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. Plus, concerns in Vietnam as its limited scale reopening coincides with a resurgence of COVID-19 infections nationwide.

Hannah dials in to report on the first MATTA Fair, Malaysia’s largest consumer travel show, for two years.

We finish the show with an upbeat forecast about the travel outlook for 2022 in South East Asia by Dan Lynn, Co-founder of Singapore-based Zuzu Hospitality.

Click to access the following podcasts mentioned in the show:

• Ep 109: Checking the Travel & Hotel Booking Pulse in South East Asia, with Dan Lynn
• Ep 87: 2021: The Year So Far in Laos, with Jason Rolan
• Ep 84: 2021: The Year So Far in Vietnam, with Mike Tatarski
• Ep 44: “No-one’s Wearing Masks Any More in Laos,” with Jason Rolan, RDK Group