Simplified visa processing for cruise visitors to the Philippines, and more news

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, officials are optimistic that the simplified visa processing for cruise visitors to the Philippines will boost tourism there. In other headlines, renters are favouring larger dwellings despite rental affordability deteriorating in Australia. Finally, how China has recently been amassing resources has alarmed some US observers.

DOJ: Cruise visa waiver will be a key factor in boosting tourism to the Philippines

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is optimistic that the simplified visa processing for cruise visitors crafted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will boost tourism in the country.

In a statement on 19th July, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Cruise Visa Waiver program “will definitely be a key factor in boosting the country’s tourism economy.”

PNA reports that the Cruise Visa Waiver Program seeks to provide cruise ship tourists with an accessible, secure and efficient entry process to the Philippines, and was implemented under Immigration Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001 which was approved by Remulla on 14th March 2024.

Renters opt for Australian properties with more bedrooms amid cost of living squeeze

Rental affordability continues to deteriorate in Australia. However, new data from CoreLogic shows renters are starting to favour larger dwellings. A slight slowdown in net overseas migration might also be a driving factor slowing demand for smaller, inner-city units.

CoreLogic’s newly launched bedroom count metric – which analyses housing market performance segmented by the number of bedrooms – reveals a slowdown in rental growth for dwellings with fewer bedrooms, according to The Real Estate Conversation report.

For houses, rents increased 8.4 percent nationally in the year to June, and this ranged from a 7.6 percent rise in houses with up to two bedrooms to 8.7 percent in larger houses with five bedrooms or more.

Readying for war or being prepared for crises? China’s stockpiling of resources raises eyebrows and questions

What do grain, oil, copper, cobalt and iron ore have in common?

They’re but some of the key resources and minerals China has recently been amassing, according to media reports, in an alleged pattern of behaviour that has blared red for some observers and rival superpower the United States. Chief of which is Washington’s concern that Beijing’s hoarding could be a precursor to war – specifically over Taiwan which it claims as its territory – as singled out during a hearing last month by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

While Beijing understandably keeps its cards close to its chest, analysts CNA spoke to believe preparation for war is but one piece of the overall stockpiling puzzle – and even then, it’s likely low on the priority list.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].