Category: Life & Style

Thailand has played a key role in developing regional tourism by championing the “Six Countries, One Destination” program, which aims to transform Southeast Asia into a single travel corridor. The plan, which covers Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, calls for a unified visa system similar to Schengen by 2025, allowing international tourists to travel freely across borders.

Thailand has officially invited Singapore to join the accord, following prior coordination with Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Thai officials and Singapore’s foreign minister held high-level meetings in April 2025, signalling rising regional support. A single visa would make travel logistics easier, eliminate bureaucracy, and establish a mega-destination to rival Europe.

The project promotes premium, experience-driven tourism, promoting heritage circuits, culinary trails, cruises, and overland journeys in partner countries. Major cities such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore to function as transportation hubs.

Thailand and Malaysia, already dominant in ASEAN tourism, aim to benefit further from improved connectivity and longer visitor stays. A planned combined task force will oversee visa systems, border infrastructure, and digital tourism platforms.

If implemented properly by 2025, the strategy has the potential to establish ASEAN as a globally competitive travel destination, attracting up to 70 million tourists each year.

The United Arab Emirates will make artificial intelligence a compulsory subject in all government schools beginning with the next academic year. This bold program seeks to prepare students from an early age for a future defined by fast expanding technologies. The comprehensive AI curriculum will run from kindergarten to grade 12, making the UAE one of the first countries to integrate AI education across the school system.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made the announcement, which he published on social media. He emphasised the nation’s responsibility to prepare children for a world substantially different from the one their parents knew, by providing them with future-ready skills.

The curriculum will cover not only technical issues like data, algorithms, and AI applications, but also the ethical use of technology. The Ministry of Education deliberately built it to encourage critical thinking, technical fluency, and responsible innovation in young learners.

This educational reform reflects the UAE’s strategic objective of developing a generation capable of prospering in an AI-powered global economy. By starting early, the country hopes to instil a culture of invention and resilience in its students from the outset of their academic career.

Indian travellers can now visit up to 58 countries without a visa. This possibility saves the time-consuming and difficult procedure of applying for visas, submitting documents, and scheduling embassy appointments. Visa-free travel is a benefit that is heavily based on the strength of a country’s passport. While the Indian passport is not the strongest in the world, it does give entry to a wide range of destinations.

According to the current Henley Passport Index for 2025, India’s passport ranking has dropped from 80 to 81. This slight decline demonstrates that, while Indian tourists suffer limitations in many parts of the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, several places remain visa-free.

Popular tourist destinations such as Mauritius, Indonesia, and the Maldives are on the list. Several African countries, including Kenya and Zimbabwe, also allow visa-free entry and are recognised for their animal adventures. Oceania’s islands, such as Fiji, Vanuatu, and Micronesia, provide unique travel opportunities for nature enthusiasts.

Furthermore, neighbouring nations such as Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka allow Indians to enter without a visa or issue visas upon arrival.

Thailand welcomed 12.09 million foreign tourists between January and April 2025, a 0.26% decrease from the same period the previous year, according to figures issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Despite the reduction in visits, tourism revenue increased by 5.24% year on year to 576.85 billion baht.

In April alone, 2.54 million international travellers landed in the country, a 7.6% decrease from April 2024. The popular Songkran Festival took place at this time, although altered travel trends, weather conditions, and economic concerns hampered turnout.

Malaysia surpassed China as the leading source of visitors in April, with 362,636 arrivals. China came in second with 317,213, with India, Russia, and the UK also ranking high.

Despite the April decline, China remained Thailand’s greatest source of tourists in the first four months. Notably, increased spending by tourists countered the fall in volume. Travellers from Germany, the US and India contributed to the revenue spike by staying longer and spending more.

Thailand’s strategic focus on high-value tourism, such as luxury travel and wellness experiences, appears to be paying off as the industry adapts to new global trends and regional competition.

Kazakhstan has made a huge step towards achieving its green energy goals by approving a $1.4 billion agreement with the UAE to establish a large-scale wind energy project. Kazakhstan’s lower house of parliament, the Mazhilis, formally authorised the transaction, paving the way for a one-gigawatt wind power project and a 300-megawatt energy storage system in the Zhambyl area.

The agreement, which was signed in Dubai on December 2, 2023, incorporates a partnership with Masdar, a well-known UAE-based renewable energy provider. Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov praised the initiative as a watershed moment in Kazakhstan’s energy revolution. The project intends to increase the share of renewables in the national energy mix by three percent.

Two 500 MW wind farms will be built, producing 3.4 billion kilowatt-hours annually and reducing carbon emissions by two million tonnes. A large-scale energy storage system, the first in Kazakhstan, will improve grid stability while also serving as a technological learning platform.

The project is planned to attract international investment, create over 1,000 construction jobs, and add up to 100 permanent positions.

The Philippines is entering the global digital nomad race by launching its own visa scheme, attracting remote workers seeking long-term stays in tropical regions. Despite its late arrival compared to competitors like Thailand and Indonesia, the country seeks to distinguish itself by English proficiency, low cost of living, and scenic diversity.

In 2024, the Philippines received 5.9 million international tourists, falling short of the 7.7 million target. However, tourism revenue reached a record PHP 760.5 billion ($13 billion), showing increased per capita spending. With Chinese visitor numbers plunging due to halted e-visas, the country is now focusing on remote professionals who can make a greater long-term contribution.

The new visa permits international remote workers to stay for up to a year and has a renewal option. Income evidence, clean records, health insurance, and reciprocity with the applicant’s home country are all required for eligibility. Local employment is prohibited under the visa requirements.

The rollout, which is supported by numerous authorities such as the Department of Tourism and the Bureau of Immigration, is intended to be secure and efficient. With continued investments in digital infrastructure and co-working spaces, the Philippines is establishing itself as a competitive hub.

Goa Tourism created a strong impression at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, which was hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 28 to May 1. Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, inaugurated the Goa Pavilion, which was attended by Indian and Goan dignitaries. Professionals in the travel industry, investors, and foreign media all expressed a strong interest in the event.

Tourism Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte stressed Goa’s metamorphosis from a beach resort to a culturally diverse, environmentally conscious, and spiritually satisfying experience. Post-pandemic insights have allowed the state to broaden its tourism options, highlighting monsoons, hinterland tours, culinary experiences, and wellness retreats. Goa is marketing itself as a year-round destination, focusing on sustainable tourism that benefits local people.

The expansion of air connectivity through Dabolim and Mopa airports has improved accessibility for Gulf travellers. Goa’s involvement in ATM also featured high-level B2B meetings, media engagements, and influencer marketing initiatives aimed at the UAE. Several top tourism partners from Goa displayed a wide range of vacation activities, including heritage walks, adventure sports, and artisan markets.

Thailand recently held the “World Mental Health Conference and Retreat 2025” at the American School of Bangkok Green Valley in Samut Prakan Province. The Mindfulness Academy of Asia and the Community Learning Centre co-organized the event, which brought together mental health professionals from Europe, the United States, and Asia. It attempted to emphasise the value of mindfulness, focus, and wisdom in sustaining mental health and living a satisfying life.

The conference featured famous speakers, including Mr Hartanto Gunawan, who spoke on the principles of Research Meditation, a Buddhist-inspired technique that strengthens the mind and promotes mental clarity. Key seminars addressed various subjects, including resilience in law enforcement, the significance of mental health in education, and the creation of mental health programs for students. Notably, members of the New York Police Department provided insights into mental health in law enforcement.

The conference emphasised the need for mental health education in schools and organisations, highlighting the benefits of mindfulness practices for people and society. The event brought together experts and individuals from all backgrounds, highlighting global efforts to incorporate mental health practices into daily life and enhance general well-being.

Thailand has reached an incredible milestone, having over 11.27 million international tourists by April 20, 2025. This increase in visitors has a substantial impact on the country’s economy, contributing around 540.6 billion THB in tourism revenue. The tourist industry remains a key driver of economic growth in Thailand. The administration is optimistic that this increasing trend will continue, with even greater numbers expected as the year develops.

Chinese tourists led the way, with 1.52 million arrivals. Malaysia, Russia, India, and South Korea are among the other countries that contribute significantly to Thailand’s tourism industry. Despite the general increase in tourism, the country saw a short drop in visitor numbers after the Songkran festival in mid-April.

There are numerous must-see destinations in Thailand. Bangkok, with its blend of modernism and heritage, has renowned landmarks like the Grand Palace and Wat Arun. Chiang Mai, known for its spiritual atmosphere and rich history, is ideal for visiting temples and local markets. Sukhothai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides a glimpse into Thailand’s old civilisation, while Krabi’s breathtaking limestone cliffs and pure waterways make it a nature lover’s delight.

Belgium expressed a willingness to increase its involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector, according to Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, who is now visiting the resource-rich African country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is actively attempting to expand its network of investment partners in order to fully realise the promise of its enormous mineral deposits, which include copper, cobalt, lithium, uranium, and germanium.

Despite its mineral richness, the country continues to face political instability and security risks, particularly in its eastern parts, discouraging steady foreign investment. Nonetheless, Kinshasa is looking into new collaborations and has begun conversations with the United States in response to a Congolese senator’s suggestion for a minerals-for-security arrangement.

Speaking to Reuters, Prevot emphasised Belgium’s industrial skills, citing companies like Umicore and John Cockerill as examples of corporations capable of processing rare and crucial materials. He stated that Belgium would be willing to become a more active investor if the opportunity arises.

Belgian firms have long been involved in Congo’s mining industry, including Umicore’s recent arrangement with state-owned Gecamines to sell germanium to Europe. Prevot also distinguished between Belgium’s collaborative approach and the transactional nature of other international entities.