Ep 229: Tourist Taxes, University Tourism & A Hotel Building Ban: September 2024 in Review

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30 Sep 2024 • 34m09s

This week, China’s October Golden Week kickstarts Q4 of 2024 and the path toward South East Asia completing a 5-year Covid cycle. So, it’s the perfect time to assess the top 8 talking points from the 9th month of the year. We begin in Thailand with the issues around the proposed introduction of Electronic Travel Authorisation, while Royal Assent for the Marriage Equality Bill makes it the third Asian jurisdiction to legalise same-sex unions.

Elsewhere, AirAsia grabbed headlines throughout September and Singapore scored another F1 win.

Plus, a new VAT refund scheme for tourists in the Philippines and a possible hotel construction moratorium in Bali. And finally, a Singaporean university is attempting to balance the inconveniences and benefits of a surge in tourist visitors.

« Next Episode Ep 230: Deconstructing China's October Golden Week in Asia Pacific & Beyond, with Sienna Parulis-Cook, Dragon Trail International Previous Episode » Ep 228: Tackling Economic Leakage & Sustainability Grandstanding in Tourism, with Ewan Cluckie, Tripseed

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17 May 2026 • 34m30s

Ep 304: Vietnam's Travel & Tourism Profile is Red Hot in 2026 - So What Happens Next?

Even if 75% of what Vietnam is planning comes together, it won’t just become the second-biggest economy in South East Asia but one of the Top 20 worldwide. Vietnam has set an official target of 50 million annual arrivals by 2030, while also making a pledge that tourism strategy will target high-spending visitors. Meanwhile, it welcomed more than 2 million inbound visitors in each of the first four months of 2026 for the first time.

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11 May 2026 • 19m55s

Ep 303: How Concerned Should We Be About Hantavirus?, ASEAN's Shared Fuel Reserve & AirAsia Floats a Hotel Boat

“There’s a significant amount of downplaying the risk level to the public, but those striking disembarkation scenes with hazmat suits and water showers on the MV Hondius cruise ship tell us how seriously the WHO is taking this outbreak.” Zoonotic viruses are back in the headlines six-and-a-half-years after Covid was identified in China. So too are terms like “Contact Tracing,” “Mask Wearing” and “Breaking the Chains of Transmission”. Gary and Hannah kickstart the week by taking a closer look at the unresolved questions and issues around the Hantavirus outbreak.

Ep 229: Tourist Taxes, University Tourism & A Hotel Building Ban: September 2024 in Review

About This Episode

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Ep 304: Vietnam's Travel & Tourism Profile is Red Hot in 2026 - So What Happens Next?

Ep 303: How Concerned Should We Be About Hantavirus?, ASEAN's Shared Fuel Reserve & AirAsia Floats a Hotel Boat

Hannah Pearson

Gary Bowerman