Travel

• Suvarnabhumi Airport opened arrival e-gates, which are automated passport control kiosks, to travelers from 33 different nationalities. • The program includes citizens from Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and various European countries. • Eligible travelers must enter under the visa-exemption scheme, have a previous Thai entry in their current passport, and complete a Digital Arrival Card.

Campaigners describe ‘brazenly discriminatory’ practices around funding from NHS care boardsUK politics live – latest updatesDisabled people must have a guaranteed right to travel abroad, MPs and peers have warned as further cases emerged of individuals barred from taking holidays as a result of “ridiculous” rules imposed by local NHS care boards and local councils.Leading figures have called on the government to bring in clear national guidelines to ensure people who require full-time personal assistants (PAs) are not prevented from using funding for their 24/7 support team for breaks and work trips. Continue reading...

• Rome, Berlin, and other European cities are introducing AI-driven technology in hotels to increase tourism by 2026. • Ministries of labor and education are partnering with hospitality associations to launch digital skills training programs for hotel staff. • These workforce development policies aim to help employees adapt to the technological shift in guest experience management.

• Australia experienced a 4% decline in visitor numbers as travelers from Asian markets like Singapore and Indonesia shifted their preferences. • Rising costs have made Australia less competitive compared to other Asia-Pacific destinations. • Korean travelers are increasingly choosing Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan over Australia due to more affordable options.

• The 2026 BMW PGA Championship will take place at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, featuring a comprehensive visitor guide for tourism and travel logistics. • Attendees can use official tournament mobile applications to access live scoring tables, player tracking, interactive site maps, and food vendor queue status. • Mobility-impaired visitors have access to mapped pathways and dedicated viewing platforms located next to major greens.

The currency has now reached its highest level against the US and Australian dollars in six monthsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn the unpredictable world of global currency markets, there has been one safe bet: that the Japanese yen would continue its relentless decline.In recent weeks, that trade has started to unravel after Tokyo and Washington intervened to support the longsuffering Japanese currency. Continue reading...

• France, Germany, and seven other Schengen countries are reportedly receiving more time to fully implement the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) for border checks. • The group receiving the extension includes Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland. • This delay aims to address technical problems and long border queues that have complicated travel for passengers.

• The Tourism Authority of Thailand and local producers launched a campaign to attract travelers by promoting filming locations from productions like "The White Lotus" and "Inherit." • TSixtySix studio head Cod Satrusayang noted that international clients who previously used Thailand only for technical service work are now requesting local stories. • This strategy aims to replicate South Korea's success in using cultural exports to drive a massive wave of tourism to the country.

• Sheffield United player Nils Zätterström is traveling to join Polish club Raków Częstochowa in a transfer occurring outside the standard window. • The move serves as an emergency solution for the Ekstraklasa side after they lost all five of their opening league matches. • This transfer allows the 21-year-old to move clubs and provides Raków Częstochowa with immediate reinforcements to stop their losing streak.

Sources indicate some members states will not enforce EES biometric controls after 6 September deadlineWhat are the new EU border checks and how will they affect your holiday?Travellers to the EU could face renewed border queues as flexibility measures for the bloc’s entry-exit system officially come to an end – although numerous sources have indicated that some member states will not enforce biometric checks.Airlines last week called on the European Commission to extend discretionary powers to pause EES controls when necessary until the end of 2026, with the deadline for “flexibility” passing on 6 September. Continue reading...