The Friday Rewind: A Bad Week For Thailand, But AirAsia Gets Bullish

About This Episode

17 Jul 2020 • 16m05s

This is the debut edition of The Friday Rewind!

Gary and Hannah deliver an express, 15-minute recap of 5 key talking points in South East Asian travel and tourism from the past 7 days.

Today’s topics under discussion are:

  1. It’s not been a great week for Thailand

  2. Not a good week either for Vietnam Airlines

  3. AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes comes out fighting;

  4. Job losses at 2 big travel brands - Skyscanner and Resorts World Sentosa

… and, finally, some uplifting news…

  1. Two new UNESCO Geoparks are announced in Vietnam and Indonesia and Kampot in Cambodia reports an arrivals boost

Resources

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1951236/visits-by-foreign-diplomats-business-reps-suspended

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-07/15/c_139214849.htm?

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/vietnam-airlines-wants-500-mln-government-bailout-4130152.html

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/resorts-world-sentosa-lays-off-staff-cost-cutting-covid-19-12934352?

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/skyscanner-cutting-jobs-and-offices-reducing-presence-in-singapore-after

https://en.unesco.org/news/geopark-2020

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/743294/slow-growing-roots-of-recovery-in-nations-hospitality-industry/

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