Asia

India: Anti-Sri Lanka Protests May Disrupt Travel in Tamil Nadu

Date: March 19th, 2013 |

A wave of ongoing, anti-Sri Lanka protests has disrupted travel in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. More than 200 students gathered at Chennai International Airport March 18, impeding traffic to and from the terminal. In a related demonstration, 400 people marched through central Chennai, breaking down a police barricade, while another 500 picketed [read more]

China: Thousands of Dead Pigs Dumped in Shanghai’s Water Source

Date: March 13th, 2013 |

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Water pollution is a major concern throughout China, but for many of Shanghai’s 23 million residents, a surge in the dumping of dead pigs has heightened their worries. Over a two-day period in early March, authorities retrieved 2,813 dead pigs from the Huangpu River—a primary source of city drinking water. Official reports stated that the [read more]

Thailand: Elephant Camps Promote Poaching, Activists Claim

Date: March 6th, 2013 |

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Elephant camps, which employ about 4,000 Asian elephants throughout the country, have long been a popular tourist attraction. Many of the camps also claim to rescue animals that would otherwise starve when they retire from logging or other heavy labor, and put them to work in the entertainment business. However, conservationists are accusing some of [read more]

India: On-Arrival Transit Visas May Soon Be Available

Date: February 20th, 2013 |

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Aiming to entice stopover travelers to stay longer and spend more, officials are considering allowing foreign tourists to obtain a transit visa on-arrival. Travelers en route to Southeast Asia or Dubai often stop briefly in New Delhi, but, lacking an Indian tourist visa, they may spend only a few hours—and minimal cash—confined in the airport. [read more]

Philippines: Updated Travel Warning from U.S. Dept. of State

Date: February 13th, 2013 |

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The U.S. Dept. of State has issued an updated travel warning for the island nation to reflect ongoing security issues, particularly in the Sulu Archipelago and the southern island of Mindanao. U.S. citizens should continue to avoid non-essential travel to the Sulu region due to the high threat of kidnapping of international travelers, and violence [read more]

Laos: Government Considering Single-Entry Visa With Neighbors

Date: March 19th, 2013 |

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In hope of promoting tourism and other business, the government is considering a single-visa arrangement, similar to the Schengen visa available in parts of the European Union, which would allow tourists to combine a trip to neighboring Southeast Asian countries on one visa. Thailand and Cambodia struck a single-visa deal late last year, and Laos [read more]

Malaysia: Conflict in Borneo Prompts Travel Warning

Date: March 6th, 2013 |

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Following a violent insurgency that occurred March 1-3, the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has advised its citizens to avoid travel to the coastal region of eastern Sabah (Borneo). The Malaysian government has dispatched armed forces to the area and there is potential for more violence. The warning includes the towns of Lahad Datu, Kunak, [read more]

China: Fake Monks Arrested for Swindling Mt. Wutai Tourists

Date: February 20th, 2013 |

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Six people were arrested for impersonating monks and fleecing unsuspecting tourists in the Buddhist complex of Mount Wutai, a popular religious site in northeastern Shanxi. Authorities have closed down two temples where fake monks had been operating, conning visitors into “donating” large sums of cash or paying outrageous fees for temple ceremonies. Tourists should be [read more]

India: New Outbreak of Swine Flu Confirmed

Date: February 13th, 2013 |

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The Ministry of Health has confirmed a new outbreak of swine flu (H1N1 virus) that has killed at least 94 people and affected 450 since Jan. 1. Most of the cases have occurred in northern Rajasthan, although 60 cases and three deaths so far were reported in the capital city of New Delhi. The virus, [read more]

Tibet: Lunar New Year Honors Protestors Who Died

Date: February 13th, 2013 |

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Tibetan communities in China chose to forgo their traditional Lunar New Year celebrations this year, opting instead to quietly honor their kinsmen who self-immolated in protest of Chinese rule. Since 2009, nearly 100 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in public, drawing greater international attention to their plight and severe criticism of China. Most of [read more]

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