Filipinos gain appetite for business class flights
A travel company reported that business-class ticket sales among Filipino airline passengers rose by 10.5 percent to $12.56 million in 2024.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Thailand eyes health industry as its next economic powerhouse
A 690-billion-baht health economy push targets wellness, medical devices, herbal products and beauty industries as key drivers of growth
More Indian women now seeking credit, monitoring their credit scores: NITI Aayog report
The report highlights that women’s share of the total self-monitoring base increased to 19.43% in December 2024, up from 17.89% in 2023. More women from non-metro regions are…
US$1.1 billion EPF withdrawal forecast to boost Malaysian economy
With the Employees Provident Fund projecting withdrawals to the tune of RM5bil from Akaun Fleksibel, economists say the national economy is set for a boost. They said the higher…
$283.7M in ‘hot money’ fled Philippines in January
Flighty foreign funds continued to leave the Philippines in January, as the release of disappointing economic growth data at the time weighed on the minds of investors who were…
Commerce ministry rejects allegations of North Korean trade in Cambodia
In a statement released on Feb 27, the ministry insisted that it strictly enforced UN Security Council resolutions and Cambodia’s relevant legal frameworks by delisting and…
Distrust in Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund sparks online calls to switch banks
Public opinion has split on Danantara, which aims to consolidate major state-owned enterprises (SOEs) including those in the banking sector, at a time when state budget cuts have…
Japan set to raise international tourist tax to alleviate overtourism
It is currently at ¥1,000 per person and levied on people leaving Japan as a “departure tax."
Thailand to introduce tourism tax during upcoming high season
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said foreign travellers arriving by air will be charged 300 baht/person/trip.
‘Tax cuts for super rich’ becomes battle line between South Korea’s rival parties
They have locked horns over a thorny issue—an overhaul of the country’s 25-year-old inheritance tax system.