LANGKAWI, 30 October 2026: Here are some must-see attractions in Langkawi that keep families entertained during their stay on Northern Malaysia’s popular holiday island.
For families, Langkawi is an easy win. The island blends fun, education, and wow-factor attractions that keep kids engaged and parents relaxed. From aquariums to cultural landmarks, here are the top spots that guarantee smiles all around.
Langkawi SkyCab & SkyBridge: A must-do on the island. The steep cable car ride thrills kids, while the sweeping views from the curved SkyBridge leave everyone in awe.
Underwater World Langkawi: A favourite with children, this indoor attraction houses over 200 species, including penguins, stingrays, and sharks. Perfect for when the sun gets too hot outside.
Wildlife Park & Bird Paradise: An interactive zoo where children can feed animals like deer and parrots. It’s safe, clean, and educational — great for curious little minds.
Langkawi 3D Art Museum: This massive trick-art gallery is perfect for fun family photos. Expect kids to run from one exhibit to the next, excited about what’s next.
Mahsuri’s Tomb & Cultural Centre: Learn the legend of Mahsuri, an iconic Langkawi tale, while exploring traditional architecture and open grounds where kids can roam freely.
Family Tip: Mix indoor and outdoor attractions into your itinerary to keep kids from getting too tired. A morning on the cable car, followed by an afternoon at the aquarium, makes for a balanced day.
HANOI, 30 October 2026: Vietnam Airlines will launch daily nonstop flights between Da Nang and Singapore on 17 November 2026, increasing its Vietnam-Singapore service to 42 round-trip flights per week.
The Da Nang-Singapore route will operate daily with an Airbus A321 aircraft configured with 184 seats. The flight time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The Da Nang-Singapore route is operated by Airbus A321 aircraft.
Flight schedule
VN691 departs Da Nang (DAD) at 1500 and arrives in Singapore (SIN) at 1845. VN690 departs Singapore (SIN) at 1945 and arrives in Da Nang (DAD) at 2130.
Vietnam Airlines currently operates 14 round-trip flights per week between Hanoi and Singapore and 21 between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore.
Singapore is an important source market for international visitors to Vietnam. In the first nine months of 2026, arrivals from Singapore rose 29.8% year on year, underscoring the growing potential for travel between the two countries.
With its dramatic natural landscapes, pristine beaches and rich cultural heritage, Da Nang is a compelling destination for Singaporean travellers. Highlights include Son Tra Peninsula, the Marble Mountains, and Ba Na Hills. The city also offers convenient access to renowned cultural sites across Central Vietnam, including Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and the former imperial capital of Hue.
Beyond leisure travel, Da Nang is emerging as a destination for business and investment, supported by its established resort infrastructure, capacity to host major events and the development of the Vietnam International Financial Centre. The new nonstop service will provide a more convenient travel option for both leisure and business travellers, strengthening links between Central Vietnam and Singapore, a major regional hub for tourism and commerce.
The new route forms part of Vietnam Airlines’ broader international network expansion in 2026. The airline has introduced new services to Amsterdam, Colombo and Phuket, and is preparing to launch nonstop flights between Hanoi and Ahmedabad on 3 November, followed by Hanoi and Hangzhou on 22 November. Through strategic development of its international network, the airline aims to support Vietnam’s broader economic ambitions, including the national target of achieving double-digit economic growth in 2026.
NEW DELHI, 30 October 2026: Air India Express has commenced direct flights between Kochi and Bangkok, strengthening connectivity between Kerala and Thailand.
The new service, launched on 25 October, is among the key international routes introduced under the airline’s largest-ever Winter Schedule 2026. During the six-month timetable, Air India Express operates about 585 daily flights, including up to 150 international departures, across a growing network of 65 destinations and more than 220 routes.
Photo credit: Air India Express.
The international network alone is set to grow from 83 routes to over 100 routes, supported by an expanding fleet of more than 105 aircraft.
The new Kochi-Bangkok service will operate four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, offering non-stop connectivity between Kerala and Thailand’s capital city. Air India Express will operate about 250 weekly flights to and from Kochi during the Winter Schedule 2026, including 104 international and 146 domestic flights.
Along with the Kochi-Bangkok service, the airline has also introduced new services on the Kochi-Kuwait, Thiruvananthapuram-Bahrain, and Thiruvananthapuram-Riyadh routes, further strengthening Air India Express’ international network from Kerala. With these additions, Air India Express now operates around 575 weekly flights to and from Kerala, connecting the state to key domestic and international destinations.
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 October 2026: The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) released preliminary September 2026 traffic figures Thursday, showing international passenger numbers edged up from a year earlier, after five consecutive months of year-on-year declines.
Performance remained uneven across markets, with capacity reductions lowering passenger traffic on some routes. In contrast, longer-haul markets continued to grow, partly as passengers chose routings that avoided Middle East hubs.
In September, Asia Pacific airlines carried 30.4 million international passengers, up 0.7% from a year earlier. Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), grew 5.9%, while available seat capacity expanded 6.8%, reducing the average international passenger load factor to 80.2%.
Meanwhile, air cargo markets benefited from stronger global manufacturing activity, increased purchases of raw materials and components, and sustained demand for AI-related goods. International air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), grew by a firm 6.4% year-on-year, outpacing the 4.9% expansion in offered freight capacity. As a result, the average international freight load factor rose by 0.8 percentage points to 60.3% for the month.
Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General Wong Hong said: “September saw passenger numbers increase slightly compared to a year earlier, with stronger growth in longer-haul travel, while air cargo demand gained momentum. Overall, during the first nine months of the year, Asia Pacific airlines carried 289.5 million international passengers, 1.9% more than in the same period last year. International air cargo demand rose by 5.6% over the same period.”
Wong Hong added: “The latest results highlight the resilience of demand amid a difficult operating environment. Passenger markets continued to adjust to changes in capacity and travel patterns, while stronger manufacturing activity and demand for AI-related goods supported cargo flows. Nevertheless, elevated jet fuel prices, airspace restrictions and weaker Asian currencies continue to put pressure on operating costs and profitability.”
He concluded: “Year-end holiday travel should lend support to passenger demand, while continued investment in AI infrastructure and associated trade flows bode well for air cargo markets. However, higher travel and shipping costs could temper growth, while geopolitical tensions and changes in trade policies remain key uncertainties.”
SINGAPORE, 30 October 2026: Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) is partnering with TADA Mobility (Singapore) Pte Ltd to launch a pilot on-demand shared autonomous vehicle (AV) service on Sentosa.
Beginning with two WeRide-developed autonomous vehicles, the service aims to give guests more convenient, accessible transport to get around and discover the island in a scenic, enjoyable way.
Photo credit: Sentosa Development Corporation.
This pilot will complement Sentosa’s existing intra-island transport network with 27 pick-up and drop-off (PUDO) points, launched progressively. The autonomous vehicles will use the service roads along Siloso Beach and Palawan Beach, as well as the island’s public roads, to create faster commutes and connections for day-to-day visitors.
This means guests can reach beachfront attractions and restaurants more directly, without needing to transfer to a beach shuttle.
This is Sentosa’s first on-demand shared service to operate across such a wide network of locations. The first phase of the pilot service is expected to commence in early 2027.
This new service 1 Siloso Beach Walk and Palawan Beach Walk, which are service roads along Siloso Beach and Palawan Beach, respectively. Passenger cars and Private Hire Vehicles cannot access them; only service vehicles for goods and delivery can.
The pilot will explore how on-demand shared autonomous mobility can reduce wait times, increase ride certainty, and shorten connections between transport nodes, hotels, and attractions.
Each autonomous vehicle seats up to eight guests and includes a safety operator. TADA’s on-demand mobility platform will connect guests to autonomous vehicles through a familiar, regional ride-booking experience. The service will operate alongside Sentosa’s existing modes of transport, such as the Sentosa beach shuttles and buses, demonstrating how different modes of transport can work alongside one another. Ride bookings will use GPS data to suggest the nearest available PUDO points across the island. Guests can scan the
QR code on the on-site wayfinding signage for more information on the service and PUDO locations.
BANGKOK, 30 October 2026: Airbnb will donate a portion of revenue from every stay to Airbnb.org, which provides free, temporary housing to people in crisis.
The new funding model, introduced on Thursday, will provide USD500 million to Airbnb.org over the next five years, putting the nonprofit on a path to provide 1 million nights of free housing annually.
Photo credit: Airbnb. Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb.
This funding will also allow Airbnb.org to expand its work to support families travelling for medical care and survivors fleeing domestic violence and exploitation.
The idea for Airbnb.org began in 2012 when a host opened her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Other hosts followed, and in 2020 the effort inspired Airbnb to found Airbnb.org, an independent nonprofit. Since then, Airbnb.org has provided more than 1.6 million nights of free housing to more than 250,000 people around the world.
“Fourteen years ago, after Hurricane Sandy hit, one host opened her home to people who had nowhere else to go. That simple act of generosity grew into Airbnb.org. Since then, we’ve helped provide more than 1.6 million nights of free housing to people in crisis. Now, every time someone books a home on Airbnb, they’ll help someone else find a place to stay when they need it most. That’s Airbnb at its best,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky,
This new funding model will not increase what guests pay or reduce host payouts. Guests and hosts don’t need to opt in or take any action.
Expanding Airbnb.org’s impact
This year, Airbnb.org has provided free temporary housing in response to more than 200 disasters, compared with just eight in 2023. At the same time, Airbnb.org is expanding beyond disaster response to more situations where free temporary stays can provide comfort and stability.
The US$500 million in funding from Airbnb and additional donations will help Airbnb.org expand its work to include:
Families travelling for medical care: By the end of 2026, Airbnb.org will support families travelling for medical care in more than 20 countries, in partnerships with the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, Instituto Beaba in Brazil, B.C. Friends of Children in Canada, Fundación Xana in Spain, and Children’s Miracle Network in the United States, among others.
Survivors of domestic violence and exploitation: A new program will provide free, temporary stays for survivors who have left unsafe situations and are rebuilding, in partnership with Peace House in Utah, among others.
Veterans in the United States: Airbnb.org is expanding support for veterans facing serious illness or undergoing intensive treatment, in partnership with Fisher House Foundation, Dream Foundation and Operation Healing Forces.
Airbnb.org in Thailand
Since 2020, Airbnb.org has provided more than 7,200 nights of free emergency housing in Thailand, including during the March 2025 earthquake in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Zendai Foundation, and Hat Yai flooding in 2025.
When families need a place to stay during a crisis, Airbnb.org helps them find one quickly. In 2026, nearly 60% of Airbnb.org check-ins worldwide happened within 24 hours of booking.
Airbnb.org signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BMA this year to provide free emergency housing for people displaced by disasters and first responders during crises. The partnership aims to speed up access to temporary housing for disaster-displaced people across Bangkok.
How Airbnb.org works
Airbnb.org is an independent nonprofit that provides free, temporary housing to people in times of crisis. It works with local nonprofit organisations and government partners to identify people who need support.
Guests supported by Airbnb.org stay for free, while hosts are paid. Hosts can also choose to support Airbnb.org by offering discounted stays or donating a portion of their Airbnb earnings.
Airbnb covers Airbnb.org’s operating costs, allowing 100% of public donations to go directly toward providing free housing. Airbnb makes no money from Airbnb.org stays.
SURAT THANI, 30 October 2026: Once discovered by backpackers, Khao Sok is steadily attracting a wider audience, with new places to stay and more ways to explore its rainforest landscape.
Photo credit: Scott Smith. Khao Sok.
For Marius Herrmann, a tourism developer involved with Our Jungle Resorts and Lost Horizon Resort, the evolution is clear. Khao Sok Village, long associated with backpacker guesthouses, now offers more places to stay, along with massage shops, ATV tours, and zip lines. Many of these activities come from smaller businesses responding to demand for nature-based travel.
Marius Herrmann
The opportunity also brings a warning: “The challenge is that Khao Sok Village is starting to look like every other tourist destination.”
Having watched the area evolve over the past decade, Herrmann sees promise in a tourism market that is still taking shape. Growth has been noticeable, but development remains largely small- to medium-scale, with independent operators offering many similar experiences. Major investors have not yet arrived in force. The concern is less about where Khao Sok stands today than about preserving its distinctive character as it develops.
A different kind of jungle stay
That thinking helped shape Lost Horizon Resort, a higher-end retreat nearer Khlong Phanom National Park and away from the busiest part of Khao Sok Village. The idea is to offer families and independent travellers more carefully planned nature experiences while spreading visitor activity and economic benefits beyond one well-trodden centre.
Lost Horizon Resort
Khao Sok could become more than a traditional stopover between Thailand’s Andaman and Gulf coasts. Attractive rooms are part of the appeal, but memorable experiences will give travellers more reasons to stay another night.
Growing interest in nature could encourage longer visits, especially as the activities on offer become more varied and compelling.
Cheow Lan Lake presents its own opportunities. Given local ownership and lakeside licensing restrictions, he suggests that experiences developed with surrounding communities could spread benefits more widely while helping manage pressure on the lake itself.
Protect the reason people come
Tourism growth holds promise, provided collaboration guides it. The rainforest, national parks, and communities draw visitors, and safeguarding them will help Khao Sok remain distinctive as it develops.
“Nature-based tourism is fragile by definition, which makes destination and capacity management absolutely critical.”
His work at Cardamom Tented Camp and Anurak Community Lodge helped shape that view. He argues that lasting nature-based tourism depends on close relationships with park authorities, communities, and resort employees. Local people should be more than the backdrop to a visitor’s holiday.
At Our Jungle Resorts, general manager Luca Forges Davanzati and his team help bring that philosophy to life. Across the resorts, they emphasise hiring and training local staff, creating career opportunities, and working with local guides, growers, and businesses.
Former team members have even gone on to establish their own ventures, a hospitality success story that extends well beyond the resort gate. Traditional thatched-roof weaving also remains alive and well locally, thanks in part to Our Jungle Resorts’ continued use of this locally sourced material across its accommodations.
As Khao Sok develops, Herrmann would like operators, national parks, local government and tourism authorities to work together to consider where visitors go, when they go and what experiences the destination should develop next.
Our Jungle Resort Khao Sok
“The biggest barrier isn’t infrastructure; it’s the lack of a shared, coordinated approach,” he said.
Looking to 2030, the vision is a broader mix of accommodation and high-quality educational tours, ideally led by local people with deep knowledge of the forest. This next stage offers a chance to guide growth before the destination’s character is diluted.
“What I’d hate to see is Khao Sok continuing down the path to becoming a mass-market destination,” he said. The goal is to protect the character that draws people here while creating more opportunities for those who call the region home.
For Khao Sok, still taking shape as a broader tourism destination, the opportunity is clear: build on the momentum, share the benefits and keep the rainforest at the heart of the experience.
SINGAPORE, 30 October 2026: Viking has announced that its new 19-day Grand Nile Journey itinerary exploring Egypt on Viking Ra is now open for bookings.
Departures begin in 2028, and the new itinerary offers Viking’s most comprehensive exploration of Egypt to date, featuring four hotel nights in Egypt’s capital and a 14-night sailing between Cairo and Aswan aboard the all-suite Viking Ra.
Photo credit: Viking. Grand Nile Journey on Viking Ra.
Guests will discover the country’s renowned landmarks alongside lesser-visited archaeological sites and communities in Middle Egypt, gaining a deeper understanding of the history, culture and traditions that have shaped life along the Nile.
Grand Nile Journey
The new Grand Nile Journey itinerary features 17 guided tours designed to explore the country’s history and traditions. The trip begins in Cairo, with highlights including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum, before continuing along the Nile through the heart of Egypt.
The voyage includes visits to sites throughout Middle Egypt that offer a fascinating perspective on the country’s ancient civilisations. Guests will discover the Meidum Pyramid, which represents an important chapter in the evolution of pyramid construction.
They will also explore the cliffside Noblemen’s Tombs of Beni Hasan, renowned for their depictions of daily life in ancient Egypt. At Tell el-Amarna, guests will encounter the remains of the once-lost royal capital established by Pharaoh Akhenaten. At the same time, a visit to Deir el-Muharraq monastery offers insight into Egypt’s Coptic Christian heritage and the site traditionally associated with the Holy Family’s journey through the country.
Continuing south, guests will experience ancient Egypt’s grandeur at the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Seti I at Abydos.
The journey also includes time in Aswan, where guests can explore the island temple complex of Philae, immerse themselves in Egypt’s storied past at the monolithic temples of Abu Simbel, and sail the Nile on a traditional felucca. Throughout the voyage, scenic sailing highlights the contrast between the Nile’s lush green riverbanks and the surrounding desert.
For guests who want to extend their travels, Viking offers pre- and post-trip land extensions that can be combined with the Grand Nile Journey itinerary. Options include Cairo (two nights; with services of a Viking Host), offering more time to discover Egypt’s vibrant capital; Morocco (five nights; fully guided), showcasing its colourful markets and rich heritage; and Jordan – Dead Sea, Petra and Amman (four nights; fully guided).
Viking Ra hosts 52 guests in 26 suites and is built specifically to navigate the Nile River.
SINGAPORE, 30 October 2026: Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas arrived in Singapore on Thursday, marking its Asia debut and the start of a year-long season homeporting in Singapore.
Through October 2027, the ship will offer short-bream cruises to Malaysia and Thailand, and longer cruises to Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan.
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean. Navigator of the Seas arrives in Singapore Thursday.
“Navigator of the Seas’ arrival in Singapore marks a game-changing moment for Royal Caribbean, making it easier for vacationers to discover more of Asia from one convenient homeport. With a range of short getaways and longer journeys to destinations across the region, Navigator gives vacationers greater flexibility in how they experience Asia,” said Royal Caribbean President of Greater China and Managing Director Asia Ben Bouldin. “We’re thrilled to welcome Navigator to Singapore and give families and friends more ways to explore, reconnect and make every getaway count.”
From Singapore, vacationers can choose from two- to five-night getaways across Southeast Asia, exploring the heritage-rich streets and renowned food scenes of Penang, Malaysia, unwinding on the beaches of Phuket, Thailand, or discovering the scenic landscapes of Langkawi, Malaysia.
Vacationers can also embark on a 10-night journey to Thailand and Vietnam, stopping in Ho Chi Minh City and coastal Da Nang, Vietnam, and spending an overnight in Bangkok, Thailand. For longer adventures, 12-night journeys between Singapore and Tokyo explore destinations across Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Navigator’s year-long Singapore season is part of Royal Caribbean’s 2027–28 Asia-Pacific lineup. From January to April 2028, Voyager of the Seas will sail from Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, while Ovation and Anthem of the Seas offer adventures from Brisbane and Sydney, Australia. Quantum of the Seas will follow Navigator of the Seas’ season in Singapore, with cruises kicking off in October 2027.
SINGAPORE, 27 October 2026: After unveiling its maiden Mediterranean season and the first chapter of Amangati’s Caribbean voyages, Aman at Sea completes the picture of the yacht’s inaugural Caribbean season this week.
Twelve winter 2028 journeys of five to eight nights follow Autumn 2027 itineraries announced last June. They sail routes to the harbours and archipelagos of the Antilles from 21 November 2027 through 20 March 2028, and open new waters in the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Guadeloupe and the Grenadines.
Photo credit: Aman at Sea.
Amangati extends its inaugural Caribbean season into 2028 with 12 voyages of five- to eight-night sailings between 2 January and 20 March.
Departing Palma de Mallorca on 7 May 2027, Amangati’s inaugural Mediterranean season will feature five- to eight-night voyages across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas, with itineraries designed around longer stays, late departures and access to intimate harbours and secluded anchorages.
Autumn 2027
The Autumn season comprises three regional voyage routes: the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, and the Dutch Caribbean, with select sailings extending through the festive season.
The Leeward Islands voyages open the season with three successive itineraries through the northern arc of the Antilles, drawing on the harbour of Gustavia in Saint Barthélemy and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The Windward Islands voyages depart from Saint John’s and Bridgetown in Barbados, respectively, and carry guests south through Îles des Saintes in Guadeloupe, Portsmouth in Dominica, Anse d’Arlet in Martinique, and Soufrière in Saint Lucia, beneath the rain-forested Pitons.
The Dutch Caribbean voyages offer itineraries from Bridgetown and Oranjestad, tracing the southern Caribbean’s ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
Launching in May 2027, Amangati will welcome just 94 guests across 47 ocean-facing suites, each featuring a private terrace and uninterrupted sea views. On board, guests can enjoy four signature restaurants, the Aman Spa and direct access to the sea via The Marina.
