Ep 148: 10 Reasons August Was an Eventful Month for Travel & Tourism in Asia Pacific

Listen to this episode

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google

Podbean

View All Episodes

About This Episode

1 Sep 2022 • 32m42s

Two-thirds of the way through 2022, travel and tourism in South East Asia are gaining momentum. Visitor arrivals increased across the region in August, while stirrings of travel activity in China and Japan are sparking optimism.

This week, Gary and Hannah assess the 10 key travel talking points of the past month throughout Asia Pacific. The journey takes us to Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, plus China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

En route, we discuss airline fleet expansions, robust domestic travel, entry visa extensions, jet fuel prices and the shifting redefinition of what it means to be “fully vaccinated”.

Plus, we’ve got the latest news as the China-ASEAN high-speed railway map takes shape, and the recently announced details of T5 at Changi Airport, which will significantly expand air capacity in Singapore.

« Next Episode Ep 149: When Will Chinese Travellers Return - And What’s Changed? Previous Episode » Ep 147: Tourism & Climate Change in Asia, with Alexander Trupp, Sunway University

View All Episodes

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Play

11 Sep 2026 • 32m04s

Ep 317: Vietnam's Golden Tourism Year Continues, Thailand Revises its Visa Rules for Travellers & AirAsia Tests New Routes into Europe

So, we’re just three weeks away from that all important fourth quarter of the year - and it’s a hectic time across the travel landscape, with plenty of talking points to deconstruct. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the air travel impacts of a major volcanic eruption (with a familiar name) in Indonesia and a State of Emergency in Malaysia caused by wild fire “haze”. Plus, we look at how Russian, Chinese and South Korean tourists are fuelling Vietnam’s dynamic inbound surge, while Cambodia counts the cost of a dismal year for international arrivals.

Play

21 Aug 2026 • 35m46s

Ep 316: Thailand's Tourism Tax is Back, Vietnam Targets 50 Million Visitors & Russia Entices South East Asian Tourists

“Tourists are now viewed as a source of taxation revenue. It’s increasingly hard to raise taxes on your own citizens, but if you have 30+ million tourists each year, that’s a lot of potential tax you can raise.” This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the multiple challenges Thailand faces in increasing its proposed tourism tax, from THB300 to THB450 - and collecting it. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s stellar tourism run continues with a raft of upcoming initiatives and an eye-watering new inbound tourism target.

Ep 148: 10 Reasons August Was an Eventful Month for Travel & Tourism in Asia Pacific

About This Episode

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Ep 317: Vietnam's Golden Tourism Year Continues, Thailand Revises its Visa Rules for Travellers & AirAsia Tests New Routes into Europe

Ep 316: Thailand's Tourism Tax is Back, Vietnam Targets 50 Million Visitors & Russia Entices South East Asian Tourists

Hannah Pearson

Gary Bowerman