Tourists keep social distancing as they wait to extend their visa at Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, March 27, 2020. /AP
From the sun-soaked beaches of Thailand to the foothills of Mount Qomolangma, tourists across Asia are finding their dream vacations have turned into travel nightmares as airlines cancel flights and countries close their borders in the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands of tourists escaping cold weather in Europe were scrambling this week to find alternative ways to return home from the Thai island of Phuket in the Andaman Sea.
Ksenia Vostriakova and her friends were scheduled to fly back to Moscow on an April 3 Singapore Airlines flight, but it was among those canceled when the airline slashed its operations. They have booked a flight on Qatar Airways for April 6 and are hoping nothing else changes.
"Now we're really worried that this flight also might be canceled," Vostriakova said, adding that their Thai visas run out in mid-April. "We might still stay here because everything changes."
Thailand went under a state of emergency this week as the government gives itself new powers to deal with the virus crisis. The country, which last year welcomed 39 million tourists, announced it was closing its borders to nearly all foreigners. Its national airline, Thai Airways, said it was suspending almost all of its flights.
Mount Qomolangma. /VCG
Hundreds of trekkers are stranded on high-altitude trekking trails across Nepal due to a nationwide lockdown designed to contain the coronavirus spread.
The Nepal government imposed its one-week lockdown from 6 a.m. March 24 to 6 a.m. March 31. That means except for food transport vehicles and ambulances, all public and private vehicles are not allowed on the streets. All domestic flights were also suspended.
According to CNN's report, there are about 500 foreign trekkers on at least four trekking routes unable to return due to the lockdown.
The Nepal Tourism Board has set up a "Stranded in Nepal" website, Twitter, and WhatsApp for those stuck to keep in touch and relay information about their conditions and needs.
"All the stranded tourists will be rescued, kept safely for self isolation and facilitated for their safe journey back home," Yogesh Bhattarai, minister of culture, tourism and civil aviation, said in a statement.
By Friday, 137 tourists had been rescued from different parts of the country, according to a statement posted to the Nepal Tourism Board's website, but there were more still stranded.
The British embassy in Kathmandu asked its citizens in Nepal who are looking to return to the UK to send their details to staff. "We're working closely with carriers and authorities to try to find a solution, and will contact you ASAP," tweeted the embassy.
A screenshot of a tweet by Nepal's Department of Tourism on March 13.
The Indian Ocean island nation of Sri Lanka said that it was ready to help an estimated 18,000 tourists return home either via scheduled flights that are still operating or special charters if required. The country is under a nationwide curfew until at least next week.
In Indonesia, more than 2,500 foreign tourists were stranded in Bali, the most famous of the country's more than 17,000 islands. The government has granted all tourists automatic visa extensions, a move made after long lines formed at immigration offices.
(With input from AP)