Travel News & Entry Updates

Thailand’s Revenue Department is consulting on a ฿1,000 tax on every departure by air, for travellers of every nationality. It is a proposal, not a rule: trips you book now are not affected.

UNESCO inscribed the Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath on 25 July 2026, India’s 45th World Heritage property. What the listing covers, and what has and has not changed for visitors.

Updated 22 October: Manas reopened on 2 October and Kaziranga on 3 October with jeep safaris. Kaziranga’s elephant safaris are expected to restart within about 20 days; no date is confirmed.

Update 25 September: paragliding at Bir Billing resumed on 19 September, three days late because of bad weather. Kullu district restarted on 16 September with counters and fixed fees.

Update 25 September: the reserve’s own officers now say tourism could start by the end of the year or around the New Year, not 1 November as the state forest chief said. Booking and fees are not announced.

Update 16 October: IRCTC’s Kedarnath helicopter seats for 16 October–9 November sold out within hours of opening on 9 October; direct Dehradun flights are cancelled for the season.

Permits for Lachen and Gurudongmar resumed on 11 September. Tourist vehicles going to or coming from Lachen and Lachung must cross Toong check post by 4 pm, to avoid night driving.

Oman’s tourism ministry says Indian arrivals rose about 11% in 2025 and accelerated in the first half of 2026, with direct flights from more than ten Indian cities to Muscat.

Karnataka’s new tariff took effect on 1 September: a jeep safari is now ₹1,500 per adult, a bus safari ₹1,000, and lenses over 200mm carry a ₹1,500 charge plus GST.

The Museum of the Future shut its galleries on 1 September 2026 for a complete rebuild of its exhibitions and plans to reopen in the first quarter of 2027. Dubai itineraries this season need a substitute.

Correction: Indian tourists can enter the Philippines visa-free for 14 days at any port of entry, or 30 days with a valid US, UK, Schengen or similar visa. The Manila–Cebu limit applies to China.

JR is selling three consecutive days of unlimited local and rapid travel nationwide for ¥7,850, usable 3–18 October. The shinkansen is not included, and that is the whole catch.

Update 22 October: the Maldives has postponed the 17% tourism GST on foreign tour operators and booking platforms from 1 October 2026 to 1 April 2027, the tourism minister announced on 3 October.