Asian countries including Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam are accelerating efforts to upgrade airport infrastructure alongside recent visa policy relaxations to boost their tourism competitiveness.
Singapore’s Changi Airport last week broke ground on its fifth terminal, expected to become operational in the mid-2030s, The Straits Times reported.
The 1,080-hectare terminal will increase the airport’s annual capacity from 90 million passengers to 140 million.
In Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City last month opened its VND11-trillion (US$430 million) domestic Terminal 3, which is designed to serve up to 20 million passengers annually.
Vietnam Airlines moved all its domestic flights to the new terminal on Saturday.
The country is also getting Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai Province, next door to HCMC.
Its first phase, slated for completion in 2026, will have one runway, a passenger terminal and supporting infrastructure, and a capacity of 25 million passengers a year.
It will replace Tan Son Nhat as Vietnam’s largest aviation hub.
Thailand has also made significant strides. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport opened its third runway in September 2024 after the launch of a new satellite terminal the previous year, CNBC reported.
Thai authorities have announced plans to further expand eastward by 2027 to boost capacity.
In South Korea, Incheon International Airport completed its fourth phase of expansion in December 2024, increasing its capacity from 77 million passengers a year to 106 million.
To further encourage tourism, the country will waive visas for Chinese visitors from the third quarter of this year.
Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand have all eased visa requirements for foreign tourists in recent months, signaling a broader regional push to attract travelers.