Chinese nationals – Author Carlo Carrasco

Indonesia Attracts 15.39 Million Foreign Visitors In 2025

February 14, 2026February 10, 2026carlocarrasco

Indonesia, the 2^nd largest economy of Southeast Asia, successfully attracted 15.39 million foreign visitors in 2025 and it is already looking forward to attracting even more this year, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, welcomed 15.39 million foreign visitors in 2025, exceeding its target of 14-15 million arrivals.

“We have exceeded our target and performed better than our previous projections,” Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said at a meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, as quoted by Antara News Agency.

Government figures show that average spending per foreign visitor reached US$1,267 in 2025, surpassing the target of $1,220.

Malaysia remained the biggest contributor to Indonesia’s tourism revenue, while the United Arab Emirates posted the fastest growth in visitor numbers.

Arrivals from China rose sharply, reaching 1.34 million in 2025, the highest level in six years, according to Xinhua News Agency. The data indicates that travel from China to Indonesia has not only recovered but has also exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

By doing the math of the numbers revealed in the above news report, US$1,267 multiplied with 15.39 foreign tourists is equal to roughly US$19.5 billion in foreign tourism revenue. That is a huge economic boost for Indonesia.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Indonesia? If you have visited Indonesia, what did you enjoy the most while touring there?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Vietnam Attracts 2.5 Million Foreign Tourists In January 2026

February 12, 2026February 7, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam, which is already one of the leading players of Southeast Asia on foreign tourism, is off to a powerful start as it successfully attracted 2.5 million foreign tourists in January 2026 alone, according to a news report by VnExpress. The relaxed visa policies and enhanced tourism campaigns were factors behind the early success.

For insight, Vietnam attracted 21.2 million foreign tourists in 2025. It is expected to attract more from Israel as its ties with the Jewish state are getting stronger. Also, a lot of Filipino travelers searched for accommodations in Vietnam online in 2025. These are only a few of many factors highlighting the tourism boom in Vietnam.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam received 2.5 million foreign visitors in January, its highest monthly number ever, thanks to relaxed visa policies and increased tourism campaigns.

It represents an increase of more than 21% from the previous month, data released Tuesday by the General Statistics Office shows.

The composition of Vietnam’s top source markets changed during the month. South Korea overtook mainland China to become the top market with nearly 490,000 visitors, and China was next with 460,000.

Cambodia emerged as the most notable mover with more than 223,000 arrivals to rise to third place overtaking Taiwan. The rest of top 10 comprised Taiwan, Japan, the U.S, Australia, Russia, India, and Malaysia.

Industry insiders attribute the jump to ground-breaking visa policies, strong innovation in tourism promotion and marketing, greater product diversification, and improved service quality.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Vietnam? With the strong start, do you think Vietnam will be able to attract more than 30 million foreign tourists this year? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to tourism in Vietnam?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thailand Sets Ambitious Tourism Targets For 2026

January 25, 2026January 20, 2026carlocarrasco

Thailand, the 2^nd most visited nation of Southeast Asia in 2025, has set ambitious tourism targets for itself for 2026 and it includes achieving US$95 billion in tourism revenue, according to a VnExpress news release. Thailand attracted over thirty million international arrivals last year which was actually a decline of more than 7% compared to 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has expressed confidence that the country’s tourism sector will earn 3 trillion THB (US$95.35 billion) in revenue this year through its “Amazing 5 Economy” strategy.

The plan targets an 11% increase in international visitors, enhanced domestic tourism, and a focus on sustainable, high-quality growth despite global challenges.

TAT aims for 36.7 million international arrivals and about 210 million domestic trips in 2026. Meanwhile, the revenue target includes 2 trillion THB from international markets, with an expected 11% increase in international tourist arrivals, and 1 trillion THB from domestic tourism, projected to grow by 4%, said TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.

In 2026, TAT plans to reignite quality tourism growth by addressing challenges such as geopolitical tensions, increasing global competition, and domestic factors like the strong baht, household debt, safety concerns, and natural disasters. The key to success lies in the “Amazing 5 Economy” framework, which includes life economy, sub-culture economy, night economy, circular economy, and platform economy.

In 2025, Thailand recorded total tourism revenue of approximately 2.7 trillion THB. International arrivals reached 32.97 million, down 7.23% year-on-year.

It saw declines in short-haul markets such as Malaysia and China. However, long-haul markets showed strong momentum, with visitors from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa reaching a record 10.8 million.

Notably, arrivals from the U.K. and the U.S. each surpassed one million for the first time. Domestic tourism also expanded, with more than 202 million trips, up 2.7%.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Thailand before? If you did, how long did you stay in Thailand and how was your overall travel experience there? Do you think Thailand will be to achieve its ambitious tourism targets this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Takes Back Grande Island

January 21, 2026January 17, 2026carlocarrasco

Due to lease violations on the part of GFTG Holdings Corp., the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) repossessed Grand Island in Subic Bay, according to a news report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Grande Island is a historic island located several kilometers away from the shores of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The island used to be Fort Wint (American military defense point) and through the decades, it became a US naval resort and even as a processing site for foreign refugees. Grande Island today is a tourism location accessible by boat. For the Philippines, Grande Island is considered strategically important as it provides a clear view of sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of the PDI. Some parts in boldface…

Grande Island has been repossessed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) following the pre-termination of its lease with GFTG Holdings Corp., an SBMA official confirmed on Tuesday.

Lawyer Melvin Varias, SBMA deputy administrator for legal affairs, said the takeover stemmed from the SBMA Board’s October decision to cancel GFTG’s lease for failure to meet development obligations. A notice of pre-termination was served, giving the company 60 days to vacate the property.

The notice of repossession was issued on Jan. 5, and the actual takeover took place on Jan. 9, Varias said, noting the schedule was adjusted due to the holidays.

GFTG has since sought reinstatement of its lease, with its appeal now under review by an SBMA board committee.

Grande Island drew national attention last year after Chinese nationals were arrested there for alleged surveillance activities involving drones and naval monitoring. Authorities seized firearms, fake documents, and electronic devices containing photos and videos of Philippine and US naval assets in Subic Bay.

Following the arrests, the Department of National Defense proposed converting Grande Island and nearby Chiquita Island into military reservations, citing national security concerns. The SBMA, however, opposed the move, noting the presence of existing tenants and locators on the islands.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you glad that the SBMA took back Grand Island given its high value as a tourism spot as well as being a highly strategic site related to developments in the West Philippine Sea? Were you surprised that Chinese nationals were caught in Grande Island for spying on Philippine and American naval assets?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Grants 14-Day Visa-Free Entry To Chinese Visitors

January 20, 2026January 17, 2026carlocarrasco

In what is clearly a bid to enhance tourism, investments and trade, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that Chinese nationals are being granted visa-free entry into the Philippines and they are allowed to stay up to fourteen days, according to a GMA Network news report.

The Philippines continues to fail to attract enough foreign tourists and the growth of the national economy clearly slowed down in recent times.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines is granting visa-free entry to Chinese nationals starting January 16 in its bid to increase Chinese trade, investments and tourists, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

Under the new policy, Chinese nationals may enter the Philippines without the requirement of obtaining a visa for a stay of up to 14 days.

“This is in line with the President’s directive to facilitate trade, investments, and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China,” the DFA said in a statement.

Such visa-free entry arrangement will be in effect for one year and will be reviewed accordingly before it expires.

The visa-free privilege will be valid for entry only through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Cebu.

Upon arrival, Chinese nationals need to present a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, confirmed hotel accommodation/booking, and a return or onward ticket to the next country of destination.

“Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines strictly for tourism or business purposes may avail of the new visa-free entry privilege,” the DFA said.

However, the DFA said visas (cannot) be extended beyond the allowable 14-day stay and is non-convertible to any other type of Philippine visa category.

For added context about the potential risks that come with attracting Chinese tourists, watch the video below.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think this new policy by the national government is the right move even though there is tension between Communist China and the Philippines? Does this new policy make the Philippines look very desperate to attract money from Chinese visitors? Are you concerned that criminal activities here in the Philippines will get worse as more Chinese tourists enter the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Vietnam Attracts All-Time High 21.2 Million Foreign Tourist Arrivals In 2025

January 10, 2026January 6, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam, a nation ravaged by war decades ago, has emerged as a major tourism magnet in both Southeast Asia and Asia as a whole after successfully attracting more than twenty-one million foreign tourists in 2025, according to a VnExpress International news report. The figure is a new all-time high. What Vietnam achieved was more than 20% higher than its 2024 foreign tourist numbers. For 2026, Vietnam is aiming high with a target of 25 million foreign visitors.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam welcomed a record number of foreign tourists in 2025 with 21.2 million, up 20.4% from the previous year and the highest ever, according to General Statistics Office.

Mainland China was Vietnam’s biggest source of visitors last year with 5.2 million arrivals, up 41% year-on-year, followed by South Korea with 4.3 million and Taiwan with 1.23 million.

The U.S. ranked fourth with 848,000, followed by Japan with 814,000. The rest of the top 10 were India (746,000), Russia (689,000), Cambodia (687,000), Malaysia (573,000) and Australia (548,000).

Tourism industry insiders attributed Vietnam’s strong performance to visa reforms.

*Foreign tourists welcomed in Vietnam. (photo credit: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism)*

In March the government decided to extend visa exemptions until 2028 for citizens of 12 countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.

In August it waived visa requirements for stays of up to 45 days for citizens of 12 more countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

This expanded the unilateral visa waiver list to 24 countries and the total number including bilateral waivers to 39.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering the strong international tourism momentum it has right now, do you think Vietnam will succeed in attracting 25 million foreign tourists this year? Do you think a lot more visitors from Europe will come to Vietnam this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Chinese National Rescued In Parañaque City, Foreign Suspects Arrested

January 9, 2026January 4, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers rescued a Chinese national and apprehended two foreign suspects, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The police received an emergency call which led to the rescue.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

Police rescued a Chinese national after receiving a 911 emergency call and arrested two of his compatriots who allegedly held him captive in Parañaque City on Dec. 27.

The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the victim as Zhenhai, a Chinese national, who was rescued at around 10:40 p.m. inside a condominium unit in Barangay Don Galo, Parañaque City. The suspects were identified as Haoxin, 38, and France, 37, both Chinese nationals and residents of Pandacan, Manila.

According to police, a duty officer at the Parañaque City Police Station Tactical Operations Center received a call through the 911 emergency hotline reporting that a Chinese national was being held against his will and threatened at gunpoint for allegedly refusing to pay a P25,000 debt, which he claimed he did not owe.

Personnel from the Parañaque City Police Station Niño Substation immediately responded to the report, leading to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the two suspects.

Recovered from the suspects were a 9mm caliber pistol without a serial number, one magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more Chinese nationals kidnapping their fellow people and detaining them within the city? Do you think criminal activities in Parañaque involving Chinese nationals will only get worse over the next six months?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Chinese National Arrested In Parañaque City Over Scam Hub

December 5, 2025November 28, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) found a new scam hub inside a condominium unit and arrested a Chinese nation, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

A Chinese national has been arrested in a reported scam hub in Parañaque City, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said.

In a statement, the NBI identified the foreigner as Li Zhenjie who was arrested last Nov. 21 during the service of a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) by operatives of the bureau’s Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD). It also said that seized were “devices containing critical social engineering scripts.”

Li has been charged before the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office for social engineering schemes in violations of Section 4(b)(1) of Republic Act (RA) No. 12010, the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act, in relation to RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, it added.

The NBI said its application for the issuance of a search warrant was based on confidential information on “a sophisticated scam operating from a condominium unit in Parañaque City.”

It said the information stated that “the perpetrators were using spoofed contact numbers, impersonating agents of the New Haven Police Department in Connecticut, USA, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be a lot more secretive scam operations handled by Chinese nationals within the city? Do you think the suspect could be a spy working for Communist China? What do you think makes Parañaque such an attractive destination for scam operations?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Two Chinese Nationals Arrested By Immigration Agents In Parañaque City

October 14, 2025October 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested two Chinese nationals – one fugitive and the other with a hold departure order from a local court – according to a news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…

A Chinese national wanted in his home country for allegedly duping his victims of over $900,000 through fraudulent investment schemes was recently arrested in Parañaque City, the Bureau of Immigration said on Monday.

The BI’s Fugitive Search Unit collared the 36-year-old suspect during an operation along Aseana Avenue in Barangay Tambo in the evening of Sept. 29. Aside from being a fugitive, the suspect was also found to be an overstaying alien.

The Chinese national is wanted by the Jiutai District Court in Chang Chun City, Jilin Province, China, for illegal absorption of public deposits.

The suspect allegedly conspired with other Chinese nationals in defrauding 6.54 RMB (renminbi) or around $918,603 from 42 investors between 2016 and 2019 by enticing them to put their money in fraudulent investment schemes.

During the same operation, the BI agents also encountered another Chinese national, a 53-year-old man with active derogatory records and is facing a hold departure order from a Parañaque City court.

Both foreigners were taken into custody following booking and documentation procedures and will be turned over to the BI’s Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more Chinese fugitives living secretly in your local community? What do you think makes Parañaque a hot spot of criminal activity involving Chinese nationals?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Chinese National Arrested In Parañaque City For Human Trafficking and Cybercrime

October 7, 2025September 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) apprehended a Chinese national for human trafficking and cybercrime, according to a news report by the Daily Tribune.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…

The National Bureau of Investigation-Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) arrested a Chinese national identified as Wang Gang, alias Kelvin Lee, in a hotel in Parañaque City for violating Republic Act No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), as amended by R.A. No. 10364 and R.A. No. 11862, in relation to R.A. No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

The operation stemmed from an intelligence report identifying “Kelvin Lee” as being engaged in human trafficking activities, particularly the sexual exploitation of women. Lee was reportedly offering women to foreigners for sexual favors at ₱20,000 per night.

NBI-CCD agents, together with an informant, contacted Lee through social media. During the exchange, Lee confirmed that he was offering women for sexual services at rates ranging from ₱25,000 to ₱70,000. He later agreed to meet poseur customers at a Parañaque hotel, where he promised to deliver two Vietnamese women for ₱35,000 each, demanding a ₱5,000 downpayment to finalize the transaction.

On September 25, 2025, NBI-CCD agents positioned themselves near the agreed meeting place. When the poseur customers arrived, they were met by a Chinese national later identified as Wang. With him were two Vietnamese women.

Wang escorted the group to a hotel unit and, after receiving the entrapment money, was immediately placed under arrest by NBI-CCD operatives. The operation also led to the rescue of two Vietnamese trafficking victims.

The suspect was presented for inquest proceedings for the cited violations.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you considered that human trafficking and prostitution involving Chinese nationals are still being done secretly in the city? What do you think makes Parañaque a hot spot for criminal activities involving Chinese nationals?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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