Frequent visitors to South Korea looking beyond the country’s major cities may want to consider the regions of Chungcheongbuk-do (Chungbuk) and Chungcheongnam-do (Chungnam).
Located around two to three hours from Seoul, the central regions offer a range of wellness-focused experiences for travellers seeking a slower-paced getaway.
The 2026 Taean International Horticulture & Healing Expo will showcase nature-based therapy and wellness experiences in Chungnam; photo by Audrey Ng
Chungbuk is developing stay-based tourism products that combine natural landscapes, traditional culture, local cuisine and wellness experiences. The provincial government has launched a three-year programme to strengthen the region’s wellness tourism resources, products, brand identity and talent pipeline.
The rural county of Boeun, surrounded by hills and valleys, offers a tranquil setting for visitors. Beopjusa Temple, located on Songnisan Mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses important cultural relics and offers temple stay programmes.
In Yeongdong, the Rainbow Healing Center provides a nature-inspired environment designed to help visitors reconnect with nature. The building is designed to maximise natural light and airflow, while offering dedicated spaces for rest and relaxation.
Chungnam is also positioning itself as a centre for healing tourism.
Among its newest attractions is the 2026 Taean International Horticulture & Healing Expo, which organisers describe as the world’s first international horticultural exposition dedicated to nature-based therapy.
The Taean Marine Healing Center, which opened in November 2025, offers marine-based wellness and beauty programmes using local resources such as saline groundwater and peat.
Both regions are well connected to Seoul and international markets. Cheongju International Airport serves 19 international routes linking the region with destinations in Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Mongolia and Singapore.
Chungnam has also introduced initiatives to improve accessibility. A C-Tour Bus connects Cheongju Airport with the Baekje region, while the Tourism DRT (Demand Responsive Transit) system provides on-demand transport services to Gongju and Buyeo.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Princess Cruises have signed a three-year partnership that will expand the cruise line’s operations in Singapore from 2027 to 2030.
Under the agreement, Princess Cruises will deploy three ships – Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess and Grand Princess – in Singapore, with the number of sailings expected to double by 2030. The programme is projected to bring more than 150,000 passengers to the city-state and support tourism and maritime-related economic activity.
Princess Cruises will base three ships in Singapore between 2027 and 2030 as part of a partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board
Supported through STB’s Cruise Development Fund, the deployment will feature itineraries ranging from 10 to 28 days, covering destinations across South-east Asia, Japan and South Korea.
The 2027-28 South-east Asia programme will include calls at 29 destinations across nine countries, with longer voyages designed to connect multiple regions. The expanded deployment follows the 2026-27 season, when Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will be homeported simultaneously in Singapore between November 2026 and February 2027.
The partnership is expected to support growth in the fly-cruise segment, particularly among travellers from Australia, the UK and the US. STB said Singapore’s air connectivity, cruise facilities and tourism offerings position it as a key homeport for international cruise passengers.
Jean Ng, assistant chief executive of the experience development group at the STB, said: “Princess Cruises’s expanded deployment broadens our premium cruise experiences and supports our Tourism 2040 vision to drive quality tourism growth through a strong pipeline of differentiated products.”
Matthew Rutherford, vice president Asia Pacific at Princess Cruises, added: “Singapore is a cornerstone of our Asia-Pacific strategy and an exceptional homeport from which to expand regional footprint.
“We’re seeing growing demand for longer, more immersive journeys, and this programme allows us to deliver richer itineraries across South-east Asia and beyond while attracting more international guests to the region.”
Plaza Premium Group has extended its ALLWAYS concierge and passenger services to Terminal 2 (T2) at Hong Kong International Airport, extending its operations across both passenger terminals.
The new ALLWAYS service counter is located at Landside, Level 7, Check-in Hall Aisle V and offers meet-and-assist services, limousine transfers, porter services, luggage wrapping, wheelchair assistance and document services.
Plaza Premium Group has extended its ALLWAYS airport concierge services to Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport
The company said the expansion builds on its seven service counters in Terminal 1, which have operated since 2022.
Premium services are aimed at travellers requiring personalised airport assistance, including celebrities, VIPs and event guests, while additional services are available for general passengers.
Plaza Premium Group general manager of Hong Kong operations Michael Yang said the T2 opening would help provide a more consistent airport experience while supporting growing passenger demand at the airport’s expanded facilities.
The ALLWAYS T2 counter operates daily from 05.00 to midnight, with premium services including meet-and-assist, porter and limousine transfers available by advance booking.
Location
Situated in the bustling Sathorn business district, this 22-year-old property reopened its doors in October 2025 following a comprehensive six-month partial renovation. The hotel features 137 rooms across six distinct room types.
Accommodation
The arrival experience sets a dramatic tone. The renovated, cavernous-yet-intimate lobby seamlessly blends austere modernism with rich Asian heritage. Reflective, high-gloss dark slate floors and hammered-metallic pillars ground the design, while seating confidently mixes eras – delicate antique wood benches converse with deep-hued leather club chairs and massive white woven loveseats.
Checking into the 54m² Metropolitan Pool View Room feels like stepping into a stylish urban retreat. Reimagined by Navone, the white-toned design is contrasted with black floors and polished silver finishes. Textured details – from basketweave-inspired surfaces to plush white jacquard cushions – add depth and create a striking visual setting throughout the room.
Welcomed with a spread of Thai desserts, fruits and nuts, I found the room exceptionally cosy, with intuitive lighting and climate controls. Thoughtful touches included a 55-inch Samsung TV, Bose sound dock, Nespresso machine, and a COMO Shambhala yoga mat paired with a full-length mirror for in-room practice.
The sleek bathroom featured his-and-hers vanities and a deep standalone bathtub positioned beside a large slatted window. COMO Shambhala amenities scented with mint, eucalyptus and jojoba added to the experience.
However, guests should note that the renovation was partial, with the penthouse suites on the 11th floor and the pool elevators yet to be updated. There were also a few minor quirks, including a bidet with an unconventional lever design, a room door that occasionally needed an extra push to close fully, and a slightly indirect route across the second floor to access the pool.
F&B
Dining is a major highlight, anchored by the renowned nahm. Led by Chef Pim Techamuanvivit, the restaurant has retained its Michelin star for nine consecutive years. The Heritage Tasting Menu showcases strong local sourcing, with dishes presented on bespoke pottery crafted by artisans in Chiang Mai. Thoughtful touches extended beyond the food – when the dining room turned chilly, staff offered a handwoven scarf from Chumphon. Service was warm and personalised throughout the evening, with staff addressing guests by name. The tasting menu was memorable enough to warrant a repeat visit.
The following morning, breakfast at COMO Cuisine on the second floor made healthy dining feel effortless. The light-filled venue focuses on nourishing whole foods, offering two buffet counters alongside an à la carte menu. The culinary team stood out for its use of local ingredients and attentive service. Gluten-free bread was readily available, while dietary restrictions were clearly labelled across the menu, making ordering straightforward.
COMO Metropolitan Bangkok
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Penthouse Suite
Hydropool; photo by Anne Somanas
Pool
COMO Cuisine; photo by Anne Somanas
Pool view room vanity
Facilities
Anchored by the signature COMO Shambhala spa, the hotel’s wellness and leisure facilities offer a comprehensive urban retreat. Fitness enthusiasts can make use of the expansive L-shaped gym with more than 20 machines, or join morning yoga sessions in the dedicated studio. Outdoors, the 25m lap pool provides a calm escape, with thoughtful touches such as complimentary sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
For post-workout recovery, the spa’s men’s and women’s locker rooms feature steam facilities and hydropools. Guests looking to explore the local culture can also choose from a curated range of immersive COMO Experiences.
My treatment at the COMO Shambhala spa began with a choice of the signature “Invigorate” oil. Sonya, a therapist with two decades of experience with the COMO brand, worked through areas of tension before finishing with a warm neck compress. In keeping with the brand’s holistic approach, the session concluded with hot ginger tea and a gluten-free protein ball, followed by time in the hydropool and steam room.
Service
Hospitality made a strong first impression with an indigo butterfly-pea ginger drink served at check-in. While the property overview during check-in was limited, the experience was elevated by a thoughtful porter, Mali, who greeted us warmly with friendly conversation throughout the stay, and reception staff who addressed me by name.
Modern touches such as responsive WhatsApp support and nightly emails outlining available property experiences helped guests stay informed. I also enjoyed spotting the resident hotel cat wandering around the grounds.
Verdict
A cosy, stylishly refreshed property that stands out for its commitment to local sourcing and holistic wellness, though a few refinements could help create a more seamless experience between the renovated and unrenovated spaces.
The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) will once again be hosted at Sarawak Cultural Village from June 26-28, 2026, bringing together international artists, cultural performances and culinary experiences under the theme Regenerations: Roots & Rhythms.
Held annually in Kuching, Sarawak, the festival features evening concerts, daytime workshops, cultural showcases, craft displays and food experiences. Organisers expect more than 200 performers from 12 countries to take part this year.
The Rainforest World Music Festival returns to Sarawak Cultural Village from June 26-28, 2026, with international performers, cultural activities and food experiences
Visitors can also take part in more than 50 workshops, cultural demonstrations and music sessions, offering opportunities to learn about instruments, traditions and musical heritage from participating artists.
New for 2026 is a gastronomy showcase highlighting the culinary traditions of the Borneo sub-region. The programme will feature dishes and flavours from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Sustainability remains a key focus of the festival through initiatives including Green Ruai, Green Warriors and the EcoGreen Planet tree-planting programme. Since 2023, more than 6,000 trees have been planted in conservation areas across Sarawak, with the programme expected to reach 10,000 trees this year.
Set against the backdrop of Mount Santubong, RWMF has grown into one of the region’s best-known music festivals, attracting visitors from around the world to experience music, culture and nature in Sarawak.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been appointed global brand ambassador for JW Marriott.
The collaboration will see Rai Bachchan feature in international marketing campaigns and brand storytelling across film, print and digital platforms, while supporting brand experiences in India and other key markets.
The Indonesian government is stepping up efforts to regulate unlicensed short-term accommodation, particularly villas and alternative lodging properties, following concerns over tax compliance, consumer protection and growing competition with licensed hotels.
Rather than relying on temporary enforcement operations, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is introducing a technology-driven approach focused on online distribution channels.
Widiyanti shared that the policy is aimed at improving governance and creating a more balanced tourism industry
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, tourism minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said the policy is aimed at improving governance and creating a more balanced tourism industry.
The move follows complaints from hotel operators about declining occupancy rates amid the rapid growth of short-term accommodation offered at lower prices.
According to Widiyanti, many of these properties operate without the necessary licences or tax obligations, creating an uneven operating environment within Indonesia’s hospitality sector.
To address the issue, the MoT is working with nine OTA partners: Airbnb, Traveloka, Trip.com, Tiket.com, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, RedDoorz and OYO.
The MoT has also conducted licensing and outreach programmes across five priority destinations – Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta, Bali and West Nusa Tenggara – alongside coaching clinics and merchant verification initiatives.
Data as of May 20, 2026, showed a nearly 47 per cent increase in the number of short-term accommodation businesses registered with Indonesian business registration numbers (NIB) in the country’s OSS licensing system across eight tourism-related business classification (KBLI) categories, compared with March 31, 2025.
Villa accommodation recorded the strongest growth, increasing 76 per cent over the same period.
A key component of the initiative is the development of an application programming interface (API)-based verification system linking OTA platforms with Indonesia’s OSS business licensing database.
Rizki Handayani, deputy for industry and investment at the MoT, said: “The system is designed to replace the current manual verification process, which involves cross-checking large volumes of OTA and government licensing data one by one.”
Under the new system, accommodation operators will be automatically verified before being allowed to list on OTA platforms.
The integration is scheduled to begin in June 2026 and become fully operational by July 2027.
Widiyanti stated: “Starting June 1, 2027, unlicensed accommodation can be automatically identified and delisted through the API system.”
Several OTA platforms have already begun displaying NIB and KBLI information on accommodation listings to improve transparency for travellers.
So far, the government has identified around 1,600 accommodation operators being marketed on OTA platforms without the required licences.
Those businesses could face delisting from August 1, 2026, if they fail to complete the necessary permits during the transition period.
Under the policy, OTAs will be required to notify merchants and provide a two-month window for them to clarify their status or comply with licensing requirements before listings are removed.
Officials also said travellers affected by future delistings will be managed according to the policies of the respective OTA platforms.
At the same time, the government has instructed OTA platforms to stop accepting new accommodation merchants without valid business licences to prevent further growth in unlicensed listings.
VisitMalta is taking a cautious approach to the Asia-Pacific market, focusing on luxury leisure travel amid global geopolitical uncertainty.
As conflict in the Middle East disrupts traditional transit routes and slows incentive traffic from Asia-Pacific, the tourism board has concentrated its resources on high-spending individual travellers.
From left: Malta Tourism Authority’s Francesca Camilleri, and Alaine Ciantar at IMEX Frankfurt 2026; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
“We’re being a bit more cautious on our efforts, because everything is an investment,” said Alaine Ciantar, director of VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings. She added that the current marketing strategy in Asia-Pacific is “to keep our presence in the market not to be forgotten”.
While larger corporate groups remain a long-term goal, Ciantar said she is seeing strong demand from luxury leisure travellers in China, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. She believes leisure travel will help generate future business events demand as more travellers experience the destination.
At the same time, Malta is benefiting from an influx of travellers from the US, Canada and Latin America who are shifting travel plans away from the Middle East and towards Europe. The destination has also seen growth from longhaul markets such as Australia, which entered Malta’s top 10 source markets in 2024, supported by several high-end incentive groups. Brazil has recorded a similar increase.
Ciantar told TTG Asia the growth took the tourism board by surprise and prompted a greater focus on meeting what she described as “organic demand”.
Malta will also host the 26th World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in Valletta from October 7 to 9, 2026, which has become a key focus for the tourism board.
“We are concentrating our efforts on making sure this is a massive success for our island,” Ciantar said.
Organised in partnership with the Maltese Government and the Malta Tourism Authority, the invitation-only event will bring together travel industry CEOs, government ministers and international media at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
The three-day summit will address issues including sustainability, resilience, digital transformation and long-term investment priorities.
Agoda and the Philippines Department of Tourism (DoT) are collaborating to support tourism promotion, workforce development and sustainability initiatives in the Philippines.
Under the partnership, Agoda and the DoT will carry out joint marketing campaigns aimed at increasing travel to the country, and will include training programmes and workshops focused on digital transformation, service standards and industry practices.
Agoda and the Philippines DoT will collaborate on tourism promotion, workforce training and sustainability initiatives; Boracay in Philippines, pictured
The collaboration will support sustainable tourism efforts through awareness campaigns and knowledge-sharing initiatives, while also encouraging closer cooperation on tourism data, policy and marketing.
According to the companies, the partnership aims to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a destination for domestic and international travellers by supporting destination management programmes, tourism campaigns, tourism businesses and workforce development through Agoda’s accommodation, flights and activities platform.
Damien Pfirsch, chief commercial officer at Agoda, said: “By combining DoT’s leadership with Agoda’s expertise, we will entice more travellers to visit the Philippines while elevating the tourism industry as a whole.”
Travellers’ growing interest in flexible and experiential holidays has presented rail travel with an opportunity to shine, as this mode of travel facilitates deeper and convenient exploration of a destination, according to B2B rail travel specialist Railbookers Group.
Nick Lim, vice president – Asia at Railbookers Group, told TTG Asia: “Travellers today are looking for more than simply getting from one place to another. They want the journey itself to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Rail delivers that freedom, flexibility and even luxury other forms of transportation cannot. The holiday begins the moment you step onboard.
Railbookers Group offers a global rail portfolio and is expanding its Asia-Pacific offerings, including The Ghan in Australia, pictured
“Whether it has been your dream to live it up in Italy or to spend slow days in a typical Swiss village, the highly customisable nature of rail holidays makes it easy for anyone to fulfill their travel desire. They only need to choose their time to travel, the destinations, and their preferred pace.”
Amid rising travel costs, Lim said rail travel offers another advantage in the form of relatively stable pricing across many key routes and destinations compared with other transport options.
He believes more Asian travel agents should tap into the sector, highlighting Railbookers Group’s portfolio of rail products worldwide and the growing interest among Asian travellers in exploring international destinations.
“Railbookers Group presence is global with both our brands, Amtrak Vacations and Railbookers. We are also building and expanding our product range here in Asia-Pacific, so it will be exciting times ahead,” remarked Lim.
In Asia-Pacific, Railbookers Group offers products including The Ghan in Australia and the Eastern & Oriental Express, which operates between Singapore and Malaysia.
Lim said the company simplifies the process of selling rail holidays by handling logistics behind the scenes.
“We handle all the essentials from behind the scenes – from rail and accommodation to sightseeing, transfers and more. This allows our travel agent partners more time to design exciting new offerings for their customers and not get bogged down by the details.
“The best part of working with Railbookers Group is that our agents don’t have to be experts in rail to sell rail holidays,” he added.
Travel agents earn a 10 per cent commission on the gross package price when booking through Railbookers Group and can increase earnings through additional travel components.
Lim said around 30 per cent of the company’s sales come from pre- and post-cruise extensions in Europe and North America.
“Due to the flexible nature of rail travel, there are multiple ways for more earnings. Travel agents are able to utilise our rail packages to generate more income as they supplement river cruises and ocean liners sales,” he explained.
He added that rail itineraries also offer opportunities for corporate travel agents by providing short leisure extensions after business trips.
“It’s quite clear that rail holidays are the next frontier of travel experiences,” said Lim, while acknowledging that further market growth will depend on greater product awareness among both consumers and travel agents.
“Once the trade and the public are more comfortable and reassured, their confidence levels go up. When this happens, we should naturally see a progressive demand for rail holidays. This pattern is a typical cycle of new travel styles that we have seen in the past, such as in the adoption of river cruises,” he said.
Railbookers Group has been supporting product education through trade events and in-market activities. The company recently participated in the Swiss Tourism Exchange 2026 and hosted a product seminar in Singapore.
The collaboration will see Rai Bachchan feature in international marketing campaigns and brand storytelling across film, print and digital platforms, while supporting brand experiences in India and other key markets.
