From today, foreign visitors from 85 countries are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK.
The ETA must be secured in advance of travel.
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme is now mandatory for eligible foreign visitors
According to the UK government, airlines will prevent passengers from boarding if they do not hold an ETA, eVisa or other valid documentation.
An ETA costs 16 pounds (US$21.70), permits multiple entries and is valid for two years.
It is also mandatory for visitors transiting through the UK who pass through passport control.
“The ETA scheme is a vital part of our work to strengthen the UK’s border security, helping to deliver a more efficient and modern service that works for both visitors and the British public,” said Mike Tapp, minister for migration and citizenship.
Countries eligible to apply for an ETA are those that do not require a visa for short visits. These include Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Passport holders from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan may also apply.
The scheme was first introduced in October 2023 and extended to European visitors in April 2025. It forms part of broader efforts to digitise the UK’s immigration system and move towards a more contactless border.
Applicants can apply via the UK ETA app. Approval is typically granted within minutes, although travellers are advised to allow up to three working days before departure.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has introduced Noted Collection, a new premium collection brand focused primarily on conversions in the upscale to upper-upscale segment.
The brand is designed to attract high-quality independent hotels seeking access to IHG’s global distribution, revenue management and technology platforms, as well as its IHG One Rewards programme of more than 160 million members. IHG said discussions are already underway with multiple owners, including portfolio operators, regarding potential additions to the brand.
Noted Collection will focus on upscale and upper-upscale conversions within IHG’s premium portfolio
Noted Collection becomes IHG’s 21st brand and will sit within its premium portfolio alongside Crowne Plaza, voco and Ruby, while complementing luxury and lifestyle brands including Hotel Indigo and Vignette Collection. The rollout will begin in the Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa region.
IHG estimates that of the 2.3 million independent rooms globally within the upscale and upper-upscale segments, many could benefit from joining a larger enterprise platform. The group expects the brand to reach more than 150 hotels worldwide over the next decade.
The collection model allows properties to retain their individual identity while integrating into IHG’s commercial and operational systems. Each hotel will be selected for its distinct positioning and character, with brand hallmarks centred on curated guest experiences, locally driven food and beverage concepts, and personalised service.
For owners, the proposition centres on faster integration into IHG’s systems while maintaining design autonomy and brand individuality.
Elie Maalouf, CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “There is strong appetite from owners of high-quality, one-of-a-kind hotels ready to join the power of our platforms and expertise, and Noted Collection offers them a distinctive and attractive brand with a gateway to stronger performance. Noted Collection will allow guests around the world to enjoy even more choice and new experiences with the trust of True Hospitality that comes with every stay at an IHG hotel.”
Pan Pacific Hotels Group appoints Kung Teong Wah as cluster general manager overseeing Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore and Parkroyal on Beach Road, Singapore.
In his expanded role, he will continue to lead Parkroyal Collection Pickering while assuming strategic oversight of Parkroyal on Beach Road. He previously served as general manager of Parkroyal on Beach Road and brings more than three decades of hospitality experience, with deep expertise in Singapore’s hotel sector.
Under his leadership at Parkroyal Collection Pickering, the hotel strengthened its market positioning through renovation, sustainability initiatives and operational transformation, including workforce redesign and digital adoption programmes.
oneworld has appointed Ole Orvér as its CEO, effective April 1, 2026.
Orvér brings more than 20 years of aviation experience and most recently served as chief commercial officer at Finnair.
Prior to this, he was senior vice president – network management at Qatar Airways and has held leadership roles at Air Berlin, LOT Polish Airlines, and SAS Scandinavian Airlines.
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has named Robert Downey Jr as godparent of Disney Adventure, the newest and largest vessel in the DCL fleet, ahead of its maiden voyage next month from Singapore.
The appointment follows the maritime tradition of naming a godparent to bless a ship before it enters service, a custom believed to bring good fortune.
Robert Downey Jr will serve as godparent of Disney Cruise Line’s new ship, Disney Adventure; photo by Disney Cruise Line
Disney Adventure features seven themed areas drawing on more than a century of Disney storytelling, including several Marvel experiences. At Marvel Landing on the upper decks, guests can ride Tony Stark’s Ironcycle Test Run, described as the first roller coaster on a DCL ship and the longest of its kind at sea.
In the open-air Disney Imagination Garden, the Avengers Assemble! live stage production will showcase Marvel characters in a large-scale performance. Disney’s Oceaneer Club will also include the Marvel WEB Workshop, an interactive experience designed for younger guests.
The ship offers character encounters, Broadway-style theatre productions, themed stateroom and concierge accommodation, and more than 20 dining and lounge venues serving international and Asian-inspired cuisine.
Downey is best known for portraying Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was named a Disney Legend in 2019 and is set to appear as Doctor Doom in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December.
The Disney Adventure begins sailings from Singapore next month, marking an expansion of Disney Cruise Line’s presence in Asia.
The Himalayan state of Sikkim is positioning itself as a hub for rural, adventure and heritage tourism
The north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim is promoting niche offerings such as rural and adventure tourism in both domestic and international markets. It is also seeking to ease travel for foreign visitors by removing permit requirements for certain areas along its international borders with China, Bhutan and Nepal.
“We hosted about 1.7 million domestic tourists last year. At present, international travellers require permits to visit certain border destinations such as Changu, which can be discouraging for them. We are therefore looking to remove the requirement for such permits. We have already sent a communication to India’s minister of external affairs to look into this,” said Neeraj Pradhan, secretary – tourism, government of Sikkim.
The state is seeing inbound arrivals from Europe, Bangladesh and South-east Asia.
“The demand for Sikkim is growing every year. We are seeing particularly strong interest from Bangladesh, and the Buddhist corridor is also driving movement from South-east Asian markets. With ongoing infrastructure improvements including better road connectivity and a railway line currently under construction, the state is well positioned to attract more tourists in the coming years,” stated Sumit Mitruka, founder and managing director of Summit Hotels & Resorts.
The hospitality group operates properties across five destinations in Sikkim and in January launched Summit Signature Retreat Pangthang in Gangtok, marking its entry into the retreat segment in the state.
“We are expanding our presence further into the North, West and South of the state. Sikkim’s landscape is exceptionally beautiful, and each region offers a distinct terrain and travel experience,” added Mitruka. He noted that Sikkim ranks high on leisure travellers’ wish lists and is widely regarded as a bucket-list destination.
Agoda, in its December 2025 insights on domestic travel interest in India’s North-east, reported that Gangtok was the second most searched destination in the region on the platform from October to December 2025. The report also highlighted growing interest in smaller towns such as Pelling.
“We are receiving enquiries from across India. Sikkim has also become increasingly popular for trekking with access to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp from the state. In addition, the China border, particularly Nathula Pass, is a major attraction for visitors. There are also locations such as Changu Lake where tourists can experience snowfall for much of the year, making them especially appealing,” said Mitruka.
Mitruka: the demand for Sikkim is growing every year
Last year, the state government organised the three-day Sikkim Rural Tourism Meet 2025 in Gyalshing district to showcase immersive rural experiences. Plans are underway to develop 1,000 new homestays equipped with modern amenities to provide comfortable yet authentic stays. The state also offers adventure activities including bungee jumping, paragliding and hot air balloon rides.
“Adventure and rural tourism remain relatively unexplored segments in Sikkim. We are inviting travel agents, travel writers and bloggers to visit the state and experience our rural and adventure offerings first-hand so that greater awareness can be created,” added Pradhan. Alongside participation in tradeshows, the state is increasing its focus on digital marketing.
Pradhan also said a skywalk under construction in the Maenam area is expected to become the highest in the world. Funded jointly by the state and central governments, the project is targeted for completion by year-end.
In the recent Union Budget 2026-27, the Indian government announced a new scheme to develop Buddhist circuits across north-eastern states, including Sikkim. The initiative will focus on temple and monastery preservation, improved connectivity, and upgraded pilgrim amenities and interpretation centres.
“Sikkim is well positioned to attract travellers seeking diverse experiences, whether in wildlife, eco-tourism or Buddhist heritage. With the Indian government also focusing on strengthening infrastructure and developing the Buddhist circuit, the state can expect an increase in both domestic and inbound tourist arrivals,” said Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.
Sikkim’s rural tourism strategy aligns with its eco-conscious policies, promoting responsible tourism and community participation while minimising environmental impact.
“Sustainability is the most important aspect we must address while promoting tourism. The development of homestays, along with the creation of employment opportunities, will help strengthen the rural economy of the state. Around 70 to 80 per cent of our land is under forest cover, making sustainable and responsible tourism essential for us. The Government of Sikkim has made significant efforts to conserve its forest areas and has also undertaken extensive tree plantation initiatives in non-forest regions,” concluded Pradhan.
What are the new developments in your travel agency? We have recently launched specialised tribal tour packages covering three states including Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The itinerary includes four nights in Odisha, followed by two nights in Chhattisgarh and four nights in Andhra Pradesh. As part of these journeys, we have designed 15 experiential activities for travellers such as tree-hugging sessions, tribal astronomy, meditation practices and farm-to-table cooking experiences.
To offer guests a truly authentic insight into tribal life, we are also developing homestay accommodation within these villages. Responsible tourism remains central to these tours. We contribute a fixed amount towards tribal welfare and encourage participants to make a small voluntary donation. In addition, we are training locals to work as guides and encouraging guests to enjoy locally prepared tribal cuisine so that tourism directly benefits the community and strengthens the local economy.
Another key focus area for us is the Buddhist circuit. During his visit to Vijayawada several years ago, the Dalai Lama emphasised that Lord Buddha delivered the first Kalachakra sermon at Amravati. While many people believe that Lord Buddha never travelled to South India, historical accounts indicate that he did. Based on this heritage, we have curated a programme titled Footsteps of Buddha, which covers important Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh including Amravati, Nagarjunakonda and Bojjannakonda. The potential of Buddhist tourism in Andhra Pradesh offers immense potential which needs to be highlighted.
Are you targeting domestic or international markets for these newly introduced products? For the tribal tours, our primary focus is on the European market where we are seeing strong interest in niche and experiential travel. For Buddhist tourism, we are targeting South-east Asian countries such as Thailand, Japan, Cambodia and Vietnam along with key markets including China and Taiwan. The tourism department of Andhra Pradesh is planning to organise roadshows in countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to raise awareness about the state’s important Buddhist heritage sites.
How is the demand for both outbound and domestic tourism in Andhra Pradesh? Like the rest of the country, Andhra Pradesh is witnessing strong growth in outbound tourism. South-east Asian destinations continue to dominate demand, with Vietnam in particular seeing a sharp rise in popularity. Travellers are also increasingly exploring destinations in the Middle East and Europe.
On the domestic front, spiritual tourism remains a major driver. Tirupati attracts a significant number of visitors each year while other important Hindu pilgrimage centres in the state including the Shakti Peethas such as Srisailam, Draksharamam and Pithapuram also draw large numbers of devotees. In addition, neighbouring states like Karnataka and Telangana generate substantial domestic tourist traffic to Andhra Pradesh.
Are there any challenges that tour operators in Andhra Pradesh are facing? At present, Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a strong pipeline of investments with global companies such as Google and Microsoft showing interest in the state, creating considerable positive momentum. However, one of the key challenges remains the need to build stronger awareness of Andhra Pradesh as a tourism destination. This requires sustained promotion through roadshows as well as digital marketing initiatives. There is also a need to expand hotel room inventory and further strengthen infrastructure for the MICE segment so that the state can attract international business events. In addition, destinations such as Visakhapatnam (Vizag) have strong potential to be promoted as destination wedding hubs. We are actively working with trade partners across both domestic and international markets to enhance visibility for Andhra Pradesh and attract a larger number of visitors to the state.
How do you see the state government’s support in the development of the tourism industry? The state government under the leadership of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been highly supportive of the tourism sector. In fact, tourism has been identified as one of the key industries to help the state achieve its long-term goal of transforming into a US$2.4 trillion economy by 2047.
The government has also launched a new Tourism Policy for 2024-2029, under which the sector has been granted industry status and a clear roadmap for future development has been outlined. In addition, the state government has been actively participating in major domestic and international events to promote tourism and drive growth in the sector.
Design Hotels has named Aik Wee Ong as senior director Asia Pacific, strengthening its leadership team in the region.
He most recently served as deputy managing director at a Singapore-based design-and-build studio, where he led a multidisciplinary team and supported business growth.
Ong previously spent over a decade with Design Hotels, playing a key role in developing the brand’s commercial presence across Asia-Pacific and building relationships with member hotels and regional partners.
He most recently spent nearly a decade with Onyx Hospitality Group, where he served as hotel manager of Amari Phuket.
Under his leadership at Parkroyal Collection Pickering, the hotel strengthened its market positioning through renovation, sustainability initiatives and operational transformation, including workforce redesign and digital adoption programmes.
Prior to this, he was senior vice president – network management at Qatar Airways and has held leadership roles at Air Berlin, LOT Polish Airlines, and SAS Scandinavian Airlines.
His career includes leadership roles at Anantara Siam Bangkok, Shangri-La Bangkok, and Conrad Seoul.
What are the new developments in your travel agency?
Ong previously spent over a decade with Design Hotels, playing a key role in developing the brand’s commercial presence across Asia-Pacific and building relationships with member hotels and regional partners.
