eVisa programs are now becoming very popular around the world because of how efficient it makes traveling to foreign countries faster. They are also more secure than old visas since more information is within them. The latest country to introduce this system is Oman.

Oman’s eVisa Program

On Sunday, the Royal Oman Police announced that visitors traveling to Oman must now get their eVisas prior to their arrival in the Sultanate. Previously, travelers can avail the visa on arrival to get in Oman.

In their social media post, the police said that the visa on arrival option will only be granted in certain situations. The eVisa should be “used wherever possible.”

It is very easy to apply for the eVisa. Tourists can simply apply online and upload their passport, a passport-style photo of themselves and pay the fee of OMR5.

Processing takes around 4 days and once it is available, they can stay in Oman up to 10 days.

Currently, the eVisa program is open to 71 countries, including the European Union, the United States and Australia. The other countries not included in the list will need to apply for their visas normally through their respective Omani embassy in their home country. Requirements vary which is why it is important to inquire first before applying.

Those from the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait do not need a visa to enter Oman.

This latest announcement regarding Oman’s visa policy comes after the recent announcement of visa-free travel for Omani nationals to Saint Petersburg, Russia. In the announcement, Oman is one of the 53 countries qualified for the visa-free program. They are ok to visit Saint Petersburg with the new visa, but not visit other areas like Moscow since the visa does not cover it.

For those interested to apply for Oman’s eVisa and to see if you qualify, you can visit https://evisa.rop.gov.om/.

Oman Travel Tips

The Sultanate of Oman is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the Middle East. Tourism has contribute greatly to Oman’s GDP and many tourists entering the country are from nearby countries.

Oman offers a very diverse range of travel destinations for tourists. Many tourists come to try out Oman’s cultural tours, which showcase the country’s World Heritage Sites. Aside from these cultural tours, there are also nature based activities available. Sporting and cultural events are also in the country’s calendar for visitors to enjoy.

To find out more about Oman, check out the official website of Oman Tourism.

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Many foreign tourists love visiting Vietnam for its unique natural wonders and culture. It is also one of the cheapest places to visit since everything is very affordable. Because of its charms, many foreigners flock the country and the government took note of it in its latest report.

Tourism is Growing in Vietnam

On Tuesday, Vietnam’s General Statistics Office (GSO) released its latest report about the country’s tourism sector. Their statistics showed that the country welcomed around 1.62 million foreign tourists to the country for October alone. It is up by 34.3% as compared to last year’s record for the same month.

The GSO also said that the record is the highest growth rate the Vietnamese tourism sector has for the year. They also said that the number reached nearly 14.5 million in the first 10 months of the year. It is up by 13% over the same period last year.

Most of these tourists are Chinese and South Korean, which covered 56% of the total tally.

The Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT) welcomed the report and said that the growth rate is impressive. It is also higher than the projected regional and international growth average from the World Tourism Organization this year. The WTO said that in the first 6 months of the year, the number of tourists traveling to foreign countries grew by 4%. Those from Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific had increased of 5 or 6% respectively.

VNAT said that the growth the country experienced is thanks to the efforts by the entire tourism sector. The report said that most of the foreign visitors who came to Vietnam came from the Asian region or 79.5%. It rose up to 15.2% over the same period last year. Chinese, South Korean and Japanese tourists led the pack and they also showed an increase in numbers this month.

This is not the only citation that shows Vietnam’s tourism growth. At the 26th World Travel Awards early this month, the sector won four awards. The VNAT reacted to the awards and said it is a proof that the country’s tourism is strong.

The awards also opens opportunities for the sector to boost its promotions to get more people in the country.

Vietnam Tips

If you like ideas on how you can enjoy Vietnam, we have a lot of articles in the site to help you out. Some of the articles we have include where to stay in Hanoi and Da Nang and whether you should take an eVisa or Visa on Arrival when you travel to the country. You can also check out the Official Tourism Website of Vietnam for more ideas.

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For the past couple of months, Uzbekistan has been opening its visa policy to more tourists. This aims to bring in more income to the country and foreign direct investment. Several countries are in the visa-free regime, and more have been added in a recent government announcement.

Which countries are a part of the announcement?

On Friday, October 25, the Uzbek government said that citizens from 86 states can now enter the country without visa. According to the report of Trendreports, the government released a general list that highlights a new category for entry documents that were introduced early this year.

In the new list, citizens from Russia, Georgia, Belarus and Azerbaijan are some who can stay without a visa in Uzbekistan without any limit. Kyrgyzstan citizens can stay up to 60 days, while citizens from Austria, Italy, Tajikistan and others can stay up to 30 days. Chinese and Hong Kong nationals can stay in the country for 7 days or less.

The new order will be active on January 1, 2020 and to qualify, citizens traveling to the country must have a return ticket ready.

Earlier this year, visa-free regimes became possible for several Latin American countries visiting Uzbekistan. These countries include Mexico, Honduras, Bahamas, Cuba, Nicaragua and others. The Uzbek government also cancelled the visa policy for most European and American countries. Because of this cancellation, European and American citizens can visit the country without visa.

Australians, Japanese, South Koreans, and other CIS countries can also travel to the country without a visa. However, those from Turkmenistan cannot visit the country without a visa. They will need to follow the visa policy required for these citizens.

Meanwhile, those who wish to live in Uzbekistan for long or do work can avail the new 10-Year Residence Permit and the Silk Visa.

Uzbekistan Tips

If you like to visit Uzbekistan anytime soon, there are a lot of articles online to help you organize. A great resource for what you need to know about the country is the government tourism agency of Uzbekistan website.

For those who wish to work in the country, we have a guide on Tashkent’s salary and where you can stay. You may also ask your local Uzbek Embassy to find out how you can work in the country. They can also answer questions on how you can get your working visa. Licensed job agencies can also assist with your inquiries and documentation.

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Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is one of Asia’s busiest airport hubs. Millions of people and cargo travel in and out of the airport every year, causing the airport to be at full capacity. The New Beijing International Airport, which was opened last month, aims to help reduce the burden to the airport. With its opening, several international flights have moved to their new home.

International Flights at the New Beijing International Airport

On Saturday, Beijing Daxing International Airport began its first international flight. The first international flight from the airport was a China Airways route to Bangkok. It left at 7:50 am local time on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the first inbound international arrival was British Airways flight 39 from London, which landed around 9:13 am.

The airport was designed by the late Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid and started its operations last month ahead of the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on October 1. Many call the airport “the starfish” because it looks like one from the sky. Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the airport during its opening day.

China Southern and China Eastern will be based in Daxing now that it is opened, while Air China will remain at Beijing Capital as its hub.

According to CCTV, there are currently 12 flights a day from Daxing heading to Macao, Taiwan and Hong Kong. This accounts to 3% of the total airport traffic for Daxing. The airport’s management aims to increase these flights up to 22 flights per day by March 2020.

Meanwhile, Beijing Capital is considered the second busiest airport in the world after Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport. The other Chinese airport hub, Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) is at number 9. Experts say that China will overtake the US as the top aviation market by 2023.

Travel to China

Traveling to China? If that is a yes, this website has a lot of guides for you to check out. We have a guide for the best places to stay in Beijing, Harbin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Wuhan. We also have a guide about the cheapest Cities in China.

For those planning to work in Beijing, we have a salary guide as well.

For more details about Beijing, check out the Beijing Tourism website. When it comes to visa details, check your local Chinese Embassy and inquire.

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Traveling is now becoming very popular for many citizens around the world. Many countries are now opening its visa policies to citizens who are usually required to visit with a visa. A new report reveals that most of tourists worldwide are flocking Asia for their vacation and casual trips.

Asia’s Tourism Growth Report

According to the latest report of IPK International, the 2019 World Travel Monitor, it reveals that trips to Asia are increasing and will continue to increase. Last year, it was 7% but now it rose to 13% during the first eight months of 2019. This brings Asia as the largest growth driver for the international tourism market for the year.

“Growth in Asia’s foreign travel market continues to exceed the global average, which during the first eight months of the year was only 4%,” said IPK International’s marketing consultant Julia Muhlberger.

Furthermore, the report said that foreign trips within the Asian region covers 80% of the market. Meanwhile, European countries only reported a slight increase in tourists from the Asian region. At 15%, Asian travelers visited Europe for the year. Sadly, the number of Asian traveler in the USA dropped for the third straight year. The country reported that only 8% come from the Asian region.

When it comes to their spending, Asian travelers spend more as compared to other travelers despite the fact they stay only for a few days. Asians stayed for an average of 5.9 nights on outbound trips, which there’s a slight increase from last year’s average of 5.6 overnights. However, it is still lower than the global average of eight overnights.

City travel is very popular for Asian travelers and from the report, it occupied 35% of the city travel record. Roundtrips are also making a comeback and it now has a 24% market share. Beach holidays also remain very popular and covers 21% of the tourism market.

It can be said, through the report, that business travel market has also benefited from the boost in tourism in Asia. From January to August 2019, 17% of Asians traveling abroad are for business/MICE trips. Travel agencies are also very helpful for Asian travelers. According to the report, 85% of Asian outbound travelers booked over the internet. Around 40% booked through travel agencies and 50% actually seek advice from travel agencies to plan out their trips.

What is the future estimate of World Travel Monitor?

For 2020, IPK International says that Asians will continue to travel around the world. It will also increase up to 5%, which is higher than the global estimates. However, this increase will not be very high because of the various factors that may affect travel.

The World Travel Monitor analyzes the trends in 60 tourism markets worldwide for the past 20 years. This year’s World Travel Monitor report was commissioned by ITB Berlin and released during this year’s ITB Asia in Singapore.

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