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/

View All Episodes

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Play
22 Mar 2023 • 36m56s

Ep 170: The Top 10 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in South East Asia in March 2023

With travel and tourism activity continuing to ramp up across South East Asia, Gary and Hannah tackle the top news stories and talking points in March. The journey takes us to Vietnam, Bali (Indonesia), Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos … and Switzerland! En route, we discuss mobile rail ticketing in Laos, bad tourist behaviour shaming in Bali, free tourism experiences in Singapore and an interesting legal case in Malaysia addressing the constitutional right (or otherwise) to travel overseas.
Play
15 Mar 2023 • 9m20s

Ep 168: Mini Update - China Restores Inbound Tourism & Expands Outbound Travel

China began reopening to international travel on 8 January 2023, but the impact so far has been gradual. There are various reasons, including the Chinese government’s decision to phase the scaling up of outbound travel capacity. From today, 15 March, outbound group package tours are permitted to 60 countries worldwide. Independent travellers are, of course, free to travel globally. Also from today, China will begin issuing tourist entry visas, and has reestablished visa-free access to Hainan Island and for cruise passengers docking in Shanghai.