Ep 314: As Intra-ASEAN Tourism Competition Intensifies, What Are South East Asia's Major New Battlegrounds?

2026 has been a mixed year for tourism across South East Asia, and all countries are preparing their future strategies. With arrivals growth slowing and competition to attract tourists intensifying, Wellness and Business Events are emerging as key battlegrounds. This week, Gary and Hannah analyse how some of the region’s key players, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia, are setting out their strategic stalls - or are they simply chasing the same tourists with different labels and campaigns? Plus, we discuss new flights between Phuket and Bali, and the background behind the arrest of a Malaysia Airlines pilot for drug smuggling in Jakarta. And, is Thailand’s Prime Minister paving the way for Myanmar to return to the ASEAN fray after five years of isolation since the military coup?