first two days of Golden Week totaled more than 304,000. The first day, October 1, saw a year-over-year increase of 58.1% to 138,339. 116,767 of those people were from Mainland China, up 93.8% year on year.

China has expanded its visa-free policy to now allow citizens from 17 European countries, including Cyprus, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia, to visit for short stays. The visa-free access allows citizens from the countries to stay in China for up to 15 days without the need for a visa. This comes after a long period of decline in international travel to China. By eliminating the need for short-stay visas, China hopes to attract both tourists and business travelers, offering them seamless entry for up to 15 days. The visa-free entry scheme is part of a broader effort by China to revive the tourism industry. Trip.com said cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou remain the most popular destinations among European tourists. China's visa-free policy also encourages business interactions as European businesspeople can travel freely for short-term meetings and trade negotiations. The current visa-free policy will be in place until the end of 2025.

A new report shows that Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions tourists from travel companies are accounting for 15% to 20% of total visitors to Vietnam with that number reaching up to 60% at some large companies during the peak months. Phu Quoc is being singled out as a new MICE tourism magnet thanks to a special visa policy and an increasing number of experiences and high-standard infrastructure. Phu Quoc is the only destination in Vietnam currently that has a special visa policy. Foreigners and Vietnamese holding foreign passports who enter, exit from and reside in Phu Quoc Island are exempt from visas with a temporary stay period of up to 30 days.

Minor Hotels, in partnership with a private equity fund managed by Ares Management, announced the upcoming rebrand of Reethi Beach Resort as NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort, set to re-open in Q4 2025 after an extensive renovation. The 129 key property is set on a lush island in Hanifaru Bay with the Baa Atoll, a 35-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport in Male. Reethi Beach Resort will remain open until April 25, 2025, after which it will close for six months to undergo its transformation into NH Collection. The renovation will include upgrades to the villas, dining outlets and leisure facilities while preserving the lush island's natural beauty. NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort will offer a mix of on-land and overwater villas that cater to the needs of a wide range of travelers. The resort will include 10 distinctive food and beverage outlets, diverse water activities in the Baa Atoll and its house reefs, along with a spa, pools, and a fully equipped fitness center.

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, a business unit of Robinsons Land Corporation, is set to invest P10 billion to significantly expand its upscale and ultra-luxury portfolio over the next few years. Robinsons Land said the strategic investment will add over 990 room keys to its portfolio. This will include the launch of the lifestyle brand, Grand Summit, in key locations such as Cebu and Pangasinan and Fili, the first and only Filipino-owned five-star hotel brand, in Bridgetowne, Quezon City, rising alongside the Opus Mall. Grand Summit Cebu is being developed alongside the NUSTAR Resort complex and Grand Summit Pangasinan is going alongside the expansive Robinsons mall. Robinsons Hotels and Resorts currently has 30 properties in 20 cities and municipalities nationwide, making it one of the largest and most diversified hotel group in the Philippines.

TFE Hotels has expanded its international presence by signing an agreement to manage five hotels in New Zealand, further strengthening its global portfolio. TFE, in partnership with New Zealand hotel owner Heritage Hotels, will take over the management of five properties, adding over 500 rooms to its managed portfolio. The hotels will be rebranded under TFE's brand. The agreement includes two hotels in Auckland – Adina CityLife and Rendezvous Heritage Auckland. In Wellington, the CityLife property will offer long-stay, apartment-style accommodations, while another Rendezvous Heritage hotel in Christchurch adds to the portfolio. Additionally, Queenstown's Rendezvous Heritage hotel features 175 rooms and meeting/event facilities further expanding TFE's presence in key tourist destinations. In Australia, TFE continues to ramp up its domestic portfolio. The company is set to open the 102-room Eve boutique hotel in Sydney followed by the Hannah Street hotel in Melbourne in late 2025. The Melbourne development represents an investment of A$150 million. As for increasing its presence in Europe, TFE said it would introduce its premium A by Adina brand in Vienna in 2025. The new property will feature 108 studio and two-bedroom apartments in the Danubeflats Tower.

The Heavens Garden Empire Hotel in the Lalganesh area in Guwahati, India celebrated its grand opening. The hotel offers a variety of rooms including Deluxe Rooms, Executive Rooms, and Presidential Suites. Services and amenities include a complimentary breakfast, room service, a business center, travel desk and concierge services. The hotel has an in-house restaurant, a café and a rooftop restaurant along with a lounge bar, ice cream parlor and a game zone.

UAE-headquartered hospitality brand TIME Hotels has announced its expansion into Asia with the launch of two new brands, HALO by TIME and VIVI by TIME, at the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai. Both brands will make their debut in the Maldives with openings expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. TIME right now has properties spanning the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Liberia. VIVI by TIME will be situated on Hankede Island, in the Addu atoll, the southernmost atoll in the Maldives. The hotel will have 75 rooms over six stories with sea views and an array of facilities. HALO by TIME, the upscale brand, will have 150 keys and will span eight stories. TIME has partnered with Maldives Fund Management Corporation for its first launch into the region.