Ep 233: A New Bali Airport, Laos Backpacker Perils & Chinese Aircraft Ready for Take-off: November 2024 in Review

Listen to this episode

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

View All Episodes

About This Episode

28 Nov 2024 • 29m21s

“There are a lot of unknowns and hints of nervousness about 2025.” With ASEAN nations weighing up their travel outlooks for the Year of the Snake, November was an eventful month. This week, Gary and Hannah, rewind the month’s top travel takeaways featuring Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, plus investment updates from China - and we round up the region’s latest travel stats.

We tackle the fallout from the fatal backpacker poisonings in Laos, “unsatisfactory tourism performance” in Singapore and the latest on the new North Bali Airport. We delve into Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC’s latest plays to get ASEAN airlines to buy its planes, and an eye-catching collaboration in Hong Kong.

Plus, Etihad announces 5 new route services in South East Asia and Penang opens its airport gates to Chennai. And which destination is hoping charter flights from Poland will help meet its 2024 visitor arrivals target?

« Next Episode Ep 234: South East Asia's Top 10 Travel & Tourism Stories of 2024: An Eventful 12 Months in Review Previous Episode » Ep 232: Self-Drive Travel, Flying Taxis, Scam Fears & an Icy Winter Tourism Hotspot: October 2024 in Review

View All Episodes

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Play

10 Apr 2026 • 14m33s

Ep 297: How Have 6 Weeks of War Changed ASEAN's Travel Economies?: Start the Weekend with The South East Asia Travel Show

“Could South East Asia’s travel landscape look different in 12-18 months time?” The episode explores how Middle East conflict affects the region’s travel sector. Key topics include: The region’s dependence on imported oil, LNG, jet fuel, petrochemicals, and fertilizers Rising fuel costs and electricity supply challenges Government energy-conservation measures and work-from-home policies Food price inflation impacts Jet fuel scarcity effects on travel and tourism operations Hosts Gary and Hannah examine broader war-related economic consequences across Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific, comparing these disruptions to the COVID-19 pandemic’s travel impacts and discussing potential long-term shifts in the industry.

Play

6 Apr 2026 • 17m51s

Ep 296: LCC Strategy Shifts, Türkiye & Taiwan in the Spotlight & Vietnam Targets 50 Million Visitors: Start the Week with The South East Asia Travel Show

The episode examines how fuel costs have escalated dramatically for airlines, now consuming “50-55% of its operating costs. That previously was 30-35%.” As Middle East tensions escalate, Southeast Asian low-cost carriers face intensifying financial pressures. Hosts Gary and Hannah explore developments across Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, Bahrain, and Taiwan, discussing Batik Air’s 35% flight reduction and network cutbacks by competing carriers. They also examine Tony Fernandes’ hints regarding a potential partnership with a major Turkish airline and SunPhuQuoc Airways’ decision to launch international operations from Taipei.

Ep 233: A New Bali Airport, Laos Backpacker Perils & Chinese Aircraft Ready for Take-off: November 2024 in Review

About This Episode

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Ep 297: How Have 6 Weeks of War Changed ASEAN's Travel Economies?: Start the Weekend with The South East Asia Travel Show

Ep 296: LCC Strategy Shifts, Türkiye & Taiwan in the Spotlight & Vietnam Targets 50 Million Visitors: Start the Week with The South East Asia Travel Show

Hannah Pearson

Gary Bowerman