Ep 291: As the Energy Crisis Impacts Spread Across Asian Travel, Can K-pop Save the World?
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19 Mar 2026 • 22m55sAs the energy crisis impacts start to diversify across Asia, Gary and Hannah ask a simple question: Can K-pop save the world? This week’s journey takes us from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos to Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, plus Maldives and Sri Lanka. En route we assess some of the radiating outcomes of war in the Middle East that go far beyond airlines and air connectivity. And we turn to South Korea for hope and inspiration. Will the BTS World Tour that kicks off this weekend inspire a bigger economic boom than Taylor Swift’s Eras money machine? And can K-pop Demon Hunters’ concert dates instil an upbeat vibe throughout the region?
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19 Mar 2026 • 22m55s
Ep 291: As the Energy Crisis Impacts Spread Across Asian Travel, Can K-pop Save the World?
As the energy crisis impacts start to diversify across Asia, Gary and Hannah ask a simple question: Can K-pop save the world? This week’s journey takes us from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos to Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, plus Maldives and Sri Lanka. En route we assess some of the radiating outcomes of war in the Middle East that go far beyond airlines and air connectivity. And we turn to South Korea for hope and inspiration.
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13 Mar 2026 • 33m52s
Ep 290: The Economic Impacts of War in the Middle East for Travel & Tourism Across South East Asia
“It’s a cliche to say that everything is in flux, and that there is a great deal of uncertainty across travel economies. But it’s true.” The US and Israel’s ongoing aerial bombardment of Iran and Lebanon - and the worsening unintended consequences of retaliatory strikes on energy assets and other installations across the Middle East - are raising crisis fears across Asian economies. Travel and tourism are once again in the cross-hairs, and it’s starting to feel like Covid 2.
