If you’re looking for a refreshing way to get your steps in, here’s an idea: go on holiday to a city made for walking. Because what’s better than staying fit and getting your heart rate up, all while exploring a new city with a front-row seat to local life, hidden corners, and moments you’d probably miss in a taxi? And if you need help picking the right spot, Skyscanner’s got you covered – the travel platform recently crunched the numbers to reveal the top nine most walkable cities in Asia, perfect for your next adventure on foot.

To put the list together, Skyscanner started by analysing flight data to identify 30 up-and-coming city break destinations outside of America, with a focus on lesser-known spots that are not only worth visiting but also easy to explore on foot. From there, they evaluated 14 different factors to determine just how walkable each city really is.

These included the walking distance between major attractions, the total steps and time it would take to explore them, and the number of walking trails available in and around the city.

They also considered average elevation, as well as population density, crime and safety levels, air quality, and pollution. Finally, they looked at how many attractions you could realistically fit into your itinerary without having to rely on transport.

Leading the list are two beautiful cities in Japan – Nagasaki, a scenic city with its harbour surrounded by terraced buildings on rolling hills, and Hiroshima, a dynamic urban hub located by a river.

Must-see attractions include the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park respectively.

In third place is one that Skyscanner raves about: Siem Reap, a charming city in Cambodia that’s not just a base for visiting Angkor Wat, but also has a lot to offer on its own, with plenty of sights to explore within the city.

Highlights include Theam’s Gallery, the Angkor National Museum, and the Made in Cambodia Market. Siem Reap also scored well on the walkability index, with a low population density of just 98 people per square kilometre.

Here are the top 9 most walkable cities in Asia in 2025, according to Skyscanner:

1. Nagasaki, Japan

2. Hiroshima, Japan

3. Siem Reap, Cambodia

4. Sendai, Japan

5. Haiphong, Vietnam

6. Panglao, Bohol, Philippines

7. Thiruvananthapuram, India

8. Coimbatore, India

9. Macau, China

Source: Time Out

SINGAPORE: Flying cars could soon become a reality as one Chinese electric vehicle (EV) company announces plans to begin mass production by 2026.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Two Sessions meetings held in Beijing, He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Guangzhou-based EV maker Xpeng, shared his plans and vision to develop flying vehicles.

“We are integrating vehicle control with AI to develop a new flight control system into such flying cars – making it safer and more user-friendly,” He said.

“The Xpeng Aeroht ‘Land Aircraft Carrier’ (LAC) flying car stands out as a highlight, marking a new chapter in China’s aviation landscape and offering a Chinese perspective on the development of the global low-altitude economy,” the company said in a statement issued last November.

Described as the world’s “only car capable of storing an aircraft (two-seat passenger drone) in its trunks” – the drone is constructed with lightweight carbon fibre and features
expansive cockpit flight views.

It made its first public flight debut at the 2024 China Airshow held in Zhuhai city last November followed by its international debut months later in January at the CES electronics show in Las Vegas.

Drivers, or pilots, can simply park the six-wheeler vehicle at a take-off site, detach the drone, and board the aircraft component. From there, they can navigate the rest of their journey by air, cutting travel time and improving access to remote areas.

In addition to flying cars, He also mentioned grand investment plans for humanoid robots, which could go up to 100 billion yuan (US$13.8 billion).

“Xpeng has been working in the humanoid robot industry for five years, may continue to be in the business for another 20 years (and) invest in an additional 50 billion yuan and even 100 billion yuan,” He
said.

The company unveiled its Iron humanoid robot in last November to rival US giant Tesla’s Tesla Bot.

Source: CNA

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) on Wednesday blamed the government’s ongoing austerity measures for the declining occupancy rates that have plagued the hospitality sector since the beginning of the year.

PHRI Secretary-General Maulana Yusran said that many hotels rely heavily on bookings from government institutions, which contribute between 40 to 60 percent of total revenue for most establishments.

“In some regions, government-related bookings account for up to 80 percent of hotel revenue,” Maulana said in Jakarta. “The government’s efficiency campaign has significantly impacted the hospitality industry, as ministries, state agencies, and even local governments have scaled back public events.”

According to PHRI estimates, the national hotel occupancy rate fell to around 20 percent last month, down sharply from 40 to 60 percent during the same month in the previous year.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showed that during the January–February period, the national hotel occupancy rate stood at 37.77 percent, a modest decline of 0.51 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

The hospitality industry has long relied on MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) activities — particularly those funded by the government — as a key revenue stream.

However, President Prabowo Subianto’s recently announced cost-cutting drive, aimed at saving over Rp 300 trillion in government spending, has led to strict curbs on non-essential travel, seminars, and meetings by state officials and agencies.

Adding to the sector’s woes, Maulana noted that waning consumer purchasing power has further discouraged travel and leisure spending.

“We’re seeing signs that people are holding back on recreational expenses,” he said.

Source: Jakarta Globe

Once a collection of sleepy fishing villages, vast Chinese investments have transformed Cambodia’s Sihanoukville into a half-finished gambling resort with signs everywhere in Mandarin.

China is the largest investor and trading partner in Cambodia, much of it directed towards the Gulf of Thailand port, a key strategic location in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by leader Xi Jinping, who arrives in the country Thursday.

“Sihanoukville changes year-on-year,” said Xiaofan, a Chinese tourist visiting friends who started businesses.

“This year I came back and it was entirely a Chinese city. There are so many Chinese people.”

According to the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration, the area boasts a GDP per capita of $4,000 — around double the Cambodian average — driven largely by a Chinese-run manufacturing hub.

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is a symbol of the Cambodia-China relationship, says provincial vice-governor Long Dimanche, who was sanguine about the prospect of his city becoming little more than a casino boomtown.

“For me, whatever,” he told AFP. “Look at Macau, look at Las Vegas.”

He says Sihanoukville welcomed investment from anyone, on a first come, first served basis.

“Cambodia is a small country. We don’t have any choice.”

Cranes from Chinese construction firms swing around on the coastline frantically building a luxury seafront shopping resort, Peninsula Bay.

A project representative described the developer as a “Chinese-Cambodian” company and said it was designed to “make Sihanoukville great again”.

Source: AFP