Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, welcomed 7.45 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, up 5.71% from a year earlier and the highest January-June total since the Covid pandemic.

Macau’s hotel occupancy rate rose by 1.3 percentage points year-on-year in the first half of this year to 90.4%, driven by a sharp rise in foreign visitors, especially from Thailand and the U.S.

Eminent Frog Porridge & Seafood in Geylang and Soon Huat, a prawn noodle stall at North Bridge Road Market & Food Center, have been removed from the 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand list, which recognizes restaurants offering high-quality food at reasonable prices.

Thailand welcomed 18.5 million international visitors in the first seven months of the year, a 3.19% decline from a year earlier, as safety concerns and reduced flight capacity from India weighed on tourism.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s largest airport, has issued an apology over its security guards’ handling of a group of a Chinese celebrity’s fans who were barred from boarding the same flight as the star due to safety concerns.

The number of visitors from the Philippines to Vietnam jumped 63.6% year-on-year between January and July to 416,000, the biggest increase among Southeast Asian markets.

Spain, the world’s second-most-visited country after France, received 46.6 million international tourists in the first half this year, up 4.6% from a year earlier despite global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.

Beijing’s iconic Zhengyangmen Gate Tower, commonly known as Qianmen Gate, has reopened to the public after major restoration work.

Vietnam welcomed 13.9 million international arrivals during the first seven months this year, up 13.8% from a year earlier, as the country’s image as a safe and stable destination continued to attract travelers amid geopolitical tensions worldwide.

Vietnam surpassed Thailand to become the second largest Southeast Asian aviation market with 7.4 million seats in July, an increase in capacity of 5.6% year-on-year, according to a report by British aviation analytics firm OAG.