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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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.

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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 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 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