Ep 104: The SEA Travel News Show: Two Months To Rescue Travel & Tourism in 2021!

About This Episode

4 Nov 2021 • 23m00s

It’s been a dismal year so far for travel and tourism in South East Asia. Now, as vaccine rollouts accelerate and events – and reopening speculation – gather pace, we’re launching a brand new weekly show.

The SEA Travel News Show will feature a snappy mix of news, updates and mini interviews to keep you up to speed with the latest happenings here in South East Asia.

Our take-off edition features the latest from Thailand, Bali, Singapore and Australia.

Hannah joins Gary to chat through the potential outlook for travel and tourism for the rest of 2021 - and into 2022.

Phnom Penh-based Nick Ray, Founder of Hanuman Films and long-time Lonely Planet writer, dials in from the World Travel Market (WTM) in London to tell us about the South East Asian presence at the show.

And we finish in the Maldives, which recently received its 1 millionth visitor in 2021. Ruth Franklin, Co-Founder of Secret Paradise Maldives, tells us why she is feeling optimistic for tourism to the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2022.


The following podcast episodes were mentioned in this show:

View All Episodes

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Play
14 Aug 2025 • 33m26s

Ep 265: Rethinking Indonesia's Under-achieving Inbound Tourism Sector, with Nur Wulan T

“Indonesia has the potential to lead in eco-tourism, in cultural heritage and in Muslim-friendly tourism… but it tries to promote everything all at once, which dilutes the message.” Beautiful, vast and complex, Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago nation, and home to the planet’s fourth-largest population. But tourism is heavily concentrated in Bali, which recorded 45% of inbound arrivals to Indonesia in 2024. Meanwhile, Indonesia lags behind Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam for visitor arrivals, attracting 13.
Play
9 Aug 2025 • 21m55s

Ep 264: Vietnam's Golden Year Continues, THAI Back on the Bourse, India & Philippines Agree 'Free-Visas' & Happy 60th Birthday Singapore: This Week in Review

Vietnam’s inbound tourism boom in 2025 continues. Malaysia targets tourism to reach 16% of GDP. India and the Philippines talk “free visas”. THAI Airways confirms its post-Covid comeback by returning to the stock market. Boracay “streamlines” its various entry fees” And Singapore celebrate its 60th birthday since independence. It’s been a pretty hectic news week across South East Asia. Join Gary and Hannah as they travel through ASEAN to discuss the top travel and tourism talking points of the past seven days.