SINGAPORE, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thai travelers are increasingly embracing extended overseas stays, according to accommodation search data from digital travel platform Agoda. For stays of 30 nights or longer, Da Nang, Bali, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Seoul ranked among the most-searched overseas destinations.

The findings highlight how flexible working arrangements are reshaping travel habits, giving people greater freedom to choose when and where they work. As a result, travelers are no longer viewing travel as an escape from work, but instead are integrating work into the lifestyles they want, fueling the growth of longer stays and the rise of “bleisure” travel. These destinations are increasingly attracting month-long stays thanks to their combination of affordability, quality infrastructure, and appealing lifestyle offerings. For Thai travelers exploring the possibility of longer stays abroad, affordability, lifestyle, and reliable infrastructure appear to be just as important as traditional sightseeing attractions. Based on Agoda accommodation searches for stays of 30 nights or longer, Da Nang leads travel interest, reflecting its appeal as a destination that combines low living costs, modern amenities, and easy access to both beaches and city life. Bali remains a perennial favourite among digital nomads, thanks to its established co-working ecosystem and wellness-driven lifestyle, while Tokyo continues to attract strong interest for its world-class infrastructure and seamless connectivity. Kuala Lumpur is also gaining momentum, offering value for money alongside modern urban conveniences. Ho Chi Minh City and Seoul complete the top six, highlighting growing interest in destinations that balance affordability, culture, and quality of life.

The trend is equally evident in searches for long stays in Thailand. Accommodation search data for stays of 30 nights or more shows coastal and island destinations amongst the most popular rankings, reflecting strong interest in places that offer a better work-life balance alongside natural surroundings. Pattaya ranks first, with its combination of beachfront living, urban conveniences, and proximity to Bangkok making it an appealing option for extended stays. Phuket and Koh Samui follow closely behind, supported by strong international connectivity, established expatriate communities, and a broad range of accommodation options, from hotel to villas. Meanwhile, Hua Hin and Cha-am continue to attract attention from travelers seeking a more relaxed seaside lifestyle within easy reach of the capital.

Thailand’s southern islands also feature prominently in long-stay accommodation searches. Krabi, Koh Pha-ngan, Koh Tao, and Koh Lanta all rank among the most searched destinations, underscoring growing interest in locations that combine lifestyle appeal with the flexibility to work remotely. Koh Pha-ngan has evolved beyond its Full Moon Party reputation to become increasingly associated with wellness and digital nomad communities, while Koh Tao has climbed the rankings year-on-year, buoyed by its renowned diving scene and laid-back atmosphere.

Beyond the south, Koh Chang’s jungle-covered landscapes and slower pace of life have helped it emerge as an appealing alternative to Thailand’s more developed island destinations. Khao Lak and Rayong round out the top 15 most-searched destinations, reinforcing a broader trend in long-stay accommodation searches: travelers are increasingly drawn to locales that offer coastal living, lifestyle quality, and the flexibility to blend work and leisure from one location.

Akaporn Rodkong, Country Director, Thailand and Indochina at Agoda said: “The line between work and travel is becoming increasingly blurred as flexible working arrangements give people more freedom over when and where they work. Our data shows Thai travelers searching for longer stays in overseas cities that offer a compelling mix of lifestyle, affordability, and infrastructure, while international travelers exploring extended stays in Thailand continue to gravitate toward the country’s islands and coastal destinations. At Agoda, we’re committed to making it easy for travelers to discover the right stay for this evolving way of traveling, whether they’re working remotely, taking an extended break, or blending both.”

For those looking to reimagine their next trip through a bleisure lens, offers over 6 million holiday properties worldwide, alongside more than 300,000 experiences and over 130,000 flight routes. Whether working remotely for a month or simply extending a stay to experience a destination more deeply, travelers can find everything they need to plan their next extended trip at www.agoda.com or the Agoda app.

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SOURCE Agoda

One State, One Approval, One Document | 75-day time-bound process for investments above ₹25 crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan today announced ‘SARAL Keralam – Simplified and Accelerated Regulatory Approvals and Licensing’, a major reform to simplify and accelerate statutory approvals for investment projects in Keralam.

Approved by the Cabinet, SARAL Keralam is based on the principle of ‘One State, One Approval, One Document’ and will establish a single statutory mechanism for final approval of eligible investment projects. The Chief Minister said the reform would simplify procedures, reduce delays and make state’s investment environment more predictable.

The mechanism will cover investments above ₹25 crore. Projects above ₹25 crore and up to ₹50 crore will be considered at the District level, while projects above ₹50 crore will come under the State-level mechanism. The State-level Approval Committee will be chaired by the Chief Secretary and the District-level Committee by the District Collector.

75 DAYS FOR FINAL APPROVAL

A maximum processing period of 75 days will be prescribed from submission of a complete application to final approval. This includes 10 days for preliminary scrutiny, 30 days for technical scrutiny, 15 days for appraisal and consolidation, and 20 days for the final decision. An Integrated Enterprise Clearance Certificate will be issued immediately after approval.

SARAL Keralam will be a one-stop mechanism for statutory approvals, rather than merely recommendations. Necessary amendments to the relevant Acts and Rules will transfer final approval authority to the State- and District-level Committees and simplify technical procedures.

A key feature is clear responsibility and accountability for departmental officers involved in appraisal and approval. Amendments to the Kerala State Service Rules are proposed to enable disciplinary action for delays, inaction, failure to act or a negative attitude in the discharge of duties.

At the same time, Departments will retain their technical scrutiny and inspection responsibilities. The framework will not dilute safeguards relating to safety, environmental protection, employee welfare or public health. There will be no deemed approval, and existing departmental mechanisms will continue for investments outside the specified categories.

The framework will also provide an appeal mechanism against rejection decisions and is intended to significantly reduce the regulatory burden associated with investment approvals.

₹25,700 CRORE INVESTMENT AFFECTED BY DELAYS

The reform seeks to address prolonged delays in investment approvals. KSIDC is monitoring 73 major investment projects, of which 47 remain stalled due to delays in statutory approvals and clearances. These projects represent investments of more than ₹25,700 crore and have the potential to generate approximately 88,000 employment opportunities.

The Chief Minister noted that some investment proposals have remained pending for five to seven years, and said SARAL Keralam is a major step towards bringing investments to Keralam by making approval procedures faster and simpler.

The Cabinet has approved the necessary statutory framework, including amendments to 19 existing laws, following detailed consultations with the concerned Departments and agencies.

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CEO Kwak Noh-Jung and key executives, alongside global VCs and startup leaders, attend the inaugural ‘SK hynix Ventures Day’ in Silicon ValleyCompany to expand investments across the entire AI ecosystemDiscussing strategies to strengthen partnerships with global venture firms and investors in future technology fields such as AI data centers and optical-based systems

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SK hynix Inc. (or “the company”, www.skhynix.com) announced today the launch of its corporate venture capital (CVC) brand, “SK hynix Ventures,” aimed at expanding strategic partnerships within the global AI ecosystem and securing future innovative technologies.

To mark the occasion, SK hynix held the inaugural “SK hynix Ventures Day” in Silicon Valley, where executives shared investment strategies with global venture capitalists and startup representatives while discussing future technological cooperation to respond to shifts in the AI industry.

The event was attended by CEO Kwak Noh-Jung and key executive leadership, alongside representatives from global VC firms and executives from leading startups.

Expanding Beyond Tech Sensing to Become a Strategic Partner in the AI Ecosystem

Since 2015, SK hynix has operated a CVC organization, pursuing both direct investments and indirect investments via fund commitments in promising early-stage startups within the semiconductor and emerging tech sectors. By investing in enterprises across key regions including the U.S., China, Israel, and Japan, the company has achieved returns exceeding twice its cumulative investment to date. Furthermore, it has accumulated a track record of discovering new supply chains and customers by pursuing technological collaborations—such as joint equipment development and Proof of Concept (PoC)—with portfolio companies.

While past CVC activities focused primarily on “Tech Sensing” to explore future technology trends and “Path Finding” to discover new business opportunities, the company now plans to expand its CVC scope. Driven by recent advancements in AI technology and industry expansion, the role will evolve from simply discovering promising companies to leading collaborative innovation across the entire ecosystem.

Discussing Cooperation in AI Computing, Data Centers, and Optical Interconnect

Through SK hynix Ventures, the company plans to broaden its investment scope from traditional semiconductors and emerging tech to the broader AI ecosystem. SK hynix aims to discover technologies and companies with high growth potential in core AI industry sectors—including AI computing, data centers, system software, and optical interconnect—and continually expand its CVC investments.

Meanwhile, the event was attended by promising startups in the U.S. AI computing and data center technology sectors. These companies shared perspectives on future technological innovations, discussing the growing importance of computing, memory, and system software innovations driven by advanced AI models, alongside the performance and power efficiency of optical-based systems for AI data centers.

“Competitiveness in the AI era stems not just from rapidly securing innovative technologies, but from ecosystem capabilities where customers, partners, and startups create new value together,” said Kwak Noh-Jung, CEO of SK hynix. “Through SK hynix Ventures, we will support the growth of promising companies and grow into a global partner that jointly designs the future of AI infrastructure based on strategic investments and technological cooperation.”

About SK hynix Inc.
SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world’s top-tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips (“DRAM”) and flash memory chips (“NAND flash”) for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company’s common shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, its American Depositary Shares are traded on NASDAQ, and its Global Depository Shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.

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SOURCE SK hynix Inc.