All Episodes

Written, produced and hosted by two KL-based travel and media specialists, The South East Asia Travel Show discusses the hottest topics in the world’s most dynamic tourism region. Please check out some of our previous pods!

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23 Sep 2024 • 32m28s

Ep 228: Tackling Economic Leakage & Sustainability Grandstanding in Tourism, with Ewan Cluckie, Tripseed
“How do you know your tourism activity’s overall impact is beneficial to a community if you aren’t measuring it?” This week, Gary and Hannah discuss economic leakages and quantifying the impacts on local communities of tour operations with Ewan Cluckie, Founder of Thailand-based Tripseed. Socio-economic sustainability in tourism is an under-scrutinised topic, but Tripseed is confronting it head-on. The company recently published phase 1 of its deeply researched Economic Distribution Disclosure Initiative, a set of tools and metrics designed to “drive transparency and positive impact within the local economy”.
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10 Sep 2024 • 26m16s

Ep 227: Stargazing Tourism, a 'Cultural Industrial Hub' & New UNESCO Heritage Sites: August 2024 in Review
“The pieces of South East Asia’s post-pandemic tourism jigsaw are still being put into place”. Regional travel and tourism trends continue to be impacted by the Covid era, both from a supply and demand perspective. So, as we march full steam into the final third of 2024, what were the Top 8 talking points in August 2024? On our monthly roundup, we discuss the fallout from Malaysia Airlines’ decision to cut almost one-fifth of its capacity, assess the airline volumes into the region from China and dive into the factors behind the latest round of quarterly airline earnings.
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30 Aug 2024 • 28m56s

Ep 226: The Outlook for Muslim Friendly Tourism & Hospitality in Asia Pacific, with Nizran Noordin, Islamic Tourism Centre
“The Muslim friendly tourism and hospitality eco-system will be the next big thing in global tourism.” Muslim tourism is forecast to be valued at USD225 billion worldwide by 2030, with ASEAN and Asia Pacific at the centre of future growth. To discuss the challenges and opportunities up ahead for the travel industry, Gary and Hannah welcome Nizran Noordin, Director General of the Islamic Tourism Centre, which is based in Malaysia.
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19 Aug 2024 • 34m02s

Ep 225: The 2024 South East Asia Tourism Year (So Far) in Review - Data Free!
We are almost two-thirds through 2024. This year, more than ever, South East Asia’s travel and tourism recovery and regrowth is being assessed through the lens of data and statistics. But quantifying every aspect of tourism obfuscates the dynamic political, economic, societal, technological and environmental factors behind those numbers. So, this week Gary and Hannah ask and answer 8 critical questions about the direction of regional travel in 2024, and beyond – without referencing data.
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8 Aug 2024 • 31m01s

Ep 224: EV Tours, Cross-Border Trains & New Hotels Popping Up: The Shifting Tourism Landscape in Laos, with Jason Rolan & Benny Kong
Land-locked Laos is a beautiful part of South East Asia, where tourism is coming back to life despite tough economic times. Overland travel is a dynamic driver, following the launch in 2023 of the cross-border China-Laos railway, and - last month - a new train link between Bangkok and Vientiane. To navigate Laos’s changing travel landscape, Gary is joined by Jason Rolan, Tourism Specialist and Senior Partner at RDK Group, and Benny Kong, Co-Founder of Discover Laos Today.
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31 Jul 2024 • 31m50s

Ep 223: The Bali Benchmark, TikTok's Travel Sandbox & The Mole in Malaysia: July 2024 in Review
July is a busy season. Chinese summer holiday tourists returned to the region in large numbers, while destinations across ASEAN implemented various measures to boost their full-year tourism arrivals. And we had some extreme weather events as well. So, what were the Top 8 travel and tourism talking points in July? In our monthly round-up, Gary and Hannah travel around ASEAN, with stopovers in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, plus China and India.
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23 Jul 2024 • 32m02s

Ep 222: Decarbonising Aviation: Is 'Net-Zero Emissions' Achievable - And How?, with Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Frost & Sullivan
SAF. Future Fuels. Hydrogen. Electric. Hybrid. Aviation contributes approx 2-3% of global CO2 emissions, with the majority being from aircraft movements. But how bad could it get? And what steps are being taken - and how quickly - by governments, regulators, airlines, aircraft manufacturers and airports to reduce emissions at scale? To address these big issues, Gary welcomes back to the show Shantanu Gangakedkhar, Senior Consultant, Aerospace & Defense, at Frost & Sullivan.
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11 Jul 2024 • 29m52s

Ep 221: Reflections on the 1st UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia Pacific in Cebu, the Philippines
The symbiosis of food and tourism is not a new topic, but the contexts are changing. Across ASEAN and Asia Pacific, fast-moving trends in food tourism are driven by social media videos and tasting tests and a raft of culinary awards, guides, ratings and reviews. Beyond changing traveller appetites, vital issues - such as climate impact, resource allocation, automated farming techniques, and fair pricing for food producers - are gaining urgency.
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4 Jul 2024 • 30m12s

Ep 220: Bangkok-Vientiane by Train, KL-Nairobi by Plane & Gastronomy Tourism in Cebu: June 2024 in Review
So, we’ve passed a significant threshold. The first half of 2024 is completed – and an unseemly scramble will now occur to try and match – or get very close to – 2019 travel metrics across the region. In this context of competition, it’s time to round up the top 8 travel talking points from June – and what an action-packed month it proved to be. This week, Gary and Hannah travel around ASEAN, with stopovers in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar, plus China and – better believe it – Kenya.
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21 Jun 2024 • 30m01s

Ep 219: From the Dubai of ASEAN to China's Mega-Percentages: South East Asia's Top 10 Travel Takeaways From H1 2024
The ‘Dubai of ASEAN’. China’s Mega-Percentages. The ‘Next Taylor Swift’ Event. Tourism in an Ageing Region. At the end of the first half of 2024, Gary and Hannah look back at the 10 most consequential travel takeaways in South East Asia and beyond. En route, we discuss political leadership change in three key markets, a proliferation of proposed tourism fees and the expansion of ‘digital identity’ in airports. Plus, we dive into Singapore’s Vision 2040 and Vietnam’s visitor forecasts through 2045.
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14 Jun 2024 • 32m03s

Ep 218: Reviewing Tourism in Thailand in the First Half of 2024, with Vincent Vichit-Vadakan
This week, Thailand confirmed it IS targeting 40 million arrivals in 2024. Achieving this goal would set an annual record for Thailand and - crucially - surpass the 39.9 million visitors in 2019. It would be a stellar achievement. So, it’s the perfect time to assess the year so far in Thai tourism - and look ahead - with Bangkok-based travel journalist Vincent Vichit-Vadakan. We discuss Thailand’s visa liberalisation measures in recent months, and its highly anticipated Soft Power Conference later in June - which will present a diverse vision of Thailand’s future, including tourism, culture, arts, cuisine, music, fashion and festivals among its 11 soft power pillars.
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7 Jun 2024 • 30m14s

Ep 217: Is South East Asia's Era of Hotel Rate Growth Now Over?, with Jesper Palmqvist, STR CoStar
“The narrative is changing. We’re not talking about the pace of hotel rate growth anymore.” Stability and volatility may sound contradictory, but both terms help to explain hotel performance in South East Asian markets and China so far in 2024. To delve deeper into the evolving travel, tourism and geo-economic factors influencing the hotel industry, Gary and Hannah welcome Jesper Palmqvist, Senior Director, Asia Pacific, at STR CoStar, back to the show.
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5 Jun 2024 • 15m52s

Ep 216: 'From Battambang to Taking the Stage in New York, Sydney & Montreal': The Best Bits From The South East Asia Travel Show in May 2024

“From Battambang to Taking the Stage in New York, Sydney & Montreal” to “Say versus Do in Sustainable Tourism” and “Backwards Steps in Domestic Tourism in ASEAN”. Welcome to the third edition of our monthly mini-round-up of the key moments from recent podcast discussions and interviews. During May, Craig Dodge, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing at Phare, discusses the compelling journey of Cambodia’s arts circus from a wartime refugee camp in Battambang to a theatre stage tour taking in New York, Sydney & Montreal.
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31 May 2024 • 28m54s

Ep 215: 'Clear Air Turbulence', Thailand's Visa Bonanza, Singapore's Vision 2040 & Vietnam Shades 2019: May 2024 in Review
We’re steaming through 2024, with 5 months already completed, and attracting tourists is becoming intensely competitive. This week, Gary and Hannah review South East Asia’s top 8 travel and tourism stories during May. This month’s round-up takes us to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines, China and India. En route we discuss “sudden, extreme turbulence” on a Singapore Airlines flight, Vietnam surpasses 2019 visitor arrivals so far in 2024, a pending takeover of Malaysia Airports and a raft of new visa entry categories rolled out in Thailand.
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15 May 2024 • 30m55s

Ep 214: Running Away to the Circus, and Cambodia's Tourism Recovery, with Craig Dodge, Phare
With a 5.0 TripAdvisor rating, Phare, the Cambodian Circus based in Siem Reap, must be doing something right. We speak to Craig Dodge, their Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, about the journey this social enterprise has taken from humble beginnings in Battambang to shows in New York City. Along the way, we talk Cambodia’s tourism recovery and the pull between positioning it as a mono destination vs part of a multi-country Southeast Asian itinerary.
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10 May 2024 • 26m12s

Ep 213: Visa Waivers, Extreme Weather, AI Tools & ‘All-Gender Weddings’: Revisiting the 2024 Travel Wishlist
As we speed towards the mid-point of 2024, it’s time to revisit our annual top 10 list of travel wishes and expectations, which we created in January. How have our predictions measured up so far this year? En route, we assess whether travel visa waivers have become a competitive battleground in South East Asia, and look at evolving patterns in the Public Holiday vs Weekend vs Weekday travel economies. Plus, are we seeing any progress to bridge the Say-Do gap in sustainable travel activity, and is there any evidence to support the AI hype in travel supply and demand?
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1 May 2024 • 16m14s

Ep 212: 'Everyone Wants to Go to Japan': The Best Bits From The South East Asia Travel Show in April 2024
From “Everyone wants to go to Japan” to “Thailand’s on the verge of over-tourism” to “Three towers with a surf board on top”. Welcome to our new monthly mini-roundup of the key moments from recent podcast discussions and interviews. During April, Philip See, Group Chief Sustainability Officer & CEO of Loyalty and Travel Solutions of the Malaysia Aviation Group, discusses the sustainable aviation challenges and opportunities in South East Asia. Plus, we head to Japan to break down the astonishing surge of inbound travel from South East Asia to one of Asia Pacific’s hottest destinations.
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25 Apr 2024 • 31m20s

Ep 211: The Return of Over-tourism, Chinese Tourists & Thailand’s Tourism Tax: April 2024 in Review
“Whatever happened to ‘Quality Tourism’?” As we complete one-third of 2024, what were the top 8 travel talking points in April? Gary and Hannah journey across the region, with stops in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, China and Dubai. We analyse the increase in Chinese arrivals to ASEAN & Asia Pacific in Q1, and preview the May Labour Day holiday. We review travel volumes during the Songkran, Eid/Lebaran and Khmer New Year travel periods.
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19 Apr 2024 • 30m19s

Ep 210: The Top 8 Statistical Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia
Travel and tourism in South East Asia are heavily stat-driven. Indeed, 2024 is turning out to be a year of shouting loudly about milestones and 2019 catch-ups across the region. So, this week, Hannah and Gary assess 8 hot numerical topics, taking us to Singapore, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Japan. En route, we deconstruct the 2023 total of 100 million arrivals to South East Asia, and analyse the Q1 figures in key markets.
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11 Apr 2024 • 31m26s

Ep 209: Building an Airline Sustainability Strategy, with Philip See, Malaysia Aviation Group
As sustainability targets in aviation gain sharper focus, airlines and governments in South East Asia are racing to implement strategies. These range from sustainable aviation fuel levies to in-house trainings. With news this week that Malaysia plans to implement a carbon levy, Hannah picks the perfect time to discuss a broad range of issues with Philip See, Group Chief Sustainability Officer & CEO of Loyalty and Travel Solutions, of the Malaysia Aviation Group.
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4 Apr 2024 • 31m26s

Ep 208: The Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in March 2024
Well, we’ve completed the first quarter of 2024 – where did that go? March was another frenetic month, with plenty of travel and tourism news, statistics, announcements and pronouncements. So where is South East Asia at exactly 2 years after the region began to reopen after the pandemic? Gary and Hannah discuss March’s Top 8 talking points, with stop-offs in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and China. En route, we analyse potential legislative shifts for Marriage Equality and Casino Gaming in Thailand, Singapore’s World’s Best MICE City campaign and Vietnam’s Q1 arrivals surpassing the same 2019 period.
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2 Apr 2024 • 19m35s

Ep 207: The Best Bits from The South East Asia Travel Show in March 2024
Welcome to our new monthly mini-roundup of the key moments from The South East Asia Travel Show’s recent editions. The March rewind features red-hot talking points including ASEAN’s domestic and international flight recovery, Indonesia’s most popular outbound destinations, the opportunities for adventure travel in Laos and China’s remarkable inbound tourism policy shift. We also discuss Thailand’s Prime Minister becoming the nation’s pre-eminent tourism salesman, and the passing on of travel costs to tourists and travellers around the region.
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25 Mar 2024 • 30m19s

Ep 206: The Eco-Tourism Adventurer of Laos: In Conversation with Inthy Deuansavanh, Inthira Group
Indonesia is by some margin the largest country, with the largest population and largest economy, in South East Asia. It also counts a fascinating interplay between inbound and outbound travel and a vast domestic travel and tourism sector. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome back Pauline Suharno, President of ASTINDO, the Indonesian Travel Agents Association, to discuss the overall recovery in 2023, and the outlook for 2024. En route, we discuss the hot destinations for outbound tourists, the continued high cost of domestic air tickets and new travel packages for passengers jumping aboard the Whoosh high-speed rail.
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20 Mar 2024 • 30m22s

Ep 205: The Outlook for Travel & Tourism in Indonesia, with Pauline Suharno, ASTINDO
Indonesia is by some margin the largest country, with the largest population and largest economy, in South East Asia. It also counts a fascinating interplay between inbound and outbound travel and a vast domestic travel and tourism sector. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome back Pauline Suharno, President of ASTINDO, the Indonesian Travel Agents Association, to discuss the overall recovery in 2023, and the outlook for 2024. En route, we discuss the hot destinations for outbound tourists, the continued high cost of domestic air tickets and new travel packages for passengers jumping aboard the Whoosh high-speed rail.
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15 Mar 2024 • 31m13s

Ep 204: The Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in Q1 2024
From Changi’s statistical milestone to a festive travel renaissance and Taylor Diplomacy to Thailand’s ‘Tourism Salesman’. As the end of Q1 2024 draws near, we move towards another major milestone. Nearly two years ago, on 1 April 2022, South East Asia began to fully reopen after the dark days of the pandemic. So, how has the first quarter of 2024 panned out, and what were the key takeaways? This week, Gary and Hannah assess the Top 8 travel and tourism talking points from throughout the region in the first three months of 2024.
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11 Mar 2024 • 35m29s

Ep 203: Assessing South East Asia's Air Travel Recovery 4 Years After the Declaration of a Pandemic, with Brendan Sobie
Today marks 4 years since the WHO declared Covid-19 a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. We know what happened next, especially in Asia Pacific where the impacts on travel lasted longer than elsewhere. So where is South East Asia’s air travel recovery currently at – and what is the outlook for the rest of the year, and beyond? To discuss these big questions, Gary chats with Brendan Sobie, Founder of Sobie Aviation and one of the region’s most prolific aviation analysts.
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8 Mar 2024 • 36m03s

Ep 202: Is China Serious About Attracting More Inbound Tourists & Business Travellers?
Are we seeing the start of a transformation in China’s travel sector? While outbound tourism grabs the headlines, a vibrant domestic travel recovery and a shift towards opening up its inbound sector garner less coverage. That is starting to change as the Chinese government expands its visa-free policy to visitors from 15 countries (11 from Europe and 4 from South East Asia). Given that inbound travel has always been a low priority, has the pandemic changed everything?
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4 Mar 2024 • 33m20s

Ep 201: Future South East Asia: The Top 8 New Airport, High-Speed Rail & Urban Development Projects, with James Clark
Wherever you travel in South East Asia, it’s impossible to miss that transport infrastructure is being built out on a vast scale. After the lull of the pandemic era, this will accelerate over the next decade and beyond. Airport capacities are being expanded, high-speed and urban railways constructed and even new cities built from scratch. So how will this influence the future direction of travel and tourism in the region? This week, Gary is joined by James Clark, Founder of the Future South East Asia newsletter, to assess the current status of 8 potentially game-changing travel and transport projects throughout ASEAN.
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21 Feb 2024 • 38m25s

Ep 200: Reflecting on 4 Years & 200 Episodes of The South East Asia Travel Show
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.
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13 Feb 2024 • 34m54s

Ep 199: Will Bali's Tourism Bounce-back Continue in 2024?, with the Bali Hotels Association
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.
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6 Feb 2024 • 34m54s

Ep 198: Will Taylornomics Encourage OTAs & SuperApps to Sell Concert Tickets in Asia?
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?
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2 Feb 2024 • 33m19s

Ep 197: South East Asia's Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in January
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.
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18 Jan 2024 • 34m15s

Ep 196: The Outlook for Travel & Tourism in Vietnam, with Mike Tatarski, Vietnam Weekly
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.
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10 Jan 2024 • 37m18s

Ep 195: The 2024 Travel & Tourism Wishlist for South East Asia
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?
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14 Dec 2023 • 36m26s

Ep 194: 2023 in Review: This Year’s Top 10 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia
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.
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30 Nov 2023 • 35m42s

Ep 193: Reflections on a Hectic Year of Travel in South East Asia and Beyond, with Vincent Vichit-Vadakan
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.
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9 Nov 2023 • 26m36s

Ep 192: The Top 8 Under-the-Radar Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia
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.
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5 Nov 2023 • 33m13s

Ep 191: The Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in October 2023
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.
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12 Oct 2023 • 33m12s

Ep 190: AI, OTAs, Payments & Ancillary Revenues for Independent Hotels, with Vikram Malhi, Zuzu Hospitality
“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.
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3 Oct 2023 • 32m12s

Ep 189: The Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in September 2023
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.
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29 Sep 2023 • 34m56s

Ep 188: Reflections on the Hotel Sector Recovery in South East Asia in 2023, with Jesper Palmqvist, STR
“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.
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5 Sep 2023 • 35m25s

Ep 187: Behind the Scenes of Australia’s Tourism Transformation Plan, with Samantha Palmer, AusTrade
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.
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28 Aug 2023 • 32m12s

Ep 186: The Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in August 2023
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.
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23 Aug 2023 • 32m42s

Ep 185: Celebrating South East Asian Cuisines & Food Cultures with the Kita Food Festival
“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.
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18 Aug 2023 • 31m21s

Ep 184: Pop Music Tourism in the Spotlight as Taylor Swift & Blackpink Fever Grips South East Asia
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.
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1 Aug 2023 • 32m32s

Ep 183: The Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in July 2023
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.
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18 Jul 2023 • 34m56s

Ep 182: Reflecting on 3 Years of Tourism Recovery in Maldives, with Thoyyib Mohamed, Visit Maldives
“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.
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5 Jul 2023 • 37m57s

Ep 181: The Top 10 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in the First Half of 2023
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.
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27 Jun 2023 • 37m29s

Ep 180: SuperApps Scale Up to Sell More South East Asian Travel, with Brett Henry, MG Group
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.
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20 Jun 2023 • 32m42s

Ep 179: The Shifting Outlook for Airports in South East Asia, with Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Frost & Sullivan
“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”.
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12 Jun 2023 • 33m28s

Ep 178: The Key Factors Driving Tourism & Hospitality Expansion in Indonesia, with Ross Woods
“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.
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6 Jun 2023 • 32m57s

Ep 177: A New Era of Chinese & Global Travel Payments, with Dr Cherry Huang, Alipay+, Ant Group
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.
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29 May 2023 • 32m03s

Ep 176: The Top 10 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in May 2023
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.
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19 May 2023 • 32m01s

Ep 175: Bali’s Tourism Bounce-back Builds Momentum, with the Bali Hotels Association
“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.
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17 Apr 2023 • 30m21s

Ep 174: Travel Takes off in Indonesia, with Pauline Suharno, ASTINDO
“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.
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13 Apr 2023 • 30m53s

Ep 173: Exploring the Future of Adventure Travel, with Shannon Stowell, ATTA
“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.
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6 Apr 2023 • 33m50s

Ep 172: Transboundary Haze Casts a Cloud Over Tourism in South East Asia
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.
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29 Mar 2023 • 37m13s

Ep 171: 10 Key Tourism Takeaways 12 Months Since South East Asia Reopened
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.
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22 Mar 2023 • 36m56s

Ep 170: The Top 10 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in March 2023
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.
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15 Mar 2023 • 9m20s

Ep 168: Mini Update - China Restores Inbound Tourism & Expands Outbound Travel
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.
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15 Mar 2023 • 38m36s

Ep 169: Will the Sunny Outlook for Airlines & Aviation in South East Asia Endure Through 2023?
“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.
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7 Mar 2023 • 29m30s

Ep 167: The Travel Fun is Back in the Philippines, with Feliz Axalan, Tradewings
“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.
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3 Mar 2023 • 23m30s

Ep 166: Tackling South East Asia's Big Travel & Tourism Challenges
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.
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23 Feb 2023 • 31m11s

Ep 165: The China v India Inbound Battle Heats Up in South East Asia
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.
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15 Feb 2023 • 32.00s

Ep 164: South East Asia’s Top 10 New Airport, High-Speed Rail & Transport Projects, with James Clark, Future South East Asia
“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.
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9 Feb 2023 • 32m29s

Ep 163: Sustainable Travel Tracking in Vietnam & AI in Tourism, with Stuart McDonald, Travelfish
“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. Today 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 Pathnet Zero apps. He discusses his findings and observations while travelling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi by train.
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2 Feb 2023 • 30m06s

Ep 162: The Top 10 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in January 2023
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.
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25 Jan 2023 • 35m55s

Ep 161: Ethics, Sustainability & Accessibility in Tour Operations, with Ewan Cluckie, Tripseed
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.
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20 Jan 2023 • 48m19s

Ep 160: South East Asia’s Top 15 Travel & Tourism Issues to Address in 2023, with Karen Yue, TTG Asia
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.
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9 Jan 2023 • 55m46s

Ep 159: China Reopens for Travel: What Happens Next?, with Prof. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, COTRI
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.
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15 Dec 2022 • 36m15s

Ep 158: The Top 10 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in 2022
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.
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2 Dec 2022 • 56m36s

Ep 157: Transitioning From 2022 to 2023: The State of South East Asia’s Travel Recovery
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.
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25 Nov 2022 • 32m10s

Ep 156: This Week’s 8 Top Travel Talking Points in South East Asia
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?
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5 Nov 2022 • 31m53s

Ep 155: South East Asia Starts to Reopen for Travel - One Year On!
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.
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28 Oct 2022 • 30m34s

Ep 154: South East Asia Prepares for an Uplifting Holiday Season
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 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.
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14 Oct 2022 • 27m53s

Ep 153: South East Asia’s Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points Ahead of ITB Asia
“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.
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7 Oct 2022 • 35m50ss

Ep 152: ASEAN's New Era of Travel Infrastructure, with James Clark, Future South East Asia
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.
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29 Sep 2022 • 31m02s

Ep 151: Good News for South East Asia as Japan, Taiwan & Hong Kong Reboot Travel
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.
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16 Sep 2022 • 36m02s

Ep 150: Japan Reopens for Tourism, with Kyoji Kuramochi, JNTO
“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).
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8 Sep 2022 • 34m40s

Ep 149: When Will Chinese Travellers Return - And What’s Changed?
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.
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1 Sep 2022 • 32m42s

Ep 148: 10 Reasons August Was an Eventful Month for Travel & Tourism in Asia Pacific
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.
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25 Aug 2022 • 35m28s

Ep 147: Tourism & Climate Change in Asia, with Alexander Trupp, Sunway University
“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.
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18 Aug 2022 • 30m41s

Ep 146: The Top 10 South East Asian Travel & Tourism Stories This Week (#2)
“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.
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11 Aug 2022 • 33m27s

Ep 145: Checking Malaysia’s Travel Recovery Pulse, with Tunku Dato Seri Iskandar Tunku Abdullah
“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.
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3 Aug 2022 • 30m54s

Ep 144: Domestic Travel & Tourism Lead the Recovery Across South East Asia
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.
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28 Jul 2022 • 29m37s

Ep 143: Assessing Asia Pacific’s Travel Recovery Outlook, with Liz Ortiguera, CEO, PATA
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.
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21 Jul 2022 • 31m57s

Ep 142: The Top 10 South East Asian Travel & Tourism Stories This Week
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.
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13 Jul 2022 • 30m24s

Ep 141: Charting Cambodia’s Aviation Recovery, with Stephen King, Cambodia Airports
“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.
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5 Jul 2022 • 35m57s

Ep 140: The Top 12 Travel Talking Points in South East Asia & China in 2022 So Far
“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.
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30 Jun 2022 • 30m59s

Ep 139: Positive Vibes in Phuket One Year After the Phuket Sandbox, with Sumi Soorian of the Phuket Hotels Association
“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.
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23 Jun 2022 • 30m53s

Ep 138: Is Bali Tourism Back on Track? With Simona Chimenti & Melina Caruso of the Bali Hotels Association
“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.
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16 Jun 2022 • 37m30s

Ep 137: Revitalising Greater Mekong Tourism, with Catherine Germier-Hamel
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.
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9 Jun 2022 • 28m56s

Ep 136: 22 Travel Wishes for South East Asia in 2022: Revisited!
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?
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3 Jun 2022 • 42m23s

Ep 135: The Current State of Airlines, Airports & Aviation in ASEAN, with Shukor Yusof
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.
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27 May 2022 • 37m15s

Ep 134: South East Asia Seeks to Build Momentum For A Travel Recovery
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.
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11 May 2022 • 25m34s

Ep 133: Laos Reopens to International Tourists, with Jason Rolan
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.
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5 May 2022 • 35m32s

Ep 132: Deciphering South East Asia’s Hottest Travel Recovery Buzzwords
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.
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26 Apr 2022 • 34m10s

Ep 131: April Sees South East Asia Get Upbeat About Travel!
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 differences he encountered in the two airports.
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20 Apr 2022 • 32m44s

Ep 130: Talking All Things Travel & Tourism in Thailand in 2022, with Vincent Vichit-Vadakan
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?
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14 Apr 2022 • 41m12s

Ep 129: South East Asia Travel & Tourism Braces for Long-Term Impacts of the Russia-Ukraine War
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.
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30 Mar 2022 • 34m49s

Ep 128: Destination Myanmar: Assessing the Impacts of the Past Two Years, with Argus Tuft
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 (pseudonym), 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.
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25 Mar 2022 • 34m45s

Ep 127: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part 8 - Take-off for South East Asia’s New Travel Reality, with Dan Lynn, ZUZU Hospitality
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.
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16 Mar 2022 • 27m39s

Ep 126: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part 7 - Vietnam Kickstarts a New Tourism Era, with Mike Tatarski, Vietnam Weekly
Vietnam’s reopening has been one of the most talked-about in South East Asia, and also one of the most unpredictable. Even until 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.
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9 Mar 2022 • 32m01s

Ep 125: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part 6 - South East Asia Steps Up The Return of Travel!
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.
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2 Mar 2022 • 32m47s

Ep 124: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part 5 - Australia Reopens & Targets ASEAN, with Brent Anderson
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 & 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.
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22 Feb 2022 • 30m54s

Ep 123: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part 4 - Pandemic Travel Experiments That Failed
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.
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17 Feb 2022 • 33m32s

Ep 122: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part 3: A New Era Beckons in Singapore, with Karen Yue
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.
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9 Feb 2022 • 33m18s

Ep 121: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part II: Bali, Indonesia & Beyond with Stuart McDonald
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.
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4 Feb 2022 • 38m02s

Ep 120: Two Years of Travel Disruption, Part I: 15 Temporary & Permanent Changes in Travel
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.
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28 Jan 2022 • 30m25s

Ep 119: Is South East Asia Ready to Reboot Travel in the Year of the Tiger?
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.
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21 Jan 2022 • 32m59s

Ep 118: 22 for 2022: A Wishlist for Travel & Tourism in ASEAN - Part II
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.
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18 Jan 2022 • 35m15s

Ep 117: Producing Travel Shows in Lombok, with Josh Edwards
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.
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14 Jan 2022 • 35m00s

Ep 116: 22 For 2022: A Wishlist for Travel & Tourism in ASEAN - Part I
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.
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7 Jan 2022 • 29m00s

Ep 115: 2022: The Current State of Travel & Tourism in South East Asia
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.
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13 Dec 2021 • 38m00s

Ep 114: 2021 in Review: The Good, The Bad & The Delta Variant
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.
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10 Dec 2021 • 25m00s

Ep 113: What’s it Like to Fly From ASEAN to Australia During the Pandemic?
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?
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3 Dec 2021 • 18m00s

Ep 112: The SEA Travel News Show: South East Asia Retreats From Travel (Again!)
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. On today’s show, 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.
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30 Nov 2021 • 31m00s

Ep 111: Omicron Strikes Fear into South East Asia

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.
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26 Nov 2021 • 23m00s

Ep 110: The SEA Travel News Show: Riding the China-Laos Railway

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’ crystallising reopening plans.
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23 Nov 2021 • 37m00s

Ep 109: Checking the Travel & Hotel Booking Pulse in South East Asia, with Dan Lynn
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.
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19 Nov 2021 • 26m00 s

Ep 108: The SEA Travel News Show: Cambodia Opens to the World
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.
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18 Nov 2021 • 26m00s

Ep 107: The Highs & COVID-era Lows of Bangkok‘s Restaurant Scene, with Jarrett Wrisley
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.
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12 Nov 2021 • 26m00s

Ep 106: The SEA Travel News Show: An Extraordinary Week of Travel Announcements in Malaysia
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.
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11 Nov 2021 • 32m00s

Ep 105: Slow Travel, Cultural Heritage & Nature Filmmaking in South East Asia, with Kamila Delart
“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.
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4 Nov 2021 • 23m00s

Ep 104: The SEA Travel News Show: Two Months To Rescue Travel & Tourism in 2021!
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.
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3 Nov 2021 • 34m10s

Ep 103: Destination 2022: The Maldives Hits 1 Million Visitors This Year - What Happens Next?, with Ruth Franklin
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.
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29 Oct 2021 • 41m00 s

Ep 102: Destination 2022: Australia Gets Ready to Reopen - What Happens Next?, with Simon Westaway
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.
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19 Oct 2021 • 34m00s

Ep 101: Destination 2022 - All Eyes on Bali: What Happens Next?, with the Bali Hotels Association
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 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 for the Bali Hotels Association.
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18 Oct 2021 • 32m00s

Ep 100: Destination 2022 - How Will South Korea Leverage K-Culture in Tourism?, with Dr Jaeyeon Choe

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 the University of Swansea, and is Visiting Professor at the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Hue University, Vietnam.
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15 Oct 2021 • 19m18s

Ep 99: 7 Days of Travel Drama in South East Asia!
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.
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12 Oct 2021 • 37m00s

Ep 98: Reporting Travel in South East Asia During a Pandemic, with Julia Winterflood
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.
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8 Oct 2021

Ep 97: Travel Storytelling in South East Asia & China, with Simon Ostheimer
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.
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29 Sep 2021 • 36m13s

Ep 96: The Outlook for Airlines, Airports & Aviation in ASEAN, with Mayur Patel
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?
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28 Sep 2021 • 37m21s

Ep 95: 10 Tough Travel Learnings From the First Three-Quarters of 2021
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: 2021 is shaping up to worse than 2020 for tourism businesses Governments being in control of travel is a disaster Any ASEAN cooperation is a pipe dream South East Asian tourism planners are directionless without Chinese tourists Vaccines have not been the save-all the tourism industry thought they would be Reopening may come down to 2 models: Thailand’s Phuket Sandbox or Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane Pent-up demand is probable, but not guaranteed Overlooking domestic markets is a long-term mistake Outbound travel is of little importance to governments and Media reporting of travel during the pandemic is clickbait driven.
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15 Sep 2021 • 34m00s

Ep 94: 2021: The Year So Far in Thailand, with Vincent Vichit-Vadakan
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.
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9 Sep 2021 • 36m00s

Ep 93: Did August Mark the Start of ASEAN's Travel Turnaround?
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.
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1 Sep 2021 • 33m00s

Ep 92: 2021: The Year So Far in Cambodia, with Jacques Guichandut
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.
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26 Aug 2021 • 38m00s

Ep 91: 2021: The Year So Far in Indonesia, with Julia Winterflood
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.
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19 Aug 2021 • 34m00s

Ep 90: 2021:The Year So Far in ASEAN - In Statistics
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.
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18 Aug 2021 • 35m00s

Ep 89: 2021: The Year So Far in Malaysia, with Faeez Fadhlillah
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.
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11 Aug 2021 • 37m00s

Ep 88: 2021: The Year So Far in the Philippines, with Feliz Axalan
The Philippines is South East Asia’s second largest nation with a population of more than 110 million. While it has struggled to contain COVID-19 from the outset, travel sentiment remains strong. This week, in Part 4 our “2021: The Year So Far” series, Gary and Hannah chat with Manila-based Feliz Axalan, General Manager at Tradewings Tours & Travel. Feliz joins us from Switzerland, having spent 3 months travelling in Europe, including Spain, Greece and Switzerland.
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4 Aug 2021 • 30m00s

Ep 87: 2021: The Year So Far in Laos, with Jason Rolan
The spectacular country of Laos has been overshadowed as prominent destinations in South East Asia attempt to reopen for travel and tourism. Laos, however, has tentatively set in motion its own reopening plan. So, this week, Gary and Hannah tackle developments in the year so far in Laos with Jason Rolan, who is Senior Partner of Vientiane-based RDK Group. Jason was last on the show in November 2020, when Laos was COVID-safe.
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30 Jul 2021 • 30m00s

Ep 86: July in Review: Delta Variant Spreads Across ASEAN & Asia Pacific
July 2021 saw the Delta variant spread at an accelerated speed through the region. It now dominates every aspect of economics, social and health policy and daily discourse. On the monthly review show, Gary and Hannah unravel this month’s worrying statistics from across South East Asia, plus China, Japan and South Korea. We also analyse what the worsening COVID-19 situation combined with variable speeds of vaccine rollout will mean for proposed tourism reopenings in Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
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28 Jul 2021 • 34m00s

Ep 85: 2021: The Year So Far in Singapore, with Karen Yue
It’s been an up-and-down year in Singapore. An accelerated vaccine programme offers real hope of emerging from the pandemic but a return almost to normality was halted by two recent COVID-19 clusters and new movement restrictions. Overlapping this, the government’s transition to an “Endemic Covid” framework should mean quarantine-free travel will soon be possible for vaccinated travellers. So, this week, Gary and Hannah tackle a range of key issues from the year so far with Karen Yue, who is Group Editor of Singapore-based TTG Asia.
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21 Jul 2021 • 32m00s

Ep 84: 2021: The Year So Far in Vietnam, with Mike Tatarski
Two-thirds through July, South East Asia’s travel recovery has yet to occur - and is receding into the distance. With the Delta variant spreading fast across ASEAN, nations that were COVID-safe earlier in the year are now under strict lockdown. So today’s show kicks off the “2021: The Year So Far” series, which will feature local experts and analysts in each market. The journey begins in Vietnam, as Gary and Hannah welcome Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, who is Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer and founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter.
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16 Jul 2021 • 30m00s

Ep 83: When Will US & Canadian Tourists Return to Asia?, with Ernst Flach
The US and Canadian travel sectors were upturned by COVID-19. However, accelerated vaccination rates and pent-up desire for domestic trips are creating a partial summer rebound. Inbound and outbound markets remain subdued, and an upturn may take time. On today’s show, Gary and Hannah welcome Vancouver-based Ernst Flach, Executive Director at Wagstaff Media and Marketing, to discuss all things travel and tourism in North America. We dig through the current trends in the US and Canada, the protocols for travelling in and out of each country and an encouraging rebound for travel advisors.
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15 Jul 2021 • 38m00s

Ep 82: 2021: The Year So Far in ASEAN - Top 20 Talking Points
So, two weeks into the 2nd half of 2021 – and the travel outlook remains rather gloomy. That said, there has been plenty to talk about, and in the 35th podcast of the year, Gary and Hannah take a critical look back … and forward. We compiled a list of the Top 10 Travel Talking Points of 2021 So Far, and a second list of the potential Top 10 Travel Talking Points for the Second Half of 2021.
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7 Jul 2021 • 37m00s

Ep 81: The Current State of Airlines in ASEAN, with Brendan Sobie
Airlines have felt the brunt of the collapse of international travel in South East Asia since borders were closed in March 2020. This week, Gary and Hannah talk all things aviation and airlines with Singapore-based Brendan Sobie, founder of Sobie Aviation. We discuss the varying challenges facing flag carriers in South East Asia, including Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Garuda Indonesia and Philippine Airlines. Also, how can LCCs manage to survive if an international travel recovery doesn’t occur any time soon?
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2 Jul 2021 • 35m00s

Ep 80: June in Review: Delta Variant Derails Tourism Planning
June 2021 proved to be a another difficult month for governments, citizens, companies and travel policy planners. The fast-spreading Delta variant caused previously COVID-safe countries to take stricter precautions, and worsened the situation in nations still battling to contain the coronavirus. Governmental travails impact every aspect of daily life, work and leisure throughout the region. On the first edition of a new monthly review show, Gary and Hannah look back on 6 headline travel talking points across South East Asia, and beyond.
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30 Jun 2021 • 38m00s

Ep 79: South Korea Emerges As Asia's Most Exciting Travel Market, with Dr Jaeyeon Choe
While most Asian borders remain locked, South Koreans are heading off on summer holidays to European destinations. They are also booking ahead for Lunar New Year 2022. So what are the reasons behind this unexpected renaissance in one of Asia’s largest outbound travel markets? This week, Gary and Hannah welcome Dr Jaeyeon Choe, Visiting Professor at the School of Hospitality & Tourism at Hue University, Vietnam, and a sustainable tourism consultant for Insita Bali, Indonesia.
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21 Jun 2021 • 36m00s

Ep 78: Preparing Hotels for a New Travel Era, with The Phuket & Bali Hotel Associations
As Phuket and Bali prepare to welcome back international tourists, how are hotels in both destinations getting ready for the vaccinated travel era? On this special edition, Gary and Hannah are joined by Brad Edman, General Manager of Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa &, representing the Phuket Hotels Association (PHA), and Jean Hélière, General Manager of Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach & Chairman of the Bali Hotels Association (BHA). In this in-depth chat, Brad and Jean discuss the deep impacts of COVID-19 for the hotel sectors on both islands, and how Association members have reacted by reaching out to domestic travellers.
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18 Jun 2021 • 41m00s

Ep 77: A Roadmap For Tourism Reopening in Cambodia, with Nick Ray
How do you go from filming Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie at Angkor Wat to writing travel guides for Lonely Planet and producing travel video content for Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism? Pretty easy for Nick Ray, Principal at Hanuman Films, Lonely Planet writer for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and an ecotourism consultant with the World Bank. This week, Hannah and Gary chat all things travel, tourism and film production in Cambodia with Nick, who has lived and worked across the country or over two decades.
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15 Jun 2021 • 42m00s

Ep 76: Travel Reopening: Is it Only About Inbound Tourists?
Inbound vs Outbound vs Domestic. With Phuket and Bali focused on attracting international visitors, how will outbound and domestic travel be incorporated into tourism planning across South East Asia in future? After 15 months of border closures and a reliance on domestic travel only, Gary and Hannah discuss how Thailand and Indonesia are leading the charge to reboot inbound tourism. Domestic travel, though, appears to have assumed less importance. Meanwhile neither country is looking yet at attracting travellers from fellow ASEAN countries, as outbound travel remains static due to government restrictions.
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11 Jun 2021 • 37m00s

Ep 75: Will Phuket Reopen on 1 July?, with David Luekens
Thailand, and specifically Phuket, is central to tourism discussions in South East Asia right now. To check the inbound reopening pulse, Gary and Hannah chat with David Luekens, Bangkok-based travel journalist and creator of the Thai Island Times newsletter. The discussion looks back on the various proposals by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thai government to reboot tourism over the past year, and the reasons for the failure of the Special Tourist Visa.
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10 Jun 2021 • 29m00s

Ep 74: The Past, Present & Future of Golf & Casino Tourism in ASEAN, with Bill Healey
Golf and casino tourism were booming across South East Asia and Asia Pacific before the pandemic - but both sectors face an uncertain future. This week, Gary and Hannah chat with Bill Healey, a hospitality, golf and casino tourism expert who has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Bali. Bill was developing an Asian golf trip booking app in Cambodia before the pandemic struck, and returned to the US expecting to return within a few months.
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2 Jun 2021 • 36m00s

Ep 73: Will Bali Reopen in July?, with Stuart McDonald
Will Bali reopen for inbound tourism next month? This week, Gary and Hannah are delighted to welcome back Stuart McDonald, Bali-based founder of Travelfish, to talk all things travel and tourism in Bali and beyond. Bali originally planned to reopen to international tourists last September, but that was postponed. It’s now aiming for July 2021, but will it happen? Much relies on two things, getting sufficient residents vaccinated and finding inbound markets that will permit their citizens to visit Bali.
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27 May 2021 • 32m00s

Ep 72: 6 Reasons Why Travel Remains on Hold in South East Asia
When is travel going to restart? And is South East Asia actually going backwards? While Bali and Phuket seem steadfast in their desire to reopen their borders to vaccinated visitors in July, much of the region continues to struggle to contain resurgent waves of COVID-19. Travel at the moment, in some countries, appears a lower priority than it did two or three months ago. Against this backdrop, governments know that competition to attract travellers will intensify in the near future and no country wants to get left behind.
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22 May 2021 • 33m00s

Ep 71: Community-based Tourism in Thailand, with Charlotte Louwman-Vogels
This week, Gary and Hannah chat with Charlotte Louwman-Vogels, CEO of Fair Tourism, a non-profit foundation based in the Netherlands that does commendable community-based tourism (CBT) work in Thailand. During this intriguing chat, Charlotte discusses how she assisted the Kayan tribe in Huay Pu Keng to transition from being a commercial show village into a self-sustaining tourism community managed by the locals themselves. She discusses the role that tour operators and DMCs can play to support and promote sustainable tourism so that it empowers rather than exploits local communities, and how Fair Tourism is working with university students in destinations ranging from Australia to Kenya and Jordan.
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11 May 2021 • 34m00s

Ep 70: Selling a Passion for Vietnam, with Kerry Newsome
“Vietnam was really hot in 2019,” says Sydney-based Kerry Newsome, Australian Manager of ITS Vietnam and host of the What About Vietnam podcast. Kerry supports Australian travel agents wanting to sell tours to Vietnam, and accompanies travel groups in Vietnam. She was in the country right before the closure of borders in March 2020 working to help Australian tourists return home before COVID-19 lockdowns took hold. In this fascinating interview, she tells Gary and Hannah about her passion for the landscapes, cuisines and cultures of Vietnam, and how adventurous Australians were increasingly eager to experience more of the country.
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6 May 2021 • 32m00s

Ep 69: A South East Asia Travel Resources Guide to the Pandemic
On this week’s show, Gary and Hannah take a break from Travel Bubbles, PCR Tests and Reopening Strategies. Instead, the show builds a virtual guide of all the travel resources that we read, watch and listen to when researching the show, and producing our own weekly reports. The South East Asia Travel Show Resources Guide surveys the information, media and data landscape, and discusses how it’s developed and diversified since COVID-19 took hold.
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28 Apr 2021 • 35m00s

Ep 68: The Current State of Travel in South East Asia and Beyond
With the COVID-19 pandemic now in its 14 month, what have we learned and how will those lessons be – or not be – applied in future? This week, Gary and Hannah take on some of the ‘big picture’ talking points in travel and tourism in ASEAN. The show asks, and tries to answer, 7 critical questions: What do travel and tourism mean today, and do we have a different outlook than before the pandemic?
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22 Apr 2021 • 36m00s

Ep 67: Take-off for the Australia-New Zealand Travel Bubble, with Simon Westaway
This week marks the start of the two-way travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. So there’s no better time for Gary and Hannah to welcome back Simon Westaway, Executive Director of the Australian Tourism Industry Council, to the show. Back in December, Simon accurately predicted April for the two-way travel bubble getting started. In a fascinating discussion, we look at how Australia’s domestic tourism sector has recovered, and trends have shifted.
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15 Apr 2021 • 35m00s

Ep 66: Will Singapore Lead South East Asia's Travel Revival?
From 2010 to 2019, Singapore’s inbound arrivals grew significantly, from 11.6 million to 19.1 million. This expansion was boosted by the opening of two integrated resorts and smart marketing strategies in China and India. Throughout the 2010s, this small city state punched above its weight by thinking ahead and investing big. Singaporeans themselves are inveterate travellers, who are evidently eager to take flight again. This week, Gary and Hannah assess what happens next as Singapore makes various moves to reopen its travel economy - with a particular focus on MICE and business events travel.
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9 Apr 2021 • 48m00s

Ep 65: Phuket & Bali: Will They Both Reopen in July?, with Brett Henry, MG Group
Anticipation is building across South East Asia as Phuket and Bali prepare to greet international travellers in July. This week, Hannah and Gary team up with Brett Henry, President of Jakarta-based MG Group, to debate the vital issues around reopening to vaccinated travellers after more than a year. What are the near-term strategies of both destinations, and how will they ensure the safety of travellers and residents - and what are the perceived risks?
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1 Apr 2021 • 35m00s

Ep 63: The Challenges of Reconnecting the World, with Dirk Singer, SimpliFlying
This week’s episode takes on the complex task of reconnecting global air travel with Dirk Singer, Research Director of SimpliFlying, an aviation marketing and solutions firm founded by Canada-based Singaporean Shashank Nigam. From his London base, Dirk discusses the white-hot aviation, airline, airport, travel and tourism issues that are confounding policymakers in Europe, North, Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Will vaccines eliminate the need for quarantines - and, if so, when?
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24 Mar 2021 • 33m00s

Ep 63: Travel Bubbles Are Back! Or Are They?
Exactly 11 months after they first emerged, Travel Bubbles are back in the news. Across South East Asia and throughout Asia Pacific, talking up travel bubbles is in vogue once more after disappearing off radar since the Hong-Kong Singapore bubble burst last November. So what’s different and what’s still the same this time? This week, Gary and Hannah sweep through Asia Pacific to see how vaccines and economic urgency are bringing Travel Bubbles back onto the political agenda.
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18 Mar 2021 • 32m00s

Ep 62: Participative Sports Tourism in Vietnam with David Lloyd
Active travel was expanding fast in South East Asia before the pandemic, and expectations are that it will take off once again post-COVID. Cycling and trail running in spectacular landscapes are likely to lead the pack. This week, Gary and Hannah assess the growth in domestic and international sports tourism with David Lloyd, Director of Sports, Topas Travel, an adventure travel provider, and Co-Founder of Velo Vietnam, a cycling tours specialist.
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17 Mar 2021 • 19m00s

Ep 61: Tourism in Transformation: Tapping Into Post-COVID Consumer Aspirations & Expectations
This week, Gary and Hannah both gave presentations at the 8th ASEAN Tourism Research Association Annual Forum. This is a recording of Gary’s presentation, entitled: Tourism in Transformation: Tapping Into Post-COVID Consumer Aspirations & Expectations. Bringing insights from the past year working with hotel groups, consumer research firms and marketing agencies, Gary analyses how Asian consumers are rethinking the meaning and purpose of travel. He also measures their possible motivations for taking trips when borders reopen.
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16 Mar 2021 • 19m00s

Ep 60: ASEAN Tourism: Where Do We Stand Now, and How Might Countries Reopen?
This week, Gary and Hannah both gave presentations at the 8th ASEAN Tourism Research Association Annual Forum. This is a recording of Hannah’s presentation, entitled: ASEAN Tourism: Where Do We Stand Now, and How Might Countries Reopen? It analyses some of the models for reopening international borders being proposed by certain countries in South East Asia – notably Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Hannah also discusses the various challenges and opportunities that each country faces in revitalising its tourism sector.
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10 Mar 2021 • 34m00s

Ep 59: The Pandemic One Year On: What Have Travel & Tourism Learned?
11 March 2021 marks one year since the WHO declared a pandemic. So, what have we learned in South East Asia, and how can those lessons be best applied? From a current standpoint, two things are clear: 1) international travel and tourism are in a desperate state, and 2) the travel industry hasn’t been able to find the solutions required to escape from the darkness. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss 10 vital learnings from the past year, and how these discoveries can be used to drive a recovery.
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4 Mar 2021 • 35m00s

Ep 58: What's the Future for Tourism Research & Education?
How will tourism research and graduate education adapt and diversify post-COVID? This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the outlook for travel and tourism across South East Asia from an academic perspective with Prof. Joseph Cheer of the Center for Tourism Research at Wakayama University in Japan, and Dr. Mary Mostafanezhad, Associate Professor at University of Hawaii at Manoa. The broad-ranging interview discusses how travel may look in the early recovery phases, the challenges of educating a new generation of tourism professionals in uncertain economic times and whether the travel and hospitality sectors will continue to engage with universities in future.
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24 Feb 2021 • 38m00s

Ep 57: Reopening. Reopening. Reopening.
How will governments use COVID-19 vaccine programmes to revitalise travel and tourism? This week, Gary and Hannah debate the latest tourism reopening proposals in South East Asia and beyond. These include moves to welcome vaccinated travellers in Thailand, Bali’s ‘COVID-free Corridor’, and the likely reboot of the Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble. We also discuss a proposed ‘Calibrated’ reopening in India, the ‘Bio Bubble’ tourism initiative in Sri Lanka and ‘Vaccine-to-Go’ travel in Cuba – and their relevance to South East Asian markets.
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17 Feb 2021 • 32m00s

Ep 56: 7 Months Since Reopening in the Maldives, with Ruth Franklin
It’s 7 months since the Maldives reopened for visitors in July 2020. The Indian island archipelago nation is being considered as a successful case study for COVID-era tourism – but how has it adapted to a changed world, and what lessons has it learned? This week, Gary and Hannah chat with Ruth Franklin, Co-founder of Secret Paradise Maldives, which focuses on local island experiences beyond the luxury resorts. In a candid and insightful interview, Ruth discusses the pre-COVID opportunities and the processes and protocols implemented to reopen for inbound travel.
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10 Feb 2021 • 31m00s

Ep 55: Is it Time to Rethink Chinese New Year Tourism Marketing?
Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, Lunisolar New Year, Spring Festival and Tet – this week’s show talks all things travel for the upcoming holiday. In recent years, Chinese New Year brought a welcome surge of inbound visitors from China into ASEAN, and stimulated strong intra-regional and domestic trip volumes. This year, CNY is a purely homegrown travel scenario. In some countries - like Malaysia - inter-state travel is not even permitted, while COVID-19 infection spikes are impacting domestic travel in Thailand, Vietnam and China.
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3 Feb 2021 • 33m00s

Ep 54: The Complexities of Airline & Aviation Regulations in ASEAN & Asia Pacific, with Michelle Dy, AirAsia
The aviation industry continues to face immense challenges caused by the pandemic. This week, Gary and Hannah address the current state of aviation policy and regulation with Michelle Dy, Manager, Global Affairs & Policy at AirAsia. This broad-ranging chat looks at the history of aviation development in globally and in South East Asia and Asia Pacific. A long-standing objective has been to establish an ASEAN Single Aviation Market - so what progress has been made, and what could a Single Aviation Market mean for airlines, airports and consumers?
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27 Jan 2021 • 33m00s

Ep 53: Planning a Tourism Turnaround in Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the most-visited countries in South East Asia, but its inbound arrivals have been largely stagnant for a decade. Despite recording strong growth from China in the pre-pandemic years, other key markets were slowing. Over the past year, the nation’s robust domestic travel sector has attempted to step up, but stop-start lockdown restrictions have hampered its overall impact. Borders have remained shut since mid-March 2020. Moreover, the three airlines Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Malindo, are confronting financial troubles and the KL-Singapore high-speed railway has been cancelled.
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22 Jan 2021 • 31m00s

Ep 52: Reconnecting the US & Asia Through Travel, with Sandra Thomas-Comenole
This week, Gary and Hannah chat with Denver-based travel marketer, behavioural economist and podcaster Sandra Thomas-Comenole. During a varied career, Sandra has worked with several international travel brands, including InsideJapan Tours, Croatian Tourism and the US National Parks Service. In a fascinating interview, she discusses how behavioural economics can help guide travel marketers through an uncertain 2021, the pitfalls of traveller sentiment surveys and the impending leadership challenges should tourism rebound at a rapid rate.
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15 Jan 2021 • 31m00s

Ep 51: What is ASEAN & Why is it Important for Travel & Tourism?
It’s all about ASEAN! This week, Hannah and Gary take a journey through the history of ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations. Established in 1967, ASEAN brings together the 10 countries of the hugely diverse region of South East Asia. Since founding the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, ASEAN has positioned itself as a “Third Force” in Asia Pacific, after China & India. Will it expand further (Timor Leste, Australia?
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13 Jan 2021 • 64m00s

Ep 50: What is the Realistic Outlook for Travel in South East Asia in 2021?
What are the realistic expectations for travel and tourism in 2021 in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines & Vietnam? Which will be the primary ‘comeback markets’, and what will be the influence of mega markets like China, India and the Middle East? Plus, will vaccine rollouts prove to be a magic bullet or a harbinger of false hopes? Are Travel Bubbles dead? And when should travel players start to diversify from their domestic-only strategies and prepare for the return of international travel?
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9 Jan 2021 • 28m00s

Ep 49: 21 for 2021: A Travel Industry Wish List For The New Year - Part II
In the second of a two-part appraisal of travel and tourism in South East Asia in 2021, Gary and Hannah run through numbers #12 to #21 on their 21-point wish list. “Cautious Optimism” is a widely used phrase, but tightened restrictions in Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong and, most likely in Malaysia, suggest 2021 is going to be another challenging year. Topics discussed include creating long-term strategies for domestic travel, more imaginative approaches to marketing self-drive and culinary tourism, and increased attention on climate change and earth-friendliness in travel.
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8 Jan 2021 • 35m00s

Ep 48: 21 for 2021: A Travel Industry Wish List For The New Year - Part I
2020 was an awful year, but do we just write it off and discard it, or should we dig deeper to understand how travel and travel consumers have changed? What are the meaningful lessons to learn and apply? Gary and Hannah kick off 2021 by running through a 21-point wish list to revitalise travel and tourism in South East Asia. Topics discussed in Part 1 include adapting the learnings from domestic travel, a broader remit for tourism industry stimulus packages and competing on destination differentiation rather than price slashing.
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17 Dec 2020 • 32m00s

Ep 47: 2020: Looking Back On The Year That Changed Travel Forever
To round-out 12 months that no-one will ever forget, Hannah and Gary quiz each other about the travel and tourism issues that dominated 2020. Among the topics discussed are domestic tourism, travel bubbles, the absence of Chinese travellers, Zoominars, slimmed-down airlines, the future of visas, self-drive travel, political travel propaganda, the future of cruising, PCR and antigen tests, quarantines and vaccine passports. We also select our favourite podcast moments of 2020, and the questions we were both asked most frequently on webinars and interviews.
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9 Dec 2020 • 36m00s

Ep 46: “It Will Take Upwards of 5 Years to Recover,” with Simon Westaway, Australian Tourism Industry Council
It’s been a torrid year for travel and tourism in Australia. This week, Gary and Hannah chat with Simon Westaway, Executive Director of the Australian Tourism Industry Council. In a candid and insightful interview, Simon discusses a broad sweep of inbound, outbound and domestic travel issues. From the ‘Black Summer’ bushfire season, Australia quickly encountered COVID-19 with the first infection in late January. The show addresses Australia’s key 2020 developments, including the Ruby Princess, border bans, hotel quarantine outbreaks, state border politics and domestic travel in the summer season.
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3 Dec 2020 • 31m00s

Ep 45: Welcome to the Age of Vaccine Travelnomics
With over 200 COVID-19 vaccines undergoing clinical trials or early-stage development, and the first vaccines now approved in the UK and Russia, the era of Vaccine Travel is about to unfold. It will bring a tangle of economic, political and social complications. Amid this nascent landscape, the travel industry is trying to forge a way ahead. Already Qantas has said it will require passengers to be vaccinated, while Singapore Airlines and Garuda will be involved in vaccine logistics in South East Asia.
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26 Nov 2020 • 29m00s

Ep 44: In Conversation: "No-one's Wearing Masks Any More in Laos," with Jason Rolan, RDK Group
Before the pandemic, Laos was starting to expand its nascent tourism industry with a surge in arrivals from China and strong visitation from Thailand and Vietnam. Outbound tourism was also booming, but while the pandemic halted those upward curves, Laos has only recorded a total of 39 (yes, thirty-nine!) cases of COVID-19. So what’s it been like to live and work in the tourism sector in a genuinely COVID-safe country?
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19 Nov 2020 • 34m00s

Ep 43: What Next After The Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble?
The Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble kicks off on Sunday 22 November, but concerns are resurfacing across Asia about volatile new COVID-19 waves. Soon after the ATB was launched, Asia’s media was rife with speculation about which other countries might launch travel bubbles - either with or without Singapore and Hong Kong. But they seem no nearer to fruition. This week, Gary and Hannah scan the region for signs of travel bubble activity, and report the latest from Australia and New Zealand where hopes for a two-way bubble in 2021 are starting to recede.
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12 Nov 2020 • 34m00s

Ep 42: Singapore & Hong Kong Embark on an Uncharted Era of Travel
Singapore and Hong Kong are both important Asian aviation hubs, commercial centres and travel destinations. But they aren’t - or weren’t - key source markets for each other in terms of travel and tourism. So, will the Air Travel Bubble create new patterns of travel demand, or is it simply a small stepping stone towards an uncharted era? This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the (pre-COVID-19) travel landscapes of both cities and the vital roles that aviation, airports and airlines contribute to their economies.
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6 Nov 2020 • 18m00s

The Friday Rewind 8: Indonesian Flights Boost, Seoul Tourism Showcase & Tuk-Tuk DJs
In episode 8 of The Friday Rewind, Gary and Hannah zip through this week’s 5 top talking points in South East Asian travel and tourism - in less than 20 minutes. This week’s hot topics include: Hungarian Foreign Minister Tests Positive in South East Asia Philippines Sets a Ceiling Price for COVID-19 Tests Indonesian Flights Take Off in October ASEAN-Korea Tourism Pavilion Opens in Seoul Tuk-Tuk DJs Tour Phnom Penh in Style Show notes Watch the Tuk tuk DJs: https://youtu.
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30 Oct 2020 • 20m00s

The Friday Rewind 7: High-Speed Trains, More Bubbles & 'Jurassic Park' Dragons
In episode 7 of The Friday Rewind, Gary and Hannah zip through this week’s 5 top talking points in South East Asian travel and tourism - in less than 20 minutes. China features prominently this week, with the topics under discussion being: Thailand Teams With China for a High-Speed Rail Take Off Cambodia Wants a China Travel Bubble, or Does It? Laos Plans Fast Track Travel for China & Vietnam ‘Jurassic Park’ Dragons Are Endangered in Indonesia Malaysia’s Tourism Challenges Keep Multiplying
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21 Oct 2020 • 33m00s

Ep 41: The Troubles With Travel Bubbles
It’s 6 months since Australia and New Zealand first floated the concept of Travel Bubbles. Ever since, it has dominated travel talk as a potential way to safely reopen borders between two countries without requiring a quarantine. But the 2020 travel realities (and the coronavirus itself) have made bilateral bubbles extremely difficult to negotiate, agree and implement. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the different definitions of air travel bubbles, corridors, fast tracks and green lanes.
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16 Oct 2020 • 31m00s

Ep 40: Airlines & Airports Fight to Survive Across South East Asia
Well, things certainly seem to be moving, with plenty of travel announcements, gossip and rumours. But the region’s aviation industry is still struggling after several months in international inactivity. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss two pieces of positive news, the Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble and the Philippines enabling its citizens to travel outbound. But airlines in Malaysia and Indonesia are desperately trying to restructure their mounting losses and debts.
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7 Oct 2020 • 32m00s

Ep 39: Singapore Takes The Travel Lead in a 3-Speed South East Asia
Having brought COVID-19 under control, Singapore has provided a clear outline of its Travel Bubble intentions for the coming months. Now in discussions with Hong Kong, Asia’s other global aviation hub, Singapore wants to open up more business travel Green Lanes. This week, Gary and Hannah analyse the latest developments in Singapore, discuss green shoots of hope for domestic travel in the Philippines, and the prospects for charter traffic in Lao.
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2 Oct 2020 • 34m00s

Ep 38: In Conversation: "COVID-19's Been Devastating for Bali," with Stuart McDonald, Travelfish
It’s six months since Bali-based Stuart McDonald last joined us on the podcast, which seems like a distant era. This week, Gary and Hannah chat with Stuart about the outcome of Bali’s reopening to domestic tourists, and its failed attempt to reboot inbound travel. Stuart provides some poignant and revealing insights about how the island is coping without mass tourism. We also discuss Thailand’s special tours visa, Singapore’s decision to allow Australian and Vietnamese air passengers to return, and we look at what happens next for countries in ASEAN that are stubbornly refusing to open their borders.
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25 Sep 2020 • 16m00s

The Friday Rewind 6: KLIA Transit Troubles, Positive Vibes in Vietnam & Tourist Trash Returns to Sender
In episode 6 of The Friday Rewind, Gary and Hannah zip through this week’s top talking points in South East Asian travel - in just 15 minutes. Today’s topics are: HKIA Bans KLIA Flights After Transit Passengers Test Positive Yogyakarta Please for Tourists Not Financial Aid International Flight Finally Departs Vietnam… With More to Come In & Out? Regional ‘Travel Bubbles’ in The Philippines Tour Agency Sparks Online Fury by Mis-locating Angkor Wat and Khao Yai National Park Mails Back Tourist Trash
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22 Sep 2020 • 29m00s

Ep 37: Olympics 2021, Space Tourism & Harry Potter: What's The Future of Travel in Japan?
This week, Gary and Hannah take a virtual trip to Japan - Land of the Rising Sun and, pre-pandemic, an increasingly popular destination for travellers from across South East Asia. Having started the year expecting the biggest ever Sakura festival in history followed by the Tokyo Olympics, 2020 has been particularly unkind to Japan. A so-called “Plague Ship” in Yokohama harbour catalysed a year of uncertainty that saw the Olympics shelved for 12 months, and hopes dashed of welcoming 10 million Chinese arrivals and 40 million visitors overall.
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17 Sep 2020 • 36m00s

Ep 36: Q4 2020: What's the Best South East Asia Travel Can Hope For?
Three-quarters of 2020 have almost disappeared, but international travel activity remains locked down in South East Asia. We should be gearing up for an October Chinese National Holiday burst then a final quarter tourism surge, but this year we are clutching at straws. This week, Gary and Hannah assess what’s the best, realistically, South East Asia can achieve in the final 3 months of 2020. Are countries looking to salvage the tourism year, or are most planning for the distribution of a vaccine in 2021 (or perhaps late 2020?
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11 Sep 2020 • 15m00s

The Friday Rewind 5: Thai Domestic Travel Delivers Big, MICE Makes Waves in Singapore & Roll on Cambodia 2023...
In episode 5 of The Friday Rewind, Gary and Hannah zip through 5 red-hot talking points in South East Asian travel from the past 7 days - in just 15 minutes. Today’s topics are: Thailand’s Songkran Replacement Holiday Rakes in B8.8bn Vietnam Restores Domestic Flights to Danang Singapore Requests Tenders for New Business Events Philippine Airlines & Singapore Airlines to Retrench Staff Cambodia Prepares for its First Ever Major Sporting Event
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10 Sep 2020 • 36m00s

Ep 35: Is it Vaccine or Bust for Tourism Reopening in South East Asia?
“This virus is just beating us all, isn’t it?” Gary and Hannah fend off feelings of despair on this week’s pod, and tackle different approaches for rebooting travel. From Iceland to Bali, Phuket to Maldives, China to New Zealand, we assess what measures have been tried, which are being ruled out, and those that still hold out faint hopes for the near future. En route, we seek to trademark the phrase “Vaccine Bubble,” and canvas ideas from travel industry figures in Asia and worldwide on taking those all-important next steps to revive tourism.
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4 Sep 2020 • 34m27s

Ep 34: 12 Months of Travel Trauma in Australia & No End in Sight
It’s been a traumatic year for travel Down Under. The 2019/20 summer season brought devastating bush fires nationwide, with COVID-19 following immediately after. With borders closed for most of 2020, inter-state politics and disagreements are now preventing a domestic travel rebound as summer approaches. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the combination of factors suffocating inbound, outbound and domestic tourism, and the prospects for an Asian-led recovery in future. We also hear from three experts in business travel, hospitality and inbound operations who provide revealing insights about the broad-ranging reforms needed to breathe new life into Australia’s ailing tourism industry.
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28 Aug 2020 • 15m56s

The Friday Rewind 4: From Bio Bubbles in Phuket to Flight Refund Woes in Philippines and Opening...
In episode 4 of The Friday Rewind, Gary and Hannah take a 15-minute zoom through 5 major talking points in South East Asian travel from the past 7 days. Today’s topics are: Japan Takes a Travel Restrictions Mini Tour - The Japanese foreign minister concludes limited border movement deals with 5 countries in South East Asia Long-Stay Tourism is Safe & Sealed in Thailand - Phuket is selected as a pilot Bio Bubble destination for charter flight tourists from 4 countries in Asia and 3 from Europe Will Malaysian Borders Stay Shut Until 2021?
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26 Aug 2020 • 31m10s

Ep 33: Bali's Reopening Postponed: What Next for Tourism in Indonesia & South East Asia?
After 2 months of high anticipation, Bali has confirmed it will not reopen to international visitors on 11 September. Instead, the Island of the Gods will likely rely on domestic travel only until the end of the year. This is a huge financial and psychological blow for Indonesia’s travel economy - but perhaps not a great surprise. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the national, regional and global factors that conspired against Bali’s inbound tourism reboot.
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19 Aug 2020 • 28m24s

Ep 32: Can Domestic Travellers Rescue South East Asia's Embattled Tourism Sector?
With flight capacity in South East Asia operating at -65% compared to pre-pandemic levels, the region’s tourism sector is fighting for its survival. Borders remain slammed shut and airline fleets are largely redundant. The pressure is mounting on domestic tourists to keep the industry afloat. But despite positive stories in the national media, huge challenges exist. Consumers remain wary of taking flights even on short routes, hotels are surviving on weekend bookings, inter-state restrictions apply in some countries, and although large discounts are being offered, domestic travellers are spending cautiously.
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14 Aug 2020 • 15m28s

The Friday Rewind 3: COVID-19 Causes ASEAN Spats, While Malaysia & Myanmar Seek Travel Cut-Through
In episode 3 of The Friday Rewind, Gary and Hannah take a 15-minute zoom through 5 major talking points in South East Asian travel from the past 7 days. Today’s discussion points are: ‘The Land of COVID’ - Media, ministers and government spokespeople are lashing out at each other in South East Asia Zero Tourism Until 2021 in Thailand - Webinar comments by the Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand go viral around the world Green Zones to Nowhere for Malaysia - Tourism Minister says that travel bubbles are impossible to negotiate if countries refuse to open their borders Myanmar & Sri Lanka Prepare for Take Off - Discussions are underway to launch direct flights between Colombo and Yangon, that could also extend to India and Nepal Eco-Tourism Inspiration in Laos - Conservation efforts in the nation’s largest protected park offer new hope for sustainability in tourism Resources https://www.
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5 Aug 2020 • 29m32s

Ep 31: Can SEA Islands Provide a Blueprint for the Future of Tourism?
South East Asia is blessed with a spectacular array of island destinations, including the world’s largest archipelago and the planet’s 2nd, 3rd and 6th-largest islands. With such a diversity of offshore travel options, will more governments promote their islands as test cases to reopen domestic, and perhaps international, tourism? All eyes are currently looking towards Bali and Indonesia, but Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar are among the countries that may promote island tourism above all else.
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31 Jul 2020 • 15m11s

The Friday Rewind 2: Summer Turns Sour in Vietnam, While Thai Tourism Plays in the Premier League
In episode 2 of The Friday Rewind, Gary and Hannah deliver an express, 15-minute recap of 5 red-hot talking points in South East Asian travel from the past 7 days. Today’s discussion points are: 1) Lockdown Meltdown in Vietnam Fears grow nationwide after domestic tourists test positive in Danang, and then head home. 2) Malaysia Airlines gets USD300 million… Then Doesn’t! Airline CEO forcefully denies a reported new government bailout for the troubled flag carrier.
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28 Jul 2020 • 33m10s

Ep 30: 7 Months in a COVID Travel Bubble
With few signs of movement on border re-openings in South East Asia, Gary and Hannah reflect on 7 lost months in travel and tourism. As August looms into view, several big questions remain unanswered. So, what have been the landmark events and milestones of 2020 so far? What outcomes have surprised, challenged and discouraged the travel industry the most? Is survival now the overarching goal for the rest of 2020? Can South East Asia reclaim its status as the world’s most dynamic travel region?
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22 Jul 2020 • 37m13s

Ep 29: Travel Anxiety & the Enduring COVID Fear Factor
This week, Gary and Hannah zone-in on a persistent COVID-19 pressure point: consumer sentiment and the travel fear factor. How are fear and anxiety impacting domestic tourism, and shaping attitudes towards border re-openings and the prospects for inbound and outbound travel? Featuring examples from Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, plus China, Japan and India, the discussion dives deep into the fearful factors discouraging travel bookings. Against this gloomy backdrop, will the Oxford and Chinese vaccine trials prove an inflection point that reveals fragments of light after 7 dark, unforgiving months for travel and tourism?
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17 Jul 2020 • 16m05s

The Friday Rewind: A Bad Week For Thailand, But AirAsia Gets Bullish
This is the debut edition of The Friday Rewind! Gary and Hannah deliver an express, 15-minute recap of 5 key talking points in South East Asian travel and tourism from the past 7 days. Today’s topics under discussion are: It’s not been a great week for Thailand Not a good week either for Vietnam Airlines AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes comes out fighting; Job losses at 2 big travel brands - Skyscanner and Resorts World Sentosa
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14 Jul 2020 • 31m48s

Ep 28: 20 SEA Travel Outcomes That No-one Predicted in 2020
2020 is proving to be a year that no-one in the travel industry or travellers themselves will forget. At times, it has seemed surreal and absurd, as well as scary and uncertain. So this week, Gary and Hannah discuss 20 travel outcomes that could not have been foreseen at the end of 2019. From Singapore Changi Airport closing 2 of its 4 terminals to a stranded Estonian tourist living in Manila Airport for 110 days, and from Chinese travellers being shut out of all SEA markets to Cambodia listing ‘Cremation Costs’ in its visitor arrival terms and conditions - the list is both thought-provoking and heart-breaking.
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12 Jul 2020 • 33m29s

Ep 27: In Conversation: Cristy Elmendorp, Soma Journeys
South East Asia and Europe provide a connective thread in the life of Cristy Elmendorp. Born in Jakarta to Dutch-Indonesian parents, she studied in Amsterdam and London, and spent 15 years living and working in Bangkok. Spells as a TV show host, resort photographer and hospitality marketer were followed by founding her own bespoke luxury travel company, Soma Journeys. Cristy’s client trips took her across Tibet, Mongolia, Java and Iceland.
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8 Jul 2020 • 35m29s

Ep 26: The 6 Key Factors Inhibiting a Travel Recovery
So, here we are in the 2nd week of July, and it is becoming increasingly evident that the route towards a travel recovery is lined with gigantic barriers. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss 6 critical factors hindering a tourism rebound in South East Asia, Asia Pacific and worldwide: The coronavirus Border closures and travel bans Rising economic uncertainty Consumer sentiment and the travel fear factor Reduced travel industry operational capacity The emerging marketing challenge Is there a take-off path to brighter skies up ahead?
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2 Jul 2020 • 35m00s

Ep 25: It's Been A Terrible Year for Travel Predictions
Well, we reach two milestones this week. We are halfway through 2020 – and what a year it’s been so far!! – and this is also our 25th podcast, so Happy Anniversary to us. To celebrate, Gary and Hannah revisit their 20 for the 2020s Travel Wishlist – which featured in the first podcast of the year back in January. Since then, of course, travel and tourism in South East Asia – and worldwide – has endured the most difficult 6 months in modern history.
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26 Jun 2020 • 41m04s

Ep 24: Is it Time for a Tourism Rethink in Malaysia?
Malaysia Truly Asia remains one of South East Asia’s most enduring tourism campaigns, but Malaysia emerges from successfully suppressing COVID-19 with several questions marks over its travel sector. Uncertainty exists for its flag carrier Malaysia Airlines and the region’s largest LCC AirAsia, annual arrivals haven’t shown significant growth for a decade and both inbound and outbound players await news on border reopening. For now, domestic travel offers a chance for tourism businesses to rebuild confidence among Malaysian travellers, and earn much-needed revenue - but demand currently appears low.
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18 Jun 2020 • 39m34s

Ep 23: Bubbles, Bailouts & Bloated Fares: SEA Airlines Are in a Mess
Airlines, aviation, and by extension, airports… What a mess! This week, Gary and Hannah attempt to unpick the complex interplay of airlines, governments and travel bans that is confusing travellers across South East Asia. The early post-COVID recovery is plagued by bailouts, air bubbles that haven’t come to fruition, governments announcing and delaying the lifting of travel bans and different states within countries being treated or responding differently. We’ve got quarantines, high fares, flight cancellations… and very little guidance from ASEAN.
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10 Jun 2020 • 33m52s

Ep 22: Can Cambodia Entice More Visitors From China & South East Asia?
Cambodia counts the second-lowest total of COVID-19 cases in South East Asia. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss whether this rising tourism star can leverage its COVID-safe status once it fully reopens. In 2019, China was its largest inbound market, followed by Vietnam. Three other South East Asian countries ranked in the Top 10. The show discusses key factors that will influence future travel to Cambodia from China and South East Asian markets, suggests creative sales & marketing tactics for travel companies and tour operators, and analyses consumer sentiment and booking trends in the region.
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29 May 2020 • 31m03s

Ep 21: It's All About Vietnam: Asia's Hottest Post-COVID Destination
This week, Gary and Hannah discuss all things Vietnam. The country’s success in containing the coronavirus has made it the most talked about destination in Asia. But Vietnam also counts thriving domestic and outbound travel sectors, and its airlines are expanding aggressively. Sustained GDP growth, a young population and expanding middle class make Vietnam a South East Asian all-star economy. Tourism benefited from this surging economic momentum, but what are the opportunities and challenges in a post-COVID world?
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21 May 2020 • 35m13s

Ep 20: Travel Recovery & The Role of the Media
This week, Gary and Hannah take on one of the most polarising topics in travel: the role of the media. The 24/7 online and TV coverage of COVID-19 has resulted in accusations of media sensationalism, and featured a heavy concentration of statistics and information from government sources. As the travel sector looks to a brighter second half of the year, what role with the media play in the next phase of the recovery?
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13 May 2020 • 41m12s

Ep 19: What is the Future for Chinese Tourism in South East Asia?
The return of Chinese travellers is global travel’s hottest topic. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss whether South East Asia might serve as a benchmark for the recovery. All destinations are desperate for the return of Chinese spending power, but several overlapping factors need addressing before China opens its airspace for outbound flights. So, we break the subject down into 5 key areas: Developments in Chinese Domestic Travel; China’s Government; Airlines; Chinese Consumers and South East Asian NTOs.
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8 May 2020 • 27m36s

Ep 18: Not Everything in Travel Relates to COVID-19!
This week, Gary and Hannah discuss 8 travel and tourism developments in 2020 that flew under the COVID-19 radar. South East Asia entered the pandemic as the world’s most dynamic tourism region. Although the entire infrastructure of travel has been shutdown by the pandemic, many intriguing developments still occurred. Topics discussed range from proposed high-speed rail networks to UNESCO World Heritage applications, and unearthed ancient treasures to new airports and, perhaps an 11th member of ASEAN.
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4 May 2020 • 33m06s

Ep 17: In Conversation: The Current State of Aviation in Asia-Pacific with Mac Patel, OAG
In this episode, Gary interviews Mac Patel, JAPAC Regional Sales Director for OAG, a global leader in flight information and intelligence. The broad-ranging discussion covers the impact of COVID-19 on airlines and airports, and the “strategic decision-making” needed across the travel sector in Asia Pacific. We address several key issues, including LCCs, Long-Haul, Airline Restructuring, Hub Airports, Major Air Markets, Travel Bubbles, Intra-Asia Travel, Health Screening and the infamous “Middle Seat”.
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29 Apr 2020 • 36m18s

Ep 16: After 4 Months of COVID-19, Where Does Travel Go From Here?
This week, Gary and Hannah look back on the 4 months that savaged the entire travel chain. With some countries starting to phase out lockdown restrictions, attention is turning to where tourism goes next. Domestic travel and regional pacts will be the first steps, but mighty challenges exist for international travel. We assess the critical issues ahead for travel brands and travellers themselves, and discuss the devastating impact on small communities in South East Asia that rely upon the tourism economy.
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22 Apr 2020 • 33m25s

Ep 15: The Future of Cruise Travel in Asia Pacific
COVID-19 has raised crucial questions about the future of cruising worldwide. In this week’s pod, Gary and Hannah discuss the challenges ahead for cruise lines, port operators and passengers in South East Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Cruise travel in Asia Pacific has expanded rapidly in recent years, but with widespread lockdowns, travel bans and fears about onboard health and safety, can cruising redefine itself for the post-pandemic tourism landscape?
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14 Apr 2020 • 26m03s

Ep 14: Which Destinations Will Recover Earliest?
Seeking to escape the travel gloom, Gary and Hannah search for signs of hope. This week, they assess destinations that could lead a recovery in domestic and inbound travel. While varied challenges abound, they sift through the results of their online survey from last week. Destinations discussed in this episode include Australia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Listeners can also sign up for the free Mini Briefing weekly email here.
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9 Apr 2020 • 29m43s

Ep 13: In Conversation: Leisure Travel May Take 2 Years to Recover with Stuart McDonald, Travelfish
If you listen to one travel podcast this week, this is it. Gary interviews revered Bali-based publisher and inveterate traveller Stuart McDonald, co-founder of Travelfish, who is on electrifying form. The diverse discussion veers from COVID-19 and health tracking for air passengers to over-development in SEA and a vicarious daily service for couch travellers. We also touch on small communities in South East Asia being hit by travel lockdowns, and indelible memories of the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka.
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8 Apr 2020 • 24m31s

Ep 12: In Conversation: Backpacking & Business in SEA with Nikki Scott, South East Asia Backpacker
This week, Gary interviews Nikki Scott – a backpacker, business owner and publisher of the South East Asia Backpacker magazine and online portal. An experienced traveller, Nikki founded the magazine in 2008 from her base in Bangkok before taking the business online. In this week’s pod, she discusses her travel inspirations, favourite destinations and provides fascinating insights into how backpacking is evolving as technology and places change, and more Asian backpackers seek new adventures.
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1 Apr 2020 • 34m00s

Ep 11: Selfie Travel Culture in SEA
Posting on Instagram and WeChat has transformed travel in South East Asia. In this edition, Gary and Hannah analyse the origins of ‘selfie tourism’, and how travel brands are using it to their advantage. En route, they namecheck several photogenic locations, from rooftop Bangkok bars, overnight trains in Myanmar and side alleys in Penang to the temples of Angkor Wat, mirrored backdrops in Bali and romantic shots at Marina Bay.
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20 Mar 2020 • 19m00s

Ep 10: Locked Down in Malaysia
This week, Gary and Hannah are in different locations in the Malaysian capital as the Movement Control Order locks down daily life. Our 10th podcast discusses how the lockdown came about, and the impact so far on travel and tourism as well as ordinary living. With Malaysia having the fifth-highest COVID-19 infection rate in Asia, concerns abound that the two-week lockdown will be extended - and made stricter. How much more havoc will the coronavirus wreak throughout South East Asia?
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11 Mar 2020 • 30m18s

Ep 9: Dreaming of a Travel & Tourism Recovery
With confirmed Coronavirus cases in more than 100 countries, Gary and Hannah ask “When can a tourism recovery realistically begin?” Encouraging consumers to start travelling again is a monumental task, but does the current stasis offer a chance to pause and rethink the entire travel sector? In this episode, we discuss a wish list of 8 issues that the travel and tourism industry could iron out before the coronavirus is (eventually) contained.
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25 Feb 2020 • 26m43s

Ep 8: Another Torrid Week For Travel in Asia
With the coronavirus inflicting more damage on tourism across Asia, Gary and Hannah sift through the latest effects. They assess the damage to inbound, outbound and domestic travel in South East Asia, report on government stimulus measures to support tourism businesses, and look ahead at how the industry may manage the hoped-for travel rebound. A few thoughts are also spared for the team managing this year’s Toughest Job in Tourism Marketing: promoting the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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12 Feb 2020 • 26m32s

Ep 7: COVID-19 Wreaks Travel Havoc Across Asia
Renamed COVID-19, the coronavirus continues to slam tourism economies across Asia. In this episode, Gary and Hannah sift through the damage for countries in South East Asia, and assess the latest statistics and postponements of travel trade shows. The gloom continues with the latest on AirAsia’s Airbus troubles, but a glimmer of light is offered by the 2nd Asia Destination Film Awards - which showcase the visual creativity of tourism marketers and travellers across the region.
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7 Feb 2020 • 27m05s

Ep 6: Travel Buzzword Bingo
Mark your bingo card as Gary and Hannah call out the phrases beloved by the travel industry. They assess the jargo that is hot and emerging – and the tired clichés that have outstayed their welcome. From the Klook generation, Ultra-long-haul and Bleisure to Super-host, In-destination booking and Panicdemic, this episode gets vocal about the language of tourism.
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31 Jan 2020 • 27m40s

Ep 5: Novel Coronavirus Global Emergency: Asia's Travel Fear Factor Returns
This special update assesses the impact of the Novel Coronavirus on travel and tourism during Chinese New Year, and looks ahead to the potential impact for Asia’s tourism economy in Q1. We’ve identified 5 key vulnerabilities across Greater China, North and South East Asia and worldwide. We also discuss the potency of the Fear Factor for business and conference travel, leisure trips and upcoming travel periods, such as Sakura season in Japan and, looking ahead, the Tokyo Olympics.
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22 Jan 2020 • 29m26s

Ep 4: 20 for the 2020s: An SEA Travel Wishlist - Part 2
Gary and Hannah debate items 11-20 on their ‘20 for the 2020s’ travel wish list. Hot topics include the future of travel agents in South East Asia, managing the challenges of more intra-ASEAN travel, and the potential impact of superbugs on tourism in Asia and worldwide. The pod also questions the ubiquity of ‘personalised’ travel and asks if this will be the decade when ‘unthinking’ tourism is curtailed. And could restaurants open up their own airlines in future?
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19 Jan 2020 • 29m02s

Ep 3: 20 for the 2020s: An SEA Travel Wishlist - Part 1
Gary and Hannah discuss the first 10 items on their ‘20 for the 2020s’ travel wish list. This decade’s hot topics range from more airports following Changi’s lead and better rail connectivity in South East Asia to less ‘greenwashing’ by brands and greater global awareness of the aspirations of Muslim tourists. The pod also touches on vegan travel and the power of Instagram, and asks “Why is hotel coffee so bad?
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9 Jan 2020 • 26m54s

Ep 2: The South East Asia Travel Show - The Pilot Edition
Gary and Hannah interview each other to tease out their personal travel histories and careers in Asian tourism. From varied routes via Oxford, London, France, the US, El Salvador, Russia and China, both spent most of the 2010s living, working and travelling from bases in Kuala Lumpur. In this pilot episode, they explain the inspirations behind The South East Asia Travel Show, and the podcast’s plans for 2020.
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14 Dec 2019 • 45m38s

Ep 1: The 2019 South East Asia Travel Year in Review
Gary and Hannah take a look back over the last 12 months to discuss the 5 Biggest Issues in South East Asian Travel & Tourism in 2019. Topics include the SuperApp battle between Grab and Gojek, the surging momentum of the Chinese, Indian and Muslim travel markets, and the ongoing growth of short-stay intra-ASEAN tourism.
 

🎙️ About The Creators 🎧

Hannah Pearson

Hannah Pearson

Asia travel analyst and speaker. Director of Pear Anderson, a research & sales travel consultancy specialising in SEA and Muslim travel. Read more »

Gary Bowerman

Gary Bowerman

Asia travel analyst and speaker. Co-founder and director of Check-in Asia, a travel content, marketing and market research agency. Read more »

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