Happy Anniversary to us. Launched on 9 January 2020, The South East Asia Travel Show has reached the 200 episodes milestone. This week, Gary and Hannah reflect on the key travel and tourism issues from the past four years, a large chunk of which was clouded by the pandemic. Within one month of launching, the WHO classified the Novel Coronavirus as a global health emergency, and two months later declared a pandemic. Despite covering travel during a period when very little travel was actually happening in the region, we've been able to interview experts from 18 different countries in South East Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. We've also covered diverse topics ranging from Ethical Travel to Concert Tourism, Travel Sandboxes to Vaccinated Travel Lanes, and Travel Filmmaking to Tourism Transformation Planning. Along the way, the show has grown its international reach. So far in 2024, our podcast has been downloaded in 73 countries, from the US to India, Thailand to Brazil, Turkey to Ukraine and Morocco to New Zealand. So, please join us to look back across a rollercoaster four-year ride, and our thoughts about the regional travel outlook for 2024 and beyond.

Bali has bounced back impressively over the past year for international and domestic arrivals - but will that momentum endure as regional competition intensifies in 2024? This week, Bali introduces the International Tourism Levy, which must be paid in addition to the visa-on-arrival fee. Could this impact tourist numbers? To help us piece together the details and discuss the tourism outlook, Gary and Hannah welcome back Simona Chimenti and Melina Caruso of the Bali Hotels Association. We recap Bali's vital statistics from 2023 and the top visitor markets, plus we look at efforts to encourage Indonesian travellers in specific segments to stay local rather than head overseas. We analyse the current status of two mega-markets, India and China, touch on new flight services and key issues such as booking windows and seasonality. Plus, when and how do visitors pay the International Tourism Levy? What's the latest news about the proposed Bali railway? And what steps are hotels taking to tackle plastic trash and food waste across the island?

This week, multi-Grammy-winning Taylor Swift kicks off her Asia tour in Tokyo ahead of dates in Melbourne, Sydney and six sold-out shows in Singapore. Music tourism is a hot emerging trend in Asia, with destinations like Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Macau, Bangkok, Jakarta and Hong Kong competing to attract shows by Asian and global megastars. So, what happens next? Could Concert Tickets & Events Travel Packages become a new category on OTA and SuperApp platforms alongside hotels, flights and car rentals? Might payment brands become pop ticket distributors? Does the event ticketing model need to change – and, if so, what are some of the potential scenarios for the travel industry? Gary and Hannah are joined by Martin Haigh, Sales Director of Total Ticketing, which is a supplier of live event ticketing software to travel agents, attractions, integrated resorts, stadiums and B2C ticketing companies. We discuss the mechanics of concert and sports event tourism, potential disruption to the sales channels for music concerts and major events - and the reasons why so many Taylor Swift fans missed out on their dream ticket.     

The 2023 visitor arrivals and airport passenger statistics are published, and the gloves are off. As the region prepares for a vibrant Lunar New Year travel season, 2024 is set to be the most shape-shifting year for travel since 2019. So, how has South East Asia started the year in travel and tourism terms? Gary and Hannah discuss January’s Top 8 talking points, which include bilateral visa-free travel agreements with China, proposals for a "seamless ASEAN" and a "single ASEAN airline", plus a national MICE Sustainability certification. We also discuss the variable forecasts for visitor arrivals in 2024 and shifting post-Covid patterns of competition among Asia Pacific's four largest airports. Plus, we assess the origin and curtailment of a significant tax hike that caused uproar across Indonesia's tourism industry.

Boosted by a population surpassing 100 million, Vietnam counts one of the region’s fastest growing travel and aviation markets. To assess the outlook for tourism in 2024, Gary and Hannah welcome back Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter. We begin by recapping the 2023 recovery for inbound, outbound and domestic travel, and dissect the top visitor markets. We discuss the challenges for the air market, particularly with high prices irking domestic passengers and the financial struggles of Bamboo Airways. Transport infrastructure remains a hot topic. We assess the progress of new airport developments in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces, and the latest status of the much-hyped North-South high-speed railway. Plus, we talk overdevelopment in Phu Quoc, environmental management in Halong Bay, and why Japan is such a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists. 

As we begin the second full calendar year of travel and tourism in South East Asia since the pandemic, it’s time to look ahead at what 2024 might offer. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss their Top 10 list of travel and tourism wishes, expectations and forecasts for 2024. It’s going to a be competitive and challenging year, but scratching beneath the surface what are the critical issues to be addressed? We expect visa waivers will be a key destination battleground, ponder whether ASEAN should create a statistical standard for benchmarking tourist arrivals and talk tough on Revenge Travel and Generative AI. We analyse the transformative impacts of climate change and extreme weather for travel across the region, and address the 'Say-Do' sustainability gap for Asian travellers. Plus, why is the Weekend Economy a topic of interest to watch in 2024, and could Thailand enjoy a signifiant diversity boost for tourism this year?

The first full calendar year of travel and tourism in South East Asia since the pandemic is almost complete. And what a dramatic 12 months it has been. To take stock, Gary and Hannah have created a list of the Top 10 travel and tourism talking points in South East Asia and beyond in 2023. Our review of the year journeys from Indonesia to China, via Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. En route, we discuss the region's first high-speed railway, the return of visa waivers and a ban on short-term rentals. We assess why three island destinations in the region are struggling to recover and the shifting travel payments landscape. Plus, we tap into music tourism and a boost for hotel bookings by the Time Person of the Year, and Malaysia's late-year statistical surprise. 

Just back from Jakarta and Hanoi, respectively, Gary and Hannah can confirm that South East Asian airports are getting busier as the end-of-year travel season nears. So, it's the perfect time to revisit some key tourism themes in 2023 with Bangkok-based travel journalist Vincent Vichit-Vadakan. Vincent was last on the show in April 2022, when the regional outlook was very different. This year, he has travelled on assignment to over 25 destinations including Singapore and Vietnam on various occasions, plus China, Nepal and Maldives. We discuss the current tourism landscape in Thailand, and the explosive international growth of a Bangkok-based hotel brand. We tackle infrastructure challenges for tourism in Vietnam, talk sustainable hotel development in Singapore, discover outdoor experiences along the Tea Horse Trail in China's Yunnan Province and explore Kyoto as tourism returns to Japan. Plus, which airports in South East Asia are operating more effectively than others? And why is Soft Power set to be a tourism battleground in 2024?

From 9 to 4 trillion. South East Asia its awash with travel stats. Figures and percentages garner extra importance as we near the year end, and the travel industry plans ahead for 2024. This week, Gary and Hannah go behind the scenes of statistical storytelling, and uncover some fascinating travel and tourism talking points. En route, we travel to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam via Singapore, the Philippines, China and Japan. Key issues discussed from a statistical perspective include the current state of ASEAN's aviation recovery and the tapering of domestic travel in certain markets. Plus, how high is the potential value of 'Soft Power Tourism' in Thailand? and how much is being invested in non-casino attractions in Singapore and Macau? And which 4 South East Asian nations are among Japan's Top 10 inbound markets in 2023, and in which country are 9 new airlines readying for take-off?

Could Brunei become a regional aviation hub connecting China and South East Asia? And how might AI, humanoid simulants and an apocalyptic sci-fi landscape boost movie tourism in Thailand? This week, Gary and Hannah have created a list of 8 travel developments that may not make major headlines, but are still highly interesting. These  tourism talking points that snuck under the radar take us from Singapore to Brunei, Indonesia to China and Thailand to Japan. En route, we discuss a start-up airline that plans to fly Chinese-made passenger jets, the story of a shattered glass tourism bridge in Indonesia and a proposed tourism theme park on the border between Thailand, Laos and China. Plus we tackle a new tourism and trade agreement between Japan and the Philippines, and address the aviation and arrivals slowdown in Singapore. Is this a barometer for the rest of South East Asia?

So, we are on the final stretch for 2023 - with 10 months down, 2 to go. While this historically marks a busy part of the calendar for travel in South East Asia, it’s also a time when jitters start setting in for the new year ahead. So where are we at? This week, Gary and Hannah discuss October’s Top 8 travel talking points, which take us from Thailand to Indonesia, Malaysia to Vietnam and Cambodia to the Philippines. En route, we discuss the latest arrivals figures and an interesting UNWTO tourism measurement pilot programme in the Philippines. Two regional airlines collapsed in October and another is preparing to list on the Nasdaq. Meanwhile, are slumping currencies starting to impact tourism activity? Plus, Indonesia launched WHOOSH, South East Asia's first high-speed railway, and Cambodia inaugurated a new international airport. Finally, what do the “Two Countries, One Destination” and “Three Countries, One Destination” taglines refer to - and to whom do they matter more, politicians or travellers?     .

"AI will fundamentally change the way people travel, the way OTAs work and how hotels have to adapt. We are still in the very early stages." Golden Week is behind us, and travel players are looking ahead to hotel bookings, rates and revenues for the end-of-year tourism season and Lunar New Year. So it’s a great time for Gary and Hannah to welcome Vikram Malhi, Founder and CEO of Singapore-based Zuzu Hospitality to the show. Vikram worked for leading OTAs before setting up his own company, which supports independent hotels to manage all aspects related to payments, revenues and online distribution. We discuss the hotel sector rebound in key markets like Bangkok, Phuket, Jakarta and Bali. And, we assess the outlook for Chinese tourism into South East Asia, and the impressive expansion of India's outbound market. Plus, we tackle the next phase of development of AI solutions for OTAs and hotels, and the ongoing resource challenges across the hospitality industry. Finally, as we move towards wrapping up 2023, what might be some of the key industry trends in 2024?

3. 23. 150,000. 17.9 million. 34 million. 80%. Numbers and statistics carry extra weight in South East Asia as we enter the fourth quarter, which is peak travel season in many countries and arrivals counting gets highly competitive. So what do those numbers relate to? This week, Gary and Hannah analyse the 8 top talking points from September - and the meaning of each figure is revealed during the show. The monthly round up takes us from Singapore to the Philippines via Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia. En route, we discuss proposed new airports, an upbeat destination marketing video, the timeline for a new tourism tax and a flag carrier's catering woes. Plus, we discuss movies in China that have caused fears about scams and fraud in South East Asia and new inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

"The rates are not likely to drop from here." South East Asian hotel economics are changing since countries reopened - or are they? This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the outlook for the hotel sector in South East Asia and Asia Pacific with Jesper Palmqvist, Senior Director, Asia Pacific, at STR CoStar. We discuss the different drivers shaping room rates, occupancies and RevPar, as well as costs, productivity and profits, in cities and coastal areas across the region. Is business travel demand recovering? Will we see an expansion of 'Compression Nights"? Are pre-pandemic seasonality factors still relevant for hotels, or are new factors in play? How is the strength of domestic travel impacting hotel operator bottom lines? Is the gradual return of Chinese group travel likely to impact rates and occupancies in hotspot markets? What are the developmental challenges in second- and third-tier cities? Are sustainability data points playing a stronger role in hotel transactions? And, as governments scale up transport infrastructure investment, what will be the hotel pipeline trends to watch in 2024?

Australia counts one of Asia Pacific's most fascinating visitor economies. It combines vibrant inbound, outbound and domestic leisure and business travel segments with large international education, VFR and working holiday components. One in 7 businesses in Australia is related to tourism. So, how is Australia recovering from Covid-19, and how is it planning ahead for the rest of the decade, and beyond? This week, Gary and Hannah welcome Samantha Palmer, General Manager of Visitor Economy and Client Programs, at the Australian Trade & Investment Commission (AusTrade), to discuss the Thrive 2030 tourism strategy. Sam talks about the International Diversification Strategy for the Visitor Economy, which sets new benchmarks and targets for Australia's 15 key inbound markets and fast-growing emerging markets. We also discuss the importance of travellers from China and South East Asia, and the unfolding opportunities and challenge in this complex new travel era. Plus, Sam outlines the high degree of detailed research and industry collaboration underpinning Australia's goal of achieving a full visitor economy recovery by 2025 - and building new resilience for the future.    detail with Sam on today’s show

From 4.4 million to 15.4 million. Thailand is way out in front in South East Asia for year-to-date visitors in 2023 vs 2022. Two-thirds through 2023, Gary and Hannah look back to compare the progress for visitor arrivals in 7 ASEAN nations. We also discuss 8 other key talking points from August, as the summer holiday season subsides and the region prepares for the Chinese Golden Week in October. En route, we discuss new developments in ASEAN's cross-border payments programme, and assess the outlook in Thailand as a new Prime Minister vows to prioritise tourism. We question why visa challenges still endure in some countries long after the region reopened for travel. Plus, will Japan's new LCC create more travel to or from Thailand when it launches its first route to Bangkok in early 2024? Finally, we ask how Bhutan's halving of its Sustainable Development Fee for visitors could impact tourism pricing in South East Asia. Is there a breakpoint whereby tourists say "No, we are not prepared to pay that" for sustainable travel experiences?

"This is a South East Asian festival. It will be a mouthpiece for us to develop the vocabulary that surrounds South East Asian cooking, food culture and, moving forward, South East Asian restaurants." This week, Gary is joined by Leisa Tyler and Darren Teoh, co-founders of the Kita Food Festival - which this year celebrates its third anniversary in Malaysia and Singapore. Leisa is a Malaysia-based food and travel journalist and founder of Weeds&More, which supplies heirloom produce to hotels and restaurants. Darren is Head Chef of one-Michelin starred Dewakan restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.  The festival takes place in four destinations, Kuching, Penang, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, from 27 September-30 October. It brings together innovative chefs in each city with counterparts from around the region. It also provides a platform to discuss key issues, such as biodiversity, carbon impact, food security and managing waste. Leisa and Darren discuss the highlights of this year's festival, plans for future expansion and nurturing the next generation of chefs in the region. Plus, we tackle key hospitality issues, such as ingredient sourcing, innovation and the growing Michelin star influence on food tourism and dining in Asia. Is it a help or a hindrance to developing sustainable culinary scenes representing place and culture?    

South East Asia is abuzz with talk of Tourism Taylornomics as Singapore prepares for the billion-dollar Eras Tour to arrive. Coldplay are also headed to the region, Blackpink are filling soccer stadiums and fans await news of Beyonce's 2024 tour destinations. Pop Music Tourism is the region's breakout story of 2023. The economic windfall for airlines, hotels and tours and experiences players is enormous - as is the boost for destination branding. After Blackpink's recent Hanoi shows, a city official sent the band a letter to thank them for enhancing the capital's image "as a peaceful, safe and friendly destination". Meanwhile, The Weeknd is producing a Halloween-themed musical show in Singapore, and scores of K-pop bands are escaping the shadow of BTS to draw large crowds. Plus, we discuss a jazz festival in Jakarta (with stages sponsored by a hotel group and a tourism board), performances by Indian stars in KL - and the social media fallout when things go wrong, as recently happened with The 1975's festival performance in Malaysia. And we take a quick tour to North East Asia, where festivals in Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan are drawing huge crowds of concertgoers from home and abroad. 

July, the seventh month of 2023, proved another busy period along South East Asia’s road to a travel and tourism recovery. This week, Hannah and Gary chat through the Top 8 travel talking points in July. The journey unwinds from Thailand to Singapore, Bali to Kuala Lumpur, Japan to Cambodia and China to Saudi Arabia. We discuss the half-year arrivals in each country, the Top 10 airlines in the region and the three nations comprising almost two-thirds of South East Asia's total airline capacity. We look at the variance on the new Henley Passport Index, which revealed a large spectrum from Singapore (ranked #1 worldwide) and Myanmar (#90). Plus, what's the travel outlook for China's October Golden Week? Should all countries develop a 'Saudi Arabia Strategy' for inbound and outbound travel? And what factors are shaping Thailand's 'Tourism Deficit' with Japan?

"We are hitting milestone after milestone at the moment." It's exactly three years since Maldives became one of the first countries in Asia Pacific to reopen for tourism during the pandemic. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director of Visit Maldives, to discuss the challenges of the reopening process, and a successful three years since. In 2020, Maldives enticed a creditable 555,000 visitors to its resorts and beaches despite widespread global disruption. This year, the Indian Ocean archipelago nation is on target for a record 1.9 million visitors. We discuss the key inbound markets and shifts in visitor expectations and booking trends since 2020. Growth also brings new challenges. Thoyyib talks us through the new 5th Tourism Master Plan, which tackles diverse issues, ranging from climate impact to energy security, food waste and community development. He also explains the sustainable initiatives underway in one of the lowest lying nations on earth, and the need for global action on climate and ocean pollution. Plus, we chat about one of the lesser known aspects of travel to the Maldives: guest house tourism.

Thailand. China, India & Russia. Visa Backlogs. Indonesia's Air Sector. A Short-Term Rental Ban. Taylor Swift & Coldplay. High-Speed Rail. Love the Philippines. What connects the dots? All feature in our round-up of South East Asia's Top 10 talking points from the first half of 2023. As the region moves on from its first full half year of travel since 2019, Gary and Hannah discuss the key issues and vital takeaways. Plus, we forecast some of the hot issues to watch in the second half of the year. Will we see a slowdown in intra-regional pent up travel demand? Will Chinese tourists stream into South East Asia in larger numbers? Can regional airports cope if they do? Will long-haul air fares stay as high as they are right now? How will depreciating currencies impact inbound and outbound travel? And should we finally cast off the shadow of the "return to 2029 levels" recovery benchmark?

What is a SuperApp, and why should the travel industry care about them? There are numerous reasons to care, as Gary and Hannah discuss this week with Jakarta-based Brett Henry, President & Director of MG Group. Brett guides us through a research-based definition of SuperApp characteristics, and explains the opportunities and challenges they provide for brands and travellers. En route, we discuss a bunch of SuperApps in ASEAN, including GoTo, Grab, WeChat, Meituan and Shopee. We also touch on AirAsia's SuperApp progress and ask "Is TikTok the next SuperApp in South East Asia?" (Spoiler alert: Absolutely). Plus, we discuss the hyper-localisation in each market to meet changing consumer needs, the region’s complex e-payments landscape and the economics of distributing travel through SuperApps. And, where do home-grown SuperApps go in future? Will they develop their own travel inventories and further monetise their tourism presence? And is there an accelerating urgency for travel sellers to become engaged participants in SupeApp platforms?

“Airports are making changes in their operation plans and strategies to adapt and inculcate the learnings of the last two years.” The airport sector continues to undergo a transformation as traffic flows recover, intelligent technology adoption accelerates and consumer expectations shift. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome KL-based Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Senior Consultant for Aerospace & Defence with Frost & Sullivan. Shantanu has authored a new White Paper entitled "Future of Airports and Growth Opportunities: Sustainability & Digitization". In a broad-ranging chat, we discuss the air travel recovery in South East Asia and Asia Pacific in the first half of 2023, and the outlook for the rest of the year. We go behind the scenes at the region's airports to discuss the developing trends in F&B (including in-airport food deliveries), duty free retail, biometric applications and baggage handling technology. Shantanu also covers the steps airport operators are taking to achieve net-zero targets. Plus, we assess the outlook for smaller and regional airports in this unfolding new era in travel.

"Indonesia's domestic market is underpinning the growth of tourism." This is little surprise. The world's fourth-largest population is expected to generate 1.4 billion domestic trips in 2023. In addition, a "demographic dividend," whereby a youthful population is driving economic growth will support expansion of tourism and hospitality through the 2020s. This week, Gary and Hannah assess the travel outlook in South East Asia's largest country with Jakarta-based Ross Woods, an experienced hotel investment and strategy consultant. Ross discusses the recovery of different hotel segments over the past 12 months across the Indonesian archipelago, and the hotel development pipeline. We also look at the international air travel sector, which remains dominated by Jakarta and Bali, and the prospects for inbound and outbound flight growth in regional airports. Plus, we look at the current status of the Five Priority Destinations project to develop different regions of the country for tourism and reduce the visitor economy's reliance on Bali. And we look at the short-term rentals sector. Is there any chance Bali could replicate the decision of Penang in Malaysia to ban STRs in residential buildings?

Chinese tourists are returning to South East Asia in greater numbers. The recent May Labor Day holiday brought more passenger flights and travellers from cities across China into the region. But how will innovations in mobile payment technology over the last three years influence how Chinese and global travelers pay for products and services while overseas? And how should travel providers, retailers and merchants prepare for this new era? This week, Gary welcomes Dr Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant Group, to discuss the Chinese travel recovery so far and emerging spending patterns. We discuss how Alipay enables Chinese travellers to book hotel rooms and flight tickets, buy meals at Singapore hawker centres, make purchases at Bangkok night markets and treat themselves to tailor-made perfumes at duty-free stores. Dr Cherry also outlines the latest trends in Chinese outbound travel, and the outlook and hot destinations in Asia Pacific and worldwide for the rest of 2023. Plus, we discuss the new Alipay+ solution that enables Chinese and global travellers to use their own preferred digital wallet from home while travelling in different countries. There are so many rich insights to pick out. if your destination or travel or lifestyle-oriented business wants to understand how Chinese travel is changing, you may want to listen to this podcast more than once.

May has been another hectic month as the travel recovery in South East Asia gathers momentum. It kicked off with China's May Golden Week, which delivered a huge domestic tourism boost, while Chinese outbound holidaymakers travelled around the region in greater numbers. This could presage an uplift in Chinese outbound tourism widely anticipated in the second half of 2023. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the Golden Week among a list of 10 key talking points from across South East Asia and beyond. We journey from Augmented Reality experiences to Sustainable Aviation Fuel announcements and from tourism taxes to record airline profits. En route, we also examine how Japan is promoting outbound tourism to South East Asian markets, and the long-discussed liberalisation of Vietnam's entry visa policy. Plus, are the prospects dimming for "Cannabis Tourism" in Thailand? And which city in Malaysia is developing a waterfront project touted as "The New Milan"?

"Barring another pandemic, there would be very little to derail [Bali's] outlook for the next 12 months." Tourism in Bali bounced back impressively in the second half of 2022, and 2023 is seeing the recovery gather fast-paced momentum. This week, Gary chats all things travel and tourism in Bali with Simona Chimenti, Marketing & Media Relations Director of the Bali Hotels Association and General Manager of The Pavilions Bali in Sanur, and Melina Caruso, Technology & Marketing Consultant for the Bali Hotel’s Association. In a broad-ranging chat, we address Bali's top inbound markets, with India and Russia performing well and Chinese tourists starting to return, and the importance of Indonesia's huge domestic market. We address increasing air connectivity, strengthening hotel metrics and shorter booking windows. And, we talk air connectivity and look ahead to Emirates launching its A380 service to/from Dubai in early June. Plus, as media worldwide continue to focus on negative aspects - such as disrespectful tourist behaviour and proposed response measures like a Tourism Tax and Tourist Quota - Simona and Melina provide thoughtful insider perspectives from Bali's hotel industry. 

"Indonesians seem like they want to travel everywhere, as long as there are flights. If the flight ticket to a longer haul destination is too expensive, they just switch destination." Indonesia is the biggest country with the biggest population and biggest travel market in South East Asia - and travel activity is booming. So this week, Gary welcomes Pauline Suharno, Director of Jakarta-based Elok Tours and President of ASTINDO, the Indonesian Travel Agents Association, to discuss developments in travel and tourism to, from and across Indonesia. Good timing, too, as the nation prepares for an extended Lebaran (Eid) holiday with domestic and outbound flights fully booked. Where are the hot destinations for Indonesian travellers? We discuss the impact of high air fares on destination choice, and on inbound tourism to popular spots like Bali. Plus we get the latest lowdown on Indonesia's 5 Super Priority Destinations, and a last-minute price increase for tourists at a popular national park in Labuan Bajo. Finally, with President Joko Widodo encouraging Indonesians to explore more of their own country, Pauline explains the large volume forecast for domestic travellers over the upcoming holidays.

“Community and sustainable travel is so hard to get right, and so easy to get wrong. How do you bring people into a place and they enjoy it, and they’ll pay for it, and they won’t destroy it? Anybody who says they have a formula for that, is kidding themselves.” This week, Gary and Hannah explore the future of adventure-based travel with Shannon Stowell, CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), a US-based organisation with members in 103 countries. In September, the ATTA will hold its Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia for the first time, in Hokkaido, Japan. We discuss the evolution of travel focused around activity, nature and culture – and the influences of the pandemic on outdoor travel motivations. Plus, we explore the potential for expansion in South East Asia  (“The opportunity to build small, more focused travel experiences is real”). The journey also takes us around the globe, to discuss how tour operators, Tourism Ministers and local communities from the Balkans to Brazil and from Antarctica to Shannon’s beautiful home state of Colorado are rethinking travel experiences in places of unique natural and cultural diversity.

The term "haze" relates to dry season plantation burning at this time of year which creates palls of toxic smoke across the region. This is impacting communities, healthcare systems and tourism throughout mainland South East Asia. So this week, Gary and Hannah discuss the environmental stories linked to travel and tourism in South East Asia and the broader region. We look at the transboundary haze hanging over Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam - and the likelihood of this impacting Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore once the rainy season ends in those parts. Plus, a 'heatwave alert' in Thailand, an oil spill in the Philippines and "oil waste" dumped at sea reaching the coastline in Bintan. Will these events result in booking cancellations for the various festivals during April and the five-day Chinese Golden Week at the start of May - which South East Asian tourist boards hope will kickstart the return of Chinese travellers in large numbers? And, we discuss a new report by McKinsey, Accor and Trip.com addressing the sustainable motivations of Chinese tourists, and we look at how airlines and cruise lines are trying to control the narrative around sustainable aviation and cruise fuel.

Quarantine be gone! One year ago this week, on 1 April, the borders reopened across much of South East Asia as countries dropped quarantine-on-arrival mandates. The past 12 months have flown by, but the long pandemic travel shutout seems a part of history – especially as all of Asia Pacific, including China, is now open. So, what have (and haven’t) we learned over the past year? For this week's show, Gary and Hannah have compiled a list of the 10 key travel and tourism takeaways since 1 April 2022. Here's the list we discuss on the podcast: Thailand is South East Asia’s 'Tourism Central' Competition to attract tourists is intense – and intensifying Intra-regional flight capacities still aren’t what they were Smaller ASEAN countries are dependent on the air capacity recovery of neighbouring countries “High-Quality" tourism is selectively applied “Sustainable”, “Ecotourism” and “Green” tourism discourse isn't delivering notable change Airports haven’t invested in the right areas – and it’s showing Domestic tourism focus has largely fallen by the wayside The manpower crisis is still far from over Rail travel is this decade's big trend to watch

With travel and tourism activity continuing to ramp up across South East Asia, Gary and Hannah tackle the top news stories and talking points in March. The journey takes us to Vietnam, Bali (Indonesia), Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos ... and Switzerland! En route, we discuss mobile rail ticketing in Laos, bad tourist behaviour shaming in Bali, free tourism experiences in Singapore and an interesting legal case in Malaysia addressing the constitutional right (or otherwise) to travel overseas. Plus, we crunch the numbers of Vietnam's latest visitor arrival forecasts and talk transport infrastructure investment in the Philippines. And, we look back at last weekend's MATTA Fair, Malaysia's largest consumer travel show, and discuss South East Asian representation at ITB Berlin.

"I see airfares going higher and higher." As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2023 – and near the one-year anniversary since most South East Asian nations restored quarantine-free travel after the pandemic – what is the outlook for the airline sector? Many airlines are making handsome profits, but what challenges reside up ahead? To delve deeper, Gary welcomes back Shukor Yusof, Founder and CEO of Malaysia & Singapore-based Endau Analytics. In a broad-ranging chat, we discuss everything from airline capacity and air ticket prices in 2023 to the challenges of geopolitics and net-zero targets. We address the return of Chinese travellers and their potential impact for airlines, destinations and the hospitality sector. Plus, how will the soaring ambitions of Air India and the newly announced Riyadh Air impact the carriers currently dominating the market in South East Asia? And finally, looking back over the past three years of the pandemic era, what have been the big lessons for airlines and airports across the region?

China began reopening to international travel on 8 January 2023, but the impact so far has been gradual. There are various reasons, including the Chinese government's decision to phase the scaling up of outbound travel capacity. From today, 15 March, outbound group package tours are permitted to 60 countries worldwide. Independent travellers are, of course, free to travel globally. Also from today, China will begin issuing tourist entry visas, and has reestablished visa-free access to Hainan Island and for cruise passengers docking in Shanghai. So what does this all mean for the travel recovery in South East Asia and across Asia Pacific? When will there be more flights to and from China? And why is this all happening now? Gary guides you through the latest developments in this Mini Update - the first of a new series of short, quick-fire podcasts addressing the contexts of a hot travel topic. The references mentioned for further information can be found on our website, www.theseasiatravelshow.com

"The fun is back in the Philippines... even more so!" It's almost a year since the Philippines reopened its borders after the pandemic. Inbound, outbound and domestic travel volumes are expanding fast. To gain a clearer picture of the travel recovery in South East Asia's second-largest nation, Gary chats with Manila-based Feliz Axalan, General Manager of Tradewings Tours & Travel. We discuss the hot destinations for Philippine outbound travellers (spoiler alert: Japan yes, South Korea no) and some intriguing booking trends, visa issues and FIT vs Group Tour shifts in recent months. Feliz reveals the hotspots for domestic travel, which the Department of Tourism expects to fully recover to the 2019 level this year. For inbound travel, we look at improvements in airport infrastructure and flight access. Feliz provides insider insights about boutique hotel, villa and Airbnb bookings, and the locations travel influencers are promoting on social media. Plus, as an archipelago nation, the Philippines has big cruise travel ambitions. How will this play out in 2023 and beyond? 

After the disruptions of 2020, 2021 and 2022, 2023 will be the most important year for travel and tourism in living memory. Two months into the year, South East Asia is confronting an anticipated travel demand rebound now that Asia Pacific is fully open. Major issues are emerging around tourism and the environment, energy, water and waste management. Meanwhile, transport infrastructure is being built out on a massive scale across the region. So this week, Gary and Hannah rewind the big questions we've been asking and trying to answer in the first two months of the year that will shape the direction of travel over the rest of 2023. In this compilation show, we track how China’s reopening will be driven by group tour, semi-organised and independent travellers. We tackle accessible tourism in Thailand, a plastic trash report in Vietnam and, of course, AI-generative content. Plus, we look ahead to the region's first high-speed railway in Indonesia, and the high cost of sports event tourism in Cambodia.

With China finally back in the game, tourism boards and the media across South East Asia are starting to compare inbound arrivals from China and India. It's still very early days, of course, but what have we learned so far? How are tourism boards dividing their marketing dollars to attract visitors from the region's two largest countries? And which country will allow Chinese tourists to pay in RMB? Also this week, Gary and Hannah discuss the new THB300 Tourism Fee in Thailand, a visa-on-arrival controversy in Malaysia, cruise ambitions in the Philippines and Vietnam's plastic trash calculations which compare the waste discarded by inbound and domestic tourists. Plus, we get rather excited about Air Japan, ANA's new low-cost carrier due to launch in 2023 which intends to "capture inbound demand from overseas by launching flights to major cities in South East Asia." We are watching the website already!

"A groundbreaking moment in the history of rail travel in South East Asia." Wherever you travel in South East Asia, it’s hard to miss the transport infrastructure being built out on a vast scale – often with financing and technology from China. This will be a feature through the 2020s and beyond - albeit with countries like Japan, South Korea and maybe India joining in. This week, Gary is joined by James Clark, Producer of the Future Southeast Asia newsletter, to discuss the region's Top 10 airport, high-speed rail and other travel and transport infrastructure projects. These range from new airport terminals in Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia to South East Asia's first high-speed railway due to open later this year, and another scheduled for 2026. Plus we discuss a metro system in Vietnam, a railway upgrade connecting Bangkok and Thailand's southern beaches - and the potential issues for passengers ahead of the cross-border opening of the China-Laos railway.

"It just doesn't feel like a living Vietnamese town." Environmental impact, carbon emissions and artificial intelligence (AI) are three of the hottest topics in tourism. This week, Gary & Hannah welcome back Bali-based Stuart McDonald, Founder of Travelfish, to take on these vital talking points. Stuart recently travelled through Vietnam, where he tracked his carbon footprint using the Capture and Path Net Zero apps. He discusses his findings and observations while travelling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi by train. Stuart also discusses the contrasting challenges (and current outcomes) for tourism in Hoi An and Hue. Taking a tangential turn, we chat about AI chatbots in tourism, and the building of AI-generated content into travel products and information services. Rounding out the discussion, we address a phantom train in Cambodia (which tops the search rankings) and diving in Raja Ampat in Indonesia. And listen out for the rooster!

2023 is a vital year for travel and tourism in South East Asia and Asia Pacific. January was a fascinating kick-start month for the region's visitor economies. China reopened its airport gates, albeit gradually, the Lunar New Year launched the domestic and outbound travel calendar and tourism boards set out their (initial) 2023 visitor forecasts. On today's show, Gary and Hannah review January's Top 10 travel talking points and discuss what they could mean for the 12 months ahead. The journey takes us to 9 countries around the region. En route, we assess the return of Chinese tour groups to 7 ASEAN countries, discuss airport capacity in Vietnam and Thailand and address an administrative bottleneck for the Laos-China train. Plus we talk sales tax refunds in Philippines, tourism villages in Indonesia, sky-high hotel rates in Singapore and two Malaysian Prime Ministers challenged in the courts over an aborted high-speed rail project. Phew!

What role should tour operators play in ethical tourism development? Is it worthwhile considering how to make tours more accessible? And what key challenge will tour operators face in 2023? This week, Hannah chats to Ewan Cluckie, founder of Tripseed, a Thailand-based tour operator. In a fascinating conversation, we talk about the transition that digital travel trade marketing has undergone during the pandemic and the silver lining that Covid-19 has presented to smaller tour operators. Plus, we learn about Tripseed's development of accessible travel products, and how it mapped out the accessible facilities which Thailand has to offer.   Along the way, we return to one big issue again and again - how can tour operators move away from a less extractive form of tourism, to one where local voices are heard and respected.

It's January and almost Lunar New Year - so it's time to look forward with both hope and a dash of realism. So, what does the 2023 travel year promise for countries across South East Asia, the travel industry and travellers themselves? This year, Gary and Hannah are joined by Karen Yue, Group Editor of TTG Asia, to discuss the 15 travel trends, initiatives and developments that we'll be watching closely in 2023. En route, we assess the enduring impacts of the Great Resignation, the region's changing demographics in travel and profitability vs demand in the new travel economy. We address the evolving role of NTOs and the elevated importance of niche and special interest tourism segments. Plus, we talk tech with travel fintech, e-payments and CBDCs, and metaverse and mixed-reality marketing in tourism - is it bluff, reality or is the jury still out?

So, here it is… the first episode of 2023. As we roll into our 4th year of The South East Asia Travel Show, there's only one place to begin. China’s reopening currently dominates all analysis of travel and tourism. So it’s  fitting that we welcome to the show a long-time friend, Prof. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, CEO of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI). Flipping our usual format, Hannah interviews Wolfgang and Gary, who will co-publish The 2023 China Outbound Tourism Handbook, on 22 January. Here is the full interview question list: Talk us through what actually changed on 8 January in terms of border policies Pre-pandemic, were groups of Chinese travellers or FITs the most popular? How important is it to the world’s tourism industry that Chinese travellers are back? How will the testing requirements for other countries impact Chinese travellers’ destination choice? What can we expect for the Lunar New Year travel, both domestically and internationally? What volumes should we expect for Chinese travellers in 2023 - will we see pre-pandemic levels? Which segments of Chinese travellers will travel first? What is the situation for international air capacity from China? Can we expect that to ramp up quickly?  How have expectations changed for Chinese travellers? What new segments have emerged for domestic travel? Will these apply for international travel, too? How important is technology to Chinese travellers - and how is that different from Southeast Asia or the rest of the world? Given that holidays and tourism are usually among the first types of consumerism cut back when spending confidence is low, in which sectors of the Chinese outbound market are these cut backs most likely? And, in what ways will Chinese tourists seek to gain more bang from their buck whilst travelling? How can businesses ensure that they are China-ready?  

So, here it is… our end of year review show. And what a year it’s been. As we celebrate the 3rd anniversary of The South East Asia Travel Show, it’s a pleasure to look ahead to a New Year with “cautious optimism.” Rounding out 2022, Gary and Hannah select 10 top talking points that define the rollercoaster ride over the past 12 months. En route, we journey to Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, plus India, China, Japan and 27 EU nations. We discuss new airlines, a major airline investment, sky-high hotel rates, the return of MICE, a media furore about Indonesia's new Criminal Code and much more. Plus, we remember some of the Covid-era aspects of daily life that disappeared from view as 2022 progressed.

2022 was the year that South East Asia reopened for travel. It's been a highly compressed year, with most countries only welcoming back tourists in the second quarter. Many lessons have been learned, and many markets are still coming to terms with the myriad impacts of the pandemic. This week, Gary and Hannah team up with Brett Henry, President of B2B hospitality marketplace MG Group, for a livestream event assessing South East Asia’s travel recovery in 2022 – and looking ahead to 2023. Some key factors stand out: the continued absence of Chinese travellers, higher priced air tickets and reduced flight frequencies. So how will (or won't) 2023 be different? Which factors will drive the travel economy rebound? How will competition from destinations like Japan, South Korea and Australia impact the recovery in South East Asia? Where will domestic travel fit in? And what are the projections for developing trends, such as virtual credit card payments?

The G20 Summit. A proposed aerotropolis. Resolution of a long-running passport saga. A new direct flight service with Canada. It's been another busy period for travel news as the region's recovery gains traction. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the top 8 travel and tourism developments from across South East Asia. The journey takes us to 8 of the 10 countries of ASEAN, plus Japan, China, India and Taiwan. So, which country expects 60 million domestic travellers over Christmas and New Year? Where is forecasting 2 million annual inbound visitors in 2022 rising to 7.5 million in 2028? Which nation was among the top 4 visitor markets to Japan in October? And which government finally removed testing requirements for unvaccinated visitors? All this, and much more...

Test & Go. Vaccinated Travel Lanes. 'The Most Open Country in South East Asia.' One year ago, on 1 November 2021, Thailand introduced the Test & Go tourism entry policy. In the same month, Singapore accelerated its Vaccinated Travel Lanes and Cambodia made travel easier for visitors than anywhere else. This week, Gary and Hannah rewind to November 2021 – the month that reignited travel in South East Asia after 20 months of lockdowns and labyrinthine travel restrictions. Thailand and Singapore claimed the headlines, although their reopening strategies contrasted notably. Cambodia made the fullest reopening move, but garnered less media attention. Elsewhere, Malaysia and Vietnam launched Sandbox-style schemes on the islands and Langkawi and Phu Quoc. Twelve months on, how should we reflect on those progressive, yet imperfect, government-driven efforts to reboot travel and tourism? And how has the language of travel changed in the interim?

South East Asia is eagerly anticipating a strong end-of-year holiday season, which is nearing fast. We’ve already completed 10 months of 2022 – and October was another busy period for new travel policies, announcements and developments. This week, Gary and Hannah round up the latest travel and tourism talking points across the region. En route, we discuss a new Hotel Industry Transformation Roadmap in Singapore, a debut South Asian flight route in Vietnam, and media controversy around flight prices during Malaysia's upcoming general election. Plus, Indonesia turns from high-quality tourists to high-quality residents, the Philippines drops its indoor mask mandate and Cambodia opens a new expressway between two key tourist destinations. And, which ASEAN country is Thailand's top visitor source market in 2022?

"Travel news stories should get more interesting now there's two-way travel again between South East Asia and North East Asia." With Japan and Taiwan now open for travel, the competitive landscape in Asia Pacific has just become very competitive. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the Top 8 travel talking points across South East Asia. En route, we check out Singapore Changi as it resumes operations at all four terminals, discuss the visitor arrivals target progress in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, and Indonesia's eye-watering projection for domestic trips in 2022. Taiwan reopened this week, and it has identified South East Asian nations as priority visitor markets. We've got the latest. Looking one-month ahead, we check on progress for the G20 Summit in Bali and the APEC Leader's Meeting in Thailand. Plus, we preview next week’s big travel industry events in Singapore - TravMedia's International Media Marketplace Asia and ITB Asia - at which we'll be speaking and attending. 

What's it like to ride the China-Laos train? Will Vietnam's North-South Railway get built? When will the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail line open? And is a pan-ASEAN rail network a realistic possibility? This week, Gary assesses the outlook for rail infrastructure development across the region with James Clark, Editor-in-Chief at Future South East Asia and author of the Nomadic Notes newsletter. We look at some of the big railway projects being planned, compare the rail network models in China and South East Asia and ponder what could be the impacts for domestic aviation. James also discusses his recent travels in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam - and provides some interesting observations about air and rail travel in this unfolding new era. Join us for a fascinating 30-minute trip with an inveterate digital nomad through South East Asia, taking in Hanoi, Vientiane, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Kampot en route.

A big buzz in South East Asia as Japan prepares to reopen, and Hong Kong and Taiwan ease entry restrictions. Hannah is back from Japan, where she observed the response to its decision to unlock the airport gates from 11 October while attending Tourism Expo Japan in Tokyo. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the potential inbound and outbound boost for South East Asia as North East Asia gradually returns to the travel fold. We've also got the latest travel news from South Korea, China and Macau. We finish the show amid the tranquil Himalayan beauty of Bhutan, and discuss the broader implications of its new USD200 per night Sustainable Development Fee. Will destinations in South East Asia introduce similar tourism pricing policies in future?

"From 6.2 million visitors in 2011, Japan welcomed 32 million arrivals in 2019." The reopening of Japan has been eagerly anticipated across Asia Pacific. Japan is both a highly desirable "four seasons" destination and a vital market for travel and tourism region-wide. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the outlook as Japan accelerates its reopening with Kyoji Kuramochi, Executive Director, Global Strategy Headquarters of the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO). In a fascinating interview, Kuramochi-san discusses the dramatic growth of tourism from 2010-2019, the JNTO's new global marketing strategy, its priority visitor markets and a vision for developing tourism by 2030. He addresses an array of key themes, including air connectivity, airport expansion and visa policies. Segments explored include domestic travel, culinary tourism and Muslim-friendly tourism. Plus, we analyse sustainable development goals, and the development of rural tourism throughout Japan. Kuramochi-san also delivers data-driven insights about key Asian inbound markets, including China and South East Asia, and looks ahead to the 2023 Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido.

When will Chinese travellers return to Asia Pacific - and what has changed in China in the interim? These are questions that all tourism operators are asking themselves. On this week's show, we fill in some of the gaps. Gary recently produced the China Travel Market Report 2021-2025 for Phocuswright, and is working on a couple of other China travel economy projects. So, Hannah grills him on the impact of the pandemic across the Chinese travel industry - and what happens next as the world awaits the return of Chinese tourists. En route, we assess the current landscape for domestic, inbound and outbound travel. We discuss the impact of Covid-Zero on China's airlines, OTAs and hotels. Plus, what are some of China's intriguing domestic travel and consumer trends that have emerged? What is 'branded glamping'? Why have OTAs and hotels invested heavily in intelligent and interactive technologies? And which demographics could drive the growth of Chinese tourism in future? 

Two-thirds of the way through 2022, travel and tourism in South East Asia are gaining momentum. Visitor arrivals increased across the region in August, while stirrings of travel activity in China and Japan are sparking optimism. This week, Gary and Hannah assess the 10 key travel talking points of the past month throughout Asia Pacific. The journey takes us to Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, plus China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. En route, we discuss airline fleet expansions, robust domestic travel, entry visa extensions, jet fuel prices and the shifting redefinition of what it means to be "fully vaccinated". Plus, we've got the latest news as the China-ASEAN high-speed railway map takes shape, and the recently announced details of T5 at Changi Airport, which will significantly expand air capacity in Singapore.

The South East Asia Travel Show is regularly downloaded in more than 70 countries. Find out more about our weekly podcast, which discusses the latest travel and tourism developments in South East Asia, Asia Pacific and beyond.

"We wanted to create a status quo assessment of tourism and climate change in Asia, where research has been limited." This week's show tackles a white-hot issue for the travel industry: how to address carbon emissions and global heating. The impacts of climate change are all around us in South East Asia, with a recent report citing Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam as particularly vulnerable to climate risks. This week, Gary chats with Alexander Trupp, Associate Dean of Research & Postgraduate Studies at the School of Hospitality & Service Management, Sunway University in Malaysia. Alex is co-author of a new paper, called Tourism Under Climate Crisis in Asia: Impacts and Implications, published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Alex sets out the facts and stats that show how urgent is the climate crisis across Asia, and discusses specific vulnerabilities for travel and tourism in each sub-region. He also addresses the collective efforts required to bring change, and initiatives being put in place by the tourism industry to transition toward more sustainable travel.

"We are in a real period of flux, globally and regionally right now." On this week’s show, Gary and Hannah sift through the 10 top travel and tourism stories in South East Asia over the past 7 days as regional and global economic factors take hold. The journey takes us to Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam & the Philippines, plus New Zealand and India. En route, we discuss tourism entry fees, fly-cruise travel, new flight routes, overland travel and NTO slogans. Plus, our regular "Quality Tourism" update discusses some disparaging comments about backpackers by New Zealand's Tourism Minister - and a vociferous pushback from the nation's travel industry.

“Both Malaysia and ASEAN have been generally dependent on the Chinese outbound market, so we need a conscious and strategic shift to other markets.” This week, Gary and Hannah bring it home to Malaysia to discuss the emergent travel recovery with special guest Tunku Dato Seri Iskandar Tunku Abdullah, Group Executive Chairman of Melewar Group. An experienced tourism industry leader in Malaysia, Tunku is a life member of ASEANTA and a Former President of PATA. We take a detailed look at the landscape for inbound, outbound and domestic travel, and the outlook for corporate travel and MICE. We assess the impacts of human resource challenges, a low supply of airline seats and high-priced air tickets on the early-stage recovery. With the Chinese market still absent, which source markets should Malaysia focus on to attract more visitors? Plus, how are customer booking trends changing, and what are the key challenges for Malaysia – and ASEAN – in the second half of 2022, and into 2023.

A promising outlook for domestic travel and tourism is emerging across South East Asia. This week, Gary and Hannah take a trip through Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos to assess some of the key issues around domestic travel as the regional recovery takes shape. Homegrown tourism kept the travel industry afloat during the border closures of 2020 and 2021 – and into 2022 in some countries – and continues to evolve. Governments  are recognising its importance to national economies, and are putting in place policies to support future development. At the same time, the cost of travel is rising in some countries, both for local and inbound travellers, as post-lockdown economics gain a sharper edge. So will we see more targeted research and qualitative studies into domestic travel behaviours and demographics in the second half of 2022 and into 2023?

Assessing the broader regional picture is vital to tracking travel and tourism flows in, out of and around South East Asia. So this week, Hannah and Gary approach the ongoing travel recovery from a pan-Asia Pacific perspective with special guest Liz Ortiguera, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Liz  took on this high-profile position in May 2021, a highly challenging point in time for countries throughout Asia Pacific. She explains the challenges across the past year and the emerging opportunities for travel businesses and travellers, and the direction PATA will navigate for its members in future. We also discuss PATA's international visitor forecast scenarios through 2024 and the return of in-person conferences and events. Plus, we address vital issues such as diversity and inclusion, vaccine equity, climate change and strategies to de-plasticise the planet.

On this week's show, Gary and Hannah sift through the 10 top travel and tourism stories in South East Asia over the past 7 days. The journey takes us to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, plus Brunei and Timor Leste, about which we don't talk nearly enough. En route, we discuss tourism fees and visitor price hikes, annual arrival forecasting and booster vaccine travel requirements. We also ask when ASEAN will welcome its 11th member, and pass through the only country in the region not yet fully open to visitors. Plus, who is enabling tourists to "leave your shoes with us," and which is the latest country to jump on the "tourism villages" train?

"Phnom Penh has come back strongly as the main air gateway to Cambodia." Cambodia has been at the forefront in South East Asia for removing Covid-19 restrictions for visitors. Its three international airports handled 11.6 million passengers in 2019, and Cambodia is eager to revive its airline sector to support a tourism recovery. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome Stephen King, Chief Commercial Officer at Cambodia Airports, to discuss the progress in the first half of 2022 and the outlook for the rest of the year. Stephen discusses passenger traffic at the three gateways, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, new infrastructure developments, the impact of China's absence from regional travel and efforts to attract more airlines and routes to Cambodia. We also discuss the key inbound markets, Cambodia's changing approach to destination marketing, and the sustainability initiatives Cambodia Airports intends to implement.

“The slew of [Chinese government] policy changes has prompted an increase in flights, with airline companies racing against each other to resume international flights with China.” Breaking developments in China mean the second half of 2022 in South East Asia will be dominated by the quest to entice back Chinese tourists. But how did we get here? This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the 12 key travel and tourism developments that define 2022 to date - and set the scene for a stronger recovery in the second half of the year. Our journey takes us to Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Bali by way of China, India, Japan and South Korea. We also discuss the return of cruise travel in the region, the jet fuel and human resource challenges, overland travel growth and a busy 6 months for domestic tourism. Plus, what challenges and opportunities await for the remainder of the year?

"Time has really flown in the year since we started the Phuket Sandbox." Exactly one year ago, on 1 July 2021, Thailand initiated the Phuket Sandbox to kickstart inbound travel after 16 months of tourism inactivity. Four months later, it was replaced by the Test & Go Scheme. Phuket is now buzzing. A mix of domestic and inbound tourists saw it welcome 1.7 million visitors in the first 5 months of 2022. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss Phuket's impressive progress with Sumi Soorian, Executive Director of the Phuket Hotels Association. Sumi discusses how the hospitality and tourism sectors have adapted over the past 12 months. We also discuss shifts in Phuket's key inbound markets and interesting trends in meetings, weddings and domestic travel. Plus, we look at human resource challenges for hotels, shorter booking windows and room rates and occupancy. Now, as Thailand removes virtually all of its pandemic restrictions, what is the outlook for Phuket 12 months after it pioneered the revival of tourism in South East Asia?

"Since the end of March, the landscape of travelling to Bali has changed dramatically. It's much easier to travel here now." This week, Gary and Hannah check on the current state of tourism in Bali with Simona Chimenti, General Manager of The Pavilions Bali and Marketing & Media Relations Director of the Bali Hotels Association, and Melina Caruso, Technology & Marketing Consultant for the Bali Hotels Association. After a slow start, Bali is welcoming back visitors from around the world, but is anxious to attract more flights to boost arrivals. The Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy is targeting 1.5 million international arrivals in 2022, while domestic visitors are arriving in big numbers. Melina and Simona discuss the latest travel updates, including key visitor markets, hotel occupancy and room rates. Plus, we touch on emerging trends in hotel stays, human resource deficits and automation and digitisation of hotel services. And, we look ahead to the G20 Summit in November, and Bali's recovery outlook for the next 18 months. 

The Greater Mekong Region – comprising Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and China - is seeking new ways to develop and promote tourism after the ravages of Covid-19. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome Phnom Penh-based Catherine Germier-Hamel, CEO of Destination Mekong, and a passionate advocate of sustainable tourism development. Born in France of Eurasian heritage, she spent several years working in South Korea, including 6 years as Director of Global Programs for the UNWTO's Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Foundation. Cathy recently relocated to Cambodia to head-up Destination Mekong, a regional destination marketing organisation that provides a bridge between private sector travel operators and the Ministries of Tourism of Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Cathy discusses the challenges and opportunities ahead for travel and tourism in the Greater Mekong Region, and "new, smart models fit for the 21st century" in areas such as community tourism and wellbeing travel.

We're almost halfway through 2022. Several important developments in travel and tourism have occurred across South East Asia. International travel is back, which was our primary hope. But are we any closer to seeing some of our other travel wishes come true? This week, Gary and Hannah re-visit 12 of the 22 positive changes for 2022, which we set out back in January. Which wishes have come true, which are still pending - and which were well-meant wishful thinking? En route, we reassess tourism target setting and domestic travel policies, the restart of outbound travel and vaccine equality, backpacker tourism and the employment outlook for fresh hospitality graduates. Plus, will tourism players ever be compelled to publish zero emissions targets?     

As we enter the 6th month of 2022, South East Asia’s travel industry is showing signs of revival, with the aviation sector at the heart. But, rebuilding airline supply and passenger demand after the pandemic is accompanied by various operational challenges. South East Asia is playing catch-up due to the long pandemic travel restrictions, so what is the current state of play for airlines, airports and aviation? This week, Gary and Hannah welcome aviation analyst Shukor Yusof, Founder and CEO of Malaysia & Singapore-based Endau Analytics. Shukor discusses a broad range of issues, from jet fuel costs to FOREX risks, ticket pricing to start-up carriers and airport resourcing to consumer sentiment. We also assess the future role of China and India in South East Asia's air market, and the key lessons for LCCs and flag carriers from the past two-and-a-half years.

Traveller Covid testing requirements are finally gone - so can South East Asia now build momentum for a sustainable tourism recovery? May was a positive month across the region, but the landscape is still evolving. Travel volumes and outlook optimism vary throughout South East Asia. Familiar destinations are leading the return of tourism, while bookings are slower elsewhere. This week, Gary and Hannah recap the key developments during May, and look forward to the second half of 2022. What opportunities and challenges lie up ahead, and how will a phased reopening in Japan and eased travel restrictions in South Korea influence the recovery? Plus, the latest on China's ongoing travel lockout.

We’ve been talking in recent weeks about the pieces of South East Asia’s travel jigsaw being put back together. But a Laos-shaped hole remained. That gap has now been filled. Laos reopened to international travellers on Monday 9 May. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome back Vientiane-based Jason Rolan to discuss the tourism challenges and opportunities ahead for this beautiful landlocked country. Jason talks about the new regime for e-visas. He also explains which airlines are preparing to return to Laos - and which new routes might be developed. Plus, can Laos promote itself as a standalone destination, rather than an add-on for longer trips to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia? When will Chinese tourists ride the new China-Laos railway? And how are tour operators adapting their services for the new era?

As optimism returns to South East Asia, travel players, tourism boards and the media frequently cite a bunch of hot buzzwords. Several regularly used phrases also remain from the two-year travel shutdown. So this week, Gary and Hannah discuss the evolving lingo of travel, and assess which terms and phrases will endure, and which might just be a sign of the times. The show journeys from Pent-up Demand and Revenge Travel to a Bookings Bounceback via Visa-on-Arrival and Endemicity. We also talk tech with the Metaverse, NFTs and Cryptocurrencies, and touch on new Tourism Megaprojects, Hotel Sustainability Basics and Ultra-Long-Haul Air Travel. Plus, we recall the buzzwords discussed on Episode 6 in February 2020, and discuss which ones remain relevant and which dropped off the radar.

Optimism is returning. South East Asia’s incremental, and dramatically drawn out, travel reopenings are finally nearing ‘all systems go’ status. This week, Gary and Hannah review the latest travel developments from across the region. In particular, there is great news for travellers to (and from) Thailand and Singapore. Plus, some impressive regional aviation statistics, and strong domestic travel outlooks in Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and Malaysia. Gary also reports on his first international flight for two years, from KLIA to London Heathrow - and the contrasts he encountered in the two airports. In summary, this is probably our most upbeat podcast since we launched in January 2020. 

Time flies. It's 10 months since we were debating the merits (or otherwise) of the proposed Phuket Sandbox. But that was then - the Phuket Sandbox started on 1 July 2021 - and this is now. A great deal has occurred in Thailand's travel sphere since then. And more changes await up ahead - including the likely removal of a PCR test on arrival. But what is the outlook for Thai tourism in 2022? This week, Gary and Hannah welcome back Bangkok-based travel journalist Vincent Vichit-Vadakan to talk all things travel and tourism in Thailand. Vincent has been travelling domestically in recent weeks and reports back on what he has observed. He also updates us on Thailand's latest arrivals figures and the timeline for easing the Test & Go entry rules. We also discuss the key takeaways from a recent seminar Vincent hosted in Bangkok featuring Thai Airways and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Plus, we talk mask mandates, Songkran, airport protocols, new hotel openings and Thailand's domestic travel stimulus. And, we look back over a truly dramatic year in South East Asia's most visited country.

Travel and tourism is slowly getting back on its feet in South East Asia after two long years. The economic dislocations of the pandemic are having consequences for the supply and demand of travel throughout the region and across Asia Pacific. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has added an entirely new, and far-reaching, context. In addition, the Covid-19 lockdowns in China will have economic implications worldwide. So this week, Gary and Hannah sift through the potential impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war for travel, tourism and the regional economic outlook. This is a complex issue. There are innumerable unknowns, both now and in the future, but dark clouds are starting to gather. We break down the show into 4 key sections: 1) The enduring effects of COVID-19; 2) The Initial & Current War Impacts on Travel & Tourism in South East Asia; 3) The Looming Economic Headwinds; and 4) The Big Questions Up Ahead. We cover plenty of ground, from jet fuel price volatility to interest rate rises, fears of worsening food inflation to re-routed long haul flights and revised visitor arrival projections to a shifting focus toward the Indian travel market. And are there lessons to be learned from Sri Lanka's economic collapse? Plus, will tourism boards step up their domestic travel promotions, how will they adapt their international marketing strategies - and can intra-ASEAN travel markets hold up the sky?     The show analyses the responses of South East Asian governments to protect their currencies and combat the looming spectre of inflation. We look at the impact on jet fuel costs and the pricing of travel, the 

What is the travel outlook for Myanmar after COVID-19 and 14 months after the military coup? And what is daily life like in Yangon, the nation's largest city? Today, Gary and Hannah are joined by Argus Tuft, who is a long-time resident of Myanmar, and an experienced operator across the aviation, travel and marine sectors. He also made TV documentaries in Australia. Argus is currently working as an independent consultant in Yangon advising local and overseas nationals and expat residents on returning to or leaving Myanmar as international flights have not been operating for the past two years. We discuss the varied impacts of the past two years on the economy in general and the travel industry, which was growing fast before the pandemic struck. Argus also addresses speculation that Myanmar is preparing to reopen to business travel and perhaps leisure tourism. We also discuss airlines, pearl farming, archipelago living, river cruising, ballooning and superyachts, and Argus shares a few hidden treasures in this beautiful country which sits at the intersection of South and South East Asia. 

South East Asia's travel landscape is reshaping, and we're ready for take off! Travel activity is re-emerging across the region, and the travel industry is preparing for a recovery to start in earnest in the second half of 2022. The final edition of our 8-part Two Years of Travel Disruption series is perfectly timed, as both Singapore and Malaysia prepare to fully reopen on 1 April. To bring together the impacts of the past two years and anticipate an exciting, and volatile, new era of travel and hospitality, Gary and Hannah are joined by Dan Lynn, co-founder of Singapore-based ZUZU Hospitality. Dan’s career includes management roles with Expedia, the AirAsia-Expedia joint venture and eLong – and he previously joined us on the show in late November 2021. Combining the latest data with insights from South East Asia's protracted quest to restore travel and tourism flows, we check the outlook for destinations, airlines, airports, hotels and OTAs. We also discuss the absence of the Chinese market and the drivers of deeper digitalisation across travel chains. Plus, how soon will testing be dropped across the region, and where will South East Asia's inbound and outbound sectors fit into a global travel recovery in 2022. 

Vietnam’s reopening has been one of the most talked-about in South East Asia, and also one of the most unpredictable. Even until to the scheduled reopening date on 15 March, the terms of the reopening had not been published. However, the entry procedures are now looking very promising, and Vietnam is ready to welcome back tourists. So, on this week’s show, Gary and Hannah talk all things travel and tourism in Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, who is Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer and founder and producer of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter. We discuss the outlook for inbound, outbound and domestic travel, and address proposed investments to expand Vietnam’s airport capacity. Plus, will the North-South high-speed railway come to fruition?

This week, Malaysia announced its reopening date, and Bali made it easier for travellers to visit. Singapore expanded its VTL scheme to more countries and cities. These developments reflect a general stepping up the return of travel across South East Asia. More hurdles still exist, however. The region's travel landscape remains patchy and bureaucratic, and travellers face an avoidable administration burden. Progress is being made, though. On this week's show, Gary and Hannah take a tour around the region to assess the changing inbound, outbound and domestic travel situations in South East Asia's key markets. We also address the unfolding impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on travel to and from South East Asia. Plus, finally, some positive financial news from one of the region's major airlines. 

For much of the pandemic, 'Fortress Australia' isolated itself from the world. Now, after a rapid vaccine rollout, its borders are open. Tourism Australia is prioritising key South East Asian markets and airlines to help drive its recovery. So, this week, Gary and Hannah chat all things travel and tourism Down Under with Brent Anderson, Regional General Manager, South East Asia, of Tourism Australia. From his Singapore base, Brent explains how Australia developed its marketing campaigns to find opportunities as this new era of travel commences, and the importance of entertaining digital engagement. Rebuilding airline connectivity and capacity will be a challenge, and mass travel will take time to recover - but Tourism Australia has clearly set out its priority markets and segments. Brent explains why Western Australia's reopening on 3 March is vital for the South East Asian VFR market, and hopes for an upswing of self-drive "pick your own adventure" trips. Plus, which are Australia's "Rising Star" inbound markets, and how will it cope with the absence of Chinese visitors? And when and where will Australian outbound travellers be heading this year?

Who remembers the "one billion visitors by 2024" prediction? How about GeNose testing, the Special Tourist Visa and the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble? It's been a long two years of the pandemic, and various attempts have been made to revive travel in South East Asia. In Part 4 of the Two Years of Travel Disruption series, Gary & Hannah rewind through 2020 and 2021 to pick out the travel proposals, initiatives and experiments that didn't get off the ground - or, if they did, faded from view. En route, we recall Singapore's "contract signing speed dating" project, a spurned sandbox in Cambodia and the absence of promised airline support in Thailand. Plus, what happened to the Malaysia-Indonesia VTL, why did Indonesia backtrack on banning backpackers, and will there ever be an ASEAN Travel Corridor - or at least mutual recognition of vaccine certificates between the 10 member countries?

Singapore and Thailand have been at the forefront of restoring controlled access for travellers over recent months. Now, as other South East Asian countries reopen their borders, how will Singapore respond? This week, Gary and Hannah welcome back Karen Yue, Group Editor of TTG Asia, to discuss the changes that have happened over the past two years, and the outlook for 2022 and beyond. Singapore has taken a different route to elsewhere in ASEAN with its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) concept. Momentum was building in late 2021, with 24 active and 3 pending VTLs. Omicron interceded, but this week Singapore restored its previous visitor quotas and opened new VTLs. Entry regulations are also being eased. So, is Singapore - which was home to South East Asia's busiest airport back in 2019 - on the way towards "buying and flying" once again? And where are Singaporeans eager to travel to? Will Singapore's MICE, business events and hospitality sectors refresh and thrive? Plus, what is the future for Cruises to Nowhere, and are multi-destination cruises on the way back? And what could be some of longer term impacts of the Great Travel Shutdown for Singapore and South East Asia as a whole?

The prolonged closure of Bali has been a global media case study for the two-year decline of travel in South East Asia. As it slowly reopens, Gary chats to Bali-based Stuart McDonald, Founder of independent travel information company Travelfish, a prolific travel journalist and a respected voice on tourism in South East Asia. In April 2020, Stuart came onto the show (episode 13) and said: “I think we’re looking at least 2 to 2.5 years from today before any kind of substantial recreational tourism restarts. Obviously, I hope I’m wrong.” He reflects on that statement and describes what has (and hasn't) changed across Bali, including popular destinations such as Canggu, Ubud and Kuta. Having taken a recent trip to Flores, Stuart discusses ongoing development in Labuan Bajo - one of Indonesia's Super Priority tourism investment destinations) - and changes under way at the Komodo National Park. He also recounts tales of diving one of Indonesia's best sites, meeting Bulgarian backpackers and speaking with elders in a beautiful remote village. Plus, why is travel insurance a bigger issue than ever before, and why did Stuart decide to return to study for an MSc in Responsible Tourism Management?

It’s almost two years since South East Asian nations began shutting their borders as COVID-19 spread across the region and beyond. Over the coming weeks, Gary and Hannah will put together a series of shows with the help of regional experts to assess the various changes that are already occurring because of the pandemic, plus changes that might happen in the coming months – and those that perhaps should, but maybe won’t, happen at all. To kick things off, we’ve created a 15-point list of evident shifts across travel and tourism since March 2020. These range from huge job losses, business closures and lasting damage to travel infrastructure to the rise of the SuperApps, and from shifts in the 'quality' vs 'mass' tourism debate to uncertainties surrounding the return of business travel. Plus, what is the future of travel insurance? Have we seen the back of over-tourism? And how have consumer perceptions about overseas travel altered during the past two years?

South East Asia is preparing for its third successive Lunar New Year holiday – aka Chinese New Year and Tet in Vietnam – to be impacted by the pandemic. Although this year will focus on domestic travel across the region, there is a growing sense that governments are readying to reopen their borders. Quite how quickly that will happen, or at what scale, is still hard to predict - but positivity is in the air. Today, Gary and Hannah tour vicariously around South East Asia to check out what is and isn’t happening in travel and tourism... and which countries are setting out their next moves. Are the Philippines poised to reopen?Will Singapore scale up its VTLs, and will the borders be open for the return of the Formula 1 Grand Prix? Is Vietnam edging towards welcoming back inbound travellers? Can we expect a similar announcement from Malaysia? What's the latest on Thailand's revival of its 'Test & Go' visitor entry scheme? And is Bali concentrating exclusively on hosting the G20 summit? Let's hope these hopeful vibes bring positive actions for the region's travel and tourism landscape in the Year of the Tiger.

A new year brings new hopes … and plentiful new challenges. So (roll the drum…) it’s time for Part II of our third annual travel wish list show, which this year we are calling ’22 for 2022’. Gary and Hannah have put together a list of 20 ways in which travel and tourism could get better in 2022, plus two ideas submitted by our learned listeners – to make a total of 22. In Part II, our travel wishes include: governments start communicating with common sense, not in vacuous acronyms and proxy terms; domestic tourism stimulus packages assist players across the value chain; and the tourism industry is seen as an attractive once again for fresh grads. Plus, should all tourism businesses be required to set and publish zero emissions targets? Will the  travel media be more responsible with its pandemic terminology? And when will travel be fun again?

The beautiful Indonesian island of Lombok has long sat in the shadow of its neighbour, Bali. Things may change in future, as the coastal region of Mandalika has been prioritised by Indonesia's government for tourism infrastructure development. On today’s show, Gary chats about capturing travel on camera in different Lombok locations with Senggigi-based independent filmmaker Josh Edwards. Josh’s career took a twist during the pandemic, as he relocated from the UK to Lombok and set about producing an engaging travel show series called The Lombok Life. Season 1 featured broad-ranging documentaries filmed in the Gili Islands and at the Bayu Nyale Festival. He also climbed Mount Rinjani, and interviewed his local guide about his experiences climbing the volcano during the 2018 earthquake. Josh is currently shooting Season 2, and promises new episodes covering local cuisines, coral reef restoration and the Mandalika motor-racing circuit, which will host the Indonesian Moto GP in March. We also talk about the recent floods in western Lombok, the scale of development in Mandalika - and his work with an environmental foundation that organises beach clean-ups and helps protect Lombok's mangroves and reefs.

A new year brings new hopes ...  and plentiful new challenges. So (roll the drum...) it’s time for our third annual travel wish list show, which this year we are calling ’22 for 2022’. Gary and Hannah have put together a list of 20 ways in which travel and tourism could get better – and surely, it really must get better – in 2022. We also added two extra ideas submitted by our learned listeners – to make a total of 22. The show is separated into two halves. In Part 1, our travel wishes include: a separation of border control from tourism management; a recognition that quarantines are unworkable; the word “reopening” will disappear from our vocabulary; and a more nuanced understanding of the value that backpacker tourism brings to South East Asia. Plus, the travel industry must confront the fact that two years of Covid-19 have changed many things. Some of these changes will be temporary, but some might be permanent.

It's January. This should be peak season for travel across South East Asia. But 2022 is not starting as a 'normal' year. Instead, as we prepare for a third year of living with COVID-19, the impending spread of Omicron dominates the economic and social discourse across the region. Shards of light for travel and tourism glistened briefly back in November 2021, but most borders are once again closed or heavily patrolled. The same applies throughout much of Asia Pacific. So, Gary and Hannah kickstart the third year of the podcast by updating the current situation in 9 of the 10 ASEAN countries (in order of appearance): Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The important Lunar New Year holiday period looks like being domestic-only again this year, and a washout for intra-regional travel - but what are the prospects for the rest of the first quarter of 2022?

This time last year, our 2020 in Review show described it as “12 months that no-one will ever forget.” We  could say exactly the same for 2021. Long periods of lockdown throughout South East Asia, stop-start domestic travel, governments moving forwards and backwards and strict border policies in place. There were a few bright spots, but not as many as hoped for, or perhaps expected. So, for the 2021 in Review show Gary and Hannah created a list of 10 events and developments that will always remind us of this year, plus 4 more that bubbled just beneath. The only spoiler alert is in the headline of this podcast - so, please listen and let us know your thoughts and comments on our selection of the 10 definitive impacts on travel and tourism in South East Asia in 2021. Roll on 2022!  

As the world awaits definitive scientific conclusions about the transmissibility and viral impact of Omicron, travel developments in South East Asia have been few and far between. Governments continue to be cautious and defensive. On today’s show, we’ve got the latest updates from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, where a “will it, won’t it?” drama is playing out regarding the phased reopening for international flights. So what is it like to travel from South East Asia to Australia during a time of such uncertainty and administrative overload? On today’s show, Gary chats with Melina Caruso, Business Development Director of the Bali Hotels Association, who recently completed a roundabout journey from Bali to Melbourne, via Jakarta and Singapore – and back. From her quarantine hotel, Melina talks in detail about the multiple new challenges for making trips that we once took for granted. She also provides valuable insights for anyone preparing to embark for the first time during the pandemic.

This was the week that Omicron caused the return of flight bans, quarantines and an overall retreat from travel across South East Asia. It now appears that Singapore has recorded the region’s first cases. We've got the latest updates from the Philippines and Indonesia, as they turn away from travel reopenings. More optimistically, the first US-Vietnam direct commercial flights by a Vietnamese carrier landed this week. The pandemic has disrupted every aspect of travel and tourism over nearly two years, including the work of NGOs. Gary chats with Ho Chi Minh City-based Sophie Hartman, Regional Coordinator for the Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality & Catering. Asset H&C brings together vocational training centres in four ASEAN countries to help vulnerable young people to learn new skills in sustainable hospitality and tourism, and has just published a responsible travel guide in local languages for its training schools. To finish, we've got clips from this week's The South East Asia Travel Show, in which Gary and Hannah tackle the emerging issues as countries across South East Asia and worldwide erect new travel barriers 

Here we go again! “Omicron’s very emergence is another reminder that although many of us might think we are done with COVID-19, it is not done with us," said the WHO this week. The emergence of a new 'variant of concern' is striking fear across South East Asia after the damage the Delta variant caused earlier in 2021 - and continues to cause in some countries of the region. Omicron events have already moved quickly, as governments around the world erect new travel barriers and quarantines come back into fashion. On today's show, Gary and Hannah assess the current Omicron situation across South East Asia, Asia Pacific and beyond. We also discuss the potential direct and indirect impacts on the region's gradual reopening, which was starting the gain momentum until late last week. What could the new variant mean as the Christmas/New Year and the Lunar New Year travel periods draw near? Plus, might this present new opportunities to scale up regional travel agreements and prevent the recent progress from descending into a retreat from travel?  

The spectacular country of Laos has been overshadowed as more prominent destinations in South East Asia grab the reopening headlines. Laos has tentatively set in motion its own reopening plan – and is about to make its mark on the global news agenda with the opening of the China-Laos Railway. For the latest news from Laos, Gary chats with Jason Rolan, who is Senior Partner of Vientiane-based RDK Group. We have news about the upcoming land border Vaccinated Travel Lane between Malaysia and Singapore and the latest on the Philippines' reopening plans. Plus, concerns in Vietnam as its limited scale reopening coincides with a resurgence of COVID-19 infections nationwide. Hannah dials in to report on the first MATTA Fair, Malaysia's largest consumer travel show, for two years. We finish the show with an upbeat forecast about the travel outlook for 2022 in South East Asia by Dan Lynn, Co-founder of Singapore-based Zuzu Hospitality.

As the 2021 festive travel season draws near, the green shoots of recovery are emerging, even if South East Asia's reopening landscape remains patchy. On today’s show, Gary checks the region's travel and hotel booking temperature with Dan Lynn, Co-founder of Singapore-based Zuzu Hospitality. Dan’s career also includes senior management roles with Expedia, the AirAsia-Expedia joint venture and eLong. We discuss how Zuzu refocused its services to meet the shifting operational challenges of its hotel clients during the pandemic, and into the early days of recovery. We also talk about the way forward for online travel booking in South East Asia. Plus, how will Singapore's Vaccinated Travel Lane scheme further evolve, how can Thailand and Cambodia build on their recent restarts - and which ASEAN country is "on the cusp" of a scalable travel reopening? We finish by assessing the outlook for 2022, and the prospects for the greater normalisation of travel for a new era.

After sustained speculation, Cambodia this week surprised South East Asia by announcing that quarantine-free entry would apply for vaccinated travellers from every country worldwide. On episode 3 of our weekly news and current affairs show, Gary assesses the challenges ahead as Cambodia seeks to reboot its visitor economy. He also analyses the arrival of Vietnam’s first charter flights and the expansion of Singapore's VTL scheme to 21 countries. With a Singapore-Malaysia VTL starting soon, Gary chats with Shukor Yusof, CEO of Endau Analysts, for expert insights on the outlook for airlines, airports and travellers in Singapore and Malaysia. The show finishes in Bangkok, where restaurateur Jarrett Wrisley recently closed his acclaimed, and very popular Soul Food Mahanakorn restaurant. Jarrett speaks powerfully about the deep damage done to Bangkok’s dining scene during the pandemic, and looks back fondly on its halcyon days before COVID-19 took hold.

Having studied Chinese in Beijing, and worked as a restaurant critic in Shanghai, Jarrett Wrisley worked on a TV shoot in Chengdu with Anthony Bourdain. Shortly after, he moved to Bangkok and opened his own restaurant. Soul Food Mahanakorn quickly developed a local and global following, and became a crucible of contemporary Thai cooking with American accents. This week, Gary chats with Jarrett - who is a former colleague in Shanghai - about the 2010s era of inspiring culinary creativity in Bangkok. At the height of Soul Food Mahanakorn's powers - and having opened other restaurants in Bangkok and a spin-off in Hong Kong - COVID-19 intervened. Tourists were locked out, and local dining preferences changed. The subsequent months saw the collapse of a once thriving and dynamic dining scene, and resulted in Jarrett closing his beloved restaurant. Frustrated by the situation in Thailand, he decide to leave. Having written a culinary road trip book in Italy, he pondered his next move. Jarrett is currently living in Montana, in the US - but says he'll be back in Asia some time in future.

Having achieved more than a 95% vaccine rate for its adult population, Malaysia is eager to recommence International travel. Three overlapping announcements this week paved the way, but left many questions unanswered. On the second edition of our new weekly The SEA Travel News Show, Gary also looks at the top talking points in Indonesia and Myanmar. Plus, Vincent Vichit-Vadakan dials in from Bangkok to discuss the latest on Thailand's reopening and the lessons being learned from the Phuket Sandbox strategy. He also provides some advance information about an exciting South East Asia travel webinar with an all-star cast to be hosted by Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Thailand next week. Plus, we've got some clips from Gary and Hannah's guest appearance on this week's OAG Webinar dedicated to air travel and tourism in South East Asia. We finish with an excerpt from our podcast interview with Langkawi-based travel filmmaker Kamila Delart about how travel film and video content is likely to evolve in the new era.

"I'm trying to get people curious." Travel film and video content is changing, particularly as the pandemic redefines the way we think about the purpose of travel and the meaning of tourism. To get an insider's perspective on where we are heading, Gary chats with award-winning filmmaker Kamila Delart. Based on the Malaysian island of Langkawi for a decade, Kamila has worked with tourism boards and travel companies across South East Asia. She also produces her own short films focusing on slow travel, cultural heritage and nature. In a fascinating chat, the show journeys from shooting inside heritage temples to spotting sea otters on an empty beach and an as-yet-unfulfilled shoot in Papua New Guinea. En route, Kamila discusses her multi-award-winning film, The Egret's Voyage, which was shot along the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, East Malaysia, and honoured at film festivals in Cyprus, New York and Montenegro. She also talks about the ethical and cultural responsibilities that content creators must respect, and the challenges of creating tourism video content for different demographics and markets. Above all, Kamila believes that the future of travel filmmaking will encourage people to slow down and experience destinations with all their senses.

It's been a dismal year so far for travel and tourism in South East Asia. Now, as vaccine rollouts accelerate and events – and reopening speculation – gather pace, we’re launching a brand new weekly show. The SEA Travel News Show will feature a snappy mix of news, updates and mini interviews to keep you up to speed with the latest happenings here in South East Asia. Our take-off edition features the latest from Thailand, Bali, Singapore and Australia. Hannah joins Gary to chat through the potential outlook for travel and tourism for the rest of 2021 - and into 2022. Phnom Penh-based Nick Ray, Founder of Hanuman Films and long-time Lonely Planet writer, dials in from the World Travel Market (WTM) in London to tell us about the South East Asian presence at the show. And we finish in the Maldives, which recently received its 1 millionth visitor in 2021. Ruth Franklin, Co-Founder of Secret Paradise Maldives, tells us why she is feeling optimistic for tourism to the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2022.

It's more than 15 months since The Maldives reopened after the COVID-19 lockdown. Progress has been impressive with a few tribulations along the way - and the nation welcomed its 1 millionth visitor in 2021 last week. Many countries in South East Asia have looked closely at how the Maldives managed its reopening and rebuilt its tourism sector. So in Part 4 of our Destination 2022 series, Gary discusses the outlook for the rest of 2021 and into 2022 with Ruth Franklin, Co-founder of Secret Paradise Maldives. Ruth explains the challenges and successes for resort and local island tourism, and some exciting home-stay plans for 2022. She outlines the key inbound markets since reopening, and others - such as China and South East Asia - that are still missing from the mix. Ruth also outlines shifts in airline routes, the value of a strong repeat visitor market and emerging patterns of travel. Looking ahead to 2022 - which marks the 50th anniversary of tourism in the Maldives - we assess the marketing strategies being developed to broaden the inbound mix as more countries permit outbound travel. Plus, what are Maldives Border Miles, and why do they matter?

Australia is reconnecting with the world, but how will its phased travel revival take shape? Certainly, Australia will be a coveted destination for tourism, family visits and business trips from South East Asia, and nations across the region will look forward to welcoming back Australian visitors. So in Part 3 of our Destination 2022 series, we head Down Under. Gary discusses the outlook for all aspects of inbound, outbound and domestic travel with Melbourne-based Simon Westaway, Strategy Director at Royce Communications, who recently completed a 2-year spell as Executive Director of the Australian Tourism Industry Council. In a broad-ranging chat, Gary and Simon address the key pandemic learnings for Australian travel and tourism, ranging from domestic state border closures to the collapse of air travel and decimation of the cruise sector. Now, as Australia's new era of travel commences, which destinations will airlines prioritise for inbound and outbound travel? Where will China and India fit into the nation's near- and long-term travel landscape? And what about Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and other South East Asian markets? What's the outlook for the Australia-New Zealand Travel Bubble? And, given how deeply Australia's visitor economy has been impacted  over the past two years, what are  realistic expectations for the year ahead?

Bali is preparing to welcome back international tourists for the first time in 19 months. Progress is slow, however, and the situation is complex. At present, no inbound flights are confirmed. So, today's show takes an up-close look at one of South East Asia's most emblematic reopening stories. Gary is joined by Simona Chimenti, Marketing & Media Relations Director of the Bali Hotels Association and General Manager of The Pavilions Bali in Sanur, and Melina Caruso, Technology & Marketing Consultant of the Bali Hotels Association. We discuss the various regulations being put into place for vaccinated tourists, and the current list of 19 countries from which visitors can travel to Bali. We also look at the importance of domestic tourism, and the challenges ahead for hotels, airlines, tour operators and all travel businesses. Will the on-arrival quarantine period be further reduced from its current 5 days, or even removed? How are forward hotel bookings shaping up for Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year? Will visitor profiles and key source markets change? And what is the current advice for travellers planning a trip to Bali?  

With travel starting to return, Gary kicks off a new series called Destination 2022. Each episode will analyse the travel outlook in places that will be hot tickets for South East Asian travellers. We start in South Korea – where the nation’s brilliantly packaged mix of K-pop, K-drama, K-cuisine and K-beauty, plus smart destination video marketing, have kept it top of mind for the region’s youthful travellers. Gary is joined by Dr Jaeyeon Choe in Seoul who teaches Tourism Studies at Swansea University, and is Visiting Professor at the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Hue University, Vietnam. South Korea is nearing a 70% vaccination rate, and unlike in many Asian nations South Korean travellers have been heading overseas, mostly to Europe, all summer. We discuss the outlook for inbound travel, and assess how South Korea is using ‘Soft Power’ to promote itself as a destination, ranging from the popularity of TV shows like Squid Game and megabands BTS and Blackpink to the surging appeal of Korean cuisines and cosmetics. We cover South Korea’s presence at the Dubai World Expo, exciting new destination videos themed around Night Tourism and Korean fashions and the Singapore-South Korea Vaccinated Travel Lane. Jaeyeon also guides us to some hot destinations and trends among domestic travellers. Plus, we ask where South Koreans will be heading for Christmas/New Year and Lunar New Year 2022.

In today's show, Gary recounts the dramatic events of the past 7 days as some governments in South East Asia finally made decisive moves to restart travel. The process was kickstarted by Singapore whose announcement of 9 new Vaccinated Travel Lanes triggered other countries to start playing catch up. Within days, Malaysia and Thailand had accelerated the return of travel - albeit in different ways. Vietnam and Cambodia are racing to keep up, while Bali's now in-process reopening to vaccinated inbound travellers remains shrouded in mystery and confusion. It's becoming clear that competition to attract travellers in South East Asia will become fierce in the lead up to Christmas/New Year and Lunar New Year. Adding to the intrigue, other Asia Pacific destinations - including India, Fiji, New South Wales in Australia, and potentially South Korea and Japan – prepare to welcome back travellers. Bringing things up to date, Gary concludes by saying that more speculation and announcements are expected - but travel is starting to return to the region, perhaps faster than was expected.   

The travel trade media has experienced huge disruption during the pandemic. Story angles have been forcibly changed as South East Asia's decade of growth disintegrated and destination borders stayed shut. But what happens next as governments in the region prepare to bring back travel and tourism? This week, Gary chats about the intricacies of COVID-era travel journalism with Bali-based Julia Winterflood. During the pandemic, Julia has been Head Writer of The Bali Beat, and a travel journalist for Travel Weekly Asia, BBC Storyworks and Travelfish. In a broad-ranging discussion, we vicariously journey from Bali and across Indonesia to Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. We ask whether local people's rights and the expectations of travellers and travel industry staff will be listened to in future. And how should the travel media report the industry's responsibility to the environment and the planet's natural resources? The show finishes in Julia's home country, Australia, as we touch on the issue of 'national healing' after the controversies and state schisms it has experienced over the last 18 months.

The international travel media continues to change as blogs, vlogs and social media dominate content consumption. On this week's show, Gary chats with Phnom Penh-based travel writer and editor Simon Ostheimer. Having grown up in Hong Kong, Simon has lived and worked across South East Asia and Greater China over the past two decades. Along the way, he has managed city magazines in Shanghai, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, plus a newspaper in Phuket. He's written travel stories from across the region for heavyweight titles like Conde Nast Traveller, CNN Travel and DestinAsian, and now publishes his own weekly newsletter, Tales of the Orient. In a broad-ranging chat, Simon discusses his childhood in Hong Kong, studying Chinese in Suzhou and watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He shares his observations about how travel and lifestyle content changed during the 2010s, a period of dramatic expansion in travel and tourism across South East Asia. He also talks about pandemic life in Cambodia, and how his perspective on travel has shifted over the past 18 months.

Airlines have been severely impacted by South East Asia’s long and ongoing border shutdowns. So what happens next in the aviation sector? On today’s show, Gary and Hannah chat with Singapore-based Mayur “Mac” Patel, who is Regional Sales Director of OAG. In a broad-ranging interview, we discuss the year so far for airlines and airports, and look ahead at the prospects for the final quarter of 2021, and 2022. Will the hoped-for mutual recognition of vaccine certifications actually happen, and will that help rebuild confidence in air travel? We also assess the magnitude of disruption for airline network planners and airport traffic over the past 18 months. What strategy shifts are national carriers and LCCs considering? And how important are domestic networks? Plus, will we see more new airlines taking off across South East Asia and Asia Pacific?

As South East Asia enters the 4th quarter of 2021, Gary and Hannah bash heads together to create a list of 10 top travel learnings from a year that – as yet – hasn’t really got going. Perhaps a rush of travel activity awaits around the corner… but 2021 has taught the travel industry some harsh lessons. So on this week's show, we discuss the following points: 1) 2021 is shaping up to worse than 2020 for tourism businesses; 2) Governments being in control of travel is a disaster; 3) Any ASEAN cooperation is a pipe dream; 4) South East Asian tourism planners are directionless without Chinese tourists; 5) Vaccines have not been the save-all the tourism industry thought they would be; 6) Reopening may come down to 2 models: Thailand's Phuket Sandbox or Singapore's Vaccinated Travel Lane: 7) Pent-up demand is probable, but not guaranteed; 8) Overlooking domestic markets is a long-term mistake: 9) Outbound travel is of little importance to governments; and 10) Media reporting of travel during the pandemic is clickbait driven.  

Thailand has grabbed headlines for much of 2021 in South East Asia, but what’s it been like to live and work in a country that appeared COVID-safe, and then was hit very hard by the Delta variant? In the final part of our ‘2021: The Year So Far in ASEAN’ series, Gary and Hannah chat with Vincent Vichit-Vadakan, a freelance writer and editor based in Bangkok. Vincent is also the host of tourism-related seminars for Destination Mekong and the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. We talk about the early year projections for a partial travel recovery, and the COVID concerns that emerged around the time of the Songkran festival. We discuss in depth the protracted development and implementation of the Phuket Sandbox, and the lacklustre results so far. And, what has been the knock-on impact for domestic travel? Plus we look ahead to the still-unconfirmed next phase of Thailand’s reopening, which includes the capital, Bangkok – one of the world’s most visited cities.

Will history record that August 2021 was the month when travel returned to government agendas? It was certainly an eventful month in South East Asia as governments recognised that COVID-19 will be endemic, and that they must plan accordingly. Accelerating vaccination rollouts remains a priority, and a big challenge - especially for countries with large populations, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. This week, Gary and Hannah review the 6 top talking points in travel and tourism during August, and bring each one right up to date. Malaysia saw a government fall and a new Prime Minister installed who announced a pilot reopening for vaccinated domestic travellers in Langkawi. Thailand turned its inbound attentions to Bangkok and updated its Phuket Sandbox statistics. Singapore shifted its focus to Vaccinated Travel Lanes, but is fighting more local infections. In the Philippines, a moratorium on casino tourism investment in Boracay was removed, the flag carrier entered Chapter 11 and confusion surrounds the issuance of digital vaccine certificates. And so to beautiful Bali, where more mixed messaging emerged about its 'will it, won't it' reopening plan.

After successfully managing the pandemic in 2020, the Delta variant has hit Cambodia harder than expected this year. That said, one of the region's most concerted vaccination programmes offers hope for rebuilding both tourism and the economy. In the penultimate edition of our 10-part '2020: The Year So Far in ASEAN' series, Gary and Hannah welcome Jacques Guichandut, Managing Director of All Dreams Cambodia, which is a B2B tour operator based in Phnom Penh. We learn how the removal of international tourism has impacted local travel businesses, and how Jacques pivoted to meet shifting leisure and team-building travel expectations in the domestic market. We assess Cambodia's reopening timeframe, and discuss the opportunities of positioning the nation as a single destination, rather than part of a South East Asia trip itinerary. Plus, what is it like to visit the ancient temple ruins of Angkor Wat with almost no tourists?

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, and counts the planet's fourth largest population. It is also South East Asia's largest country and its biggest economy. The size, scale and diversity of the nation have been decisive factors for its long struggle to contain COVID-19, and the immense logistical challenges of inoculating its people. That said, significant progress is being made, and although the reopening of Bali to international travellers has faded from view for now, a cautious optimism exists for the future. So in Part 8 of our 2021: The Year So Far In… series, Gary and Hannah head to Indonesia to chat with Bali-based Julia Winterflood, who is Head Writer of The Bali Beat and a journalist for Travel Weekly Asia. Julia discusses new trends in domestic tourism that have emerged, and the fascinating concept of "tourist villages". We also update the latest vaccination figures nationwide and in Bali itself, analyse the structural impact on Indonesia's travel economy and learn the attitudes among young people about what tourism means to them. Finally, we address the much-discussed concept of "mass tourism" vs "quality tourism".

From 4.3 billion down to 0 - and an array of figures in between. On this special extra edition in the "2021: The Year So Far in ASEAN" series, Gary and Hannah crunch the year’s distressing travel numbers. We created a list of 2021 statistics that, taken together, sum up what has been another very difficult year so far in South East Asia. En route, we assess the current vaccine rollout figures, the staggering drop in ASEAN’s air travel capacity, and chart the slide in Thailand’s visitor arrivals projections. Plus, what links ‘28,955’ with 2021’s biggest travel story, and why does ‘2’ still define the region’s top travel story in 2020? Which country is implementing a 28-day quarantine, and which one registered 6% hotel occupancy in June? And, which high-profile airport saw its first half-year passenger movements slump from 12.03 million in 2020 to 951,000 in 2021? Finally, when it comes to 0, which nations in ASEAN and Asia Pacific are still following a Zero Covid strategy? Sadly, the numbers tell some salutary stories about the current state of travel and tourism in South East Asia.

Malaysia continues to struggle with containing COVID-19, and despite an accelerated vaccine programme is not currently permitting international or interstate travel. Compounding the problem is a worsening economic and political crisis, which resulted this week in the resignation of the government. So in Part 6 of our 2021: The Year So Far In... series, Gary and Hannah bring it home to Malaysia to chat with Faeez Fadhlillah, CEO of TripFez, Honorary Treasurer of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents and a PATA Board Member. Regularly involved in travel policy discussions with the government, Faaez is perfectly placed to discuss the current situation for travel businesses  in Malaysia, and the outlook for the rest of the year and into 2022. During the interview, we analyse the 'travel bubble' landscape, a heavily touted reopening on the island of Langkawi, and other potential tourism restart options. Plus, we discuss why South East Asia needs ASEAN to develop a unified vaccine recognition strategy. And, as a travel entrepreneur, what are Faeez's plans for reinvigorating Tripfez in the near future?