Ep 51: What is ASEAN & Why is it Important for Travel & Tourism?

Listen to this episode

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

View All Episodes

About This Episode

15 Jan 2021 • 31m00s

It’s all about ASEAN!

This week, Hannah and Gary take a journey through the history of ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations. Established in 1967, ASEAN brings together the 10 countries of the hugely diverse region of South East Asia. Since founding the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, ASEAN has positioned itself as a “Third Force” in Asia Pacific, after China & India.

Will it expand further (Timor Leste, Australia?), and why is ASEAN integral to the newly signed RCEP trade agreement in Asia Pacific?

Most importantly, how will ASEAN influence the future of the aviation, cruise, travel and tourism sectors in a post-pandemic world?

Will there be an ASEAN Air Travel Bubble, and can South East Asia really be promoted as a single tourism destination?

« Next Episode Ep 52: Reconnecting the US & Asia Through Travel, with Sandra Thomas-Comenole Previous Episode » Ep 50: What is the Realistic Outlook for Travel in South East Asia in 2021?

View All Episodes

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Play

8 Dec 2025 • 34m57s

Ep 277: The Geopolitics of Travel & Tourism in ASEAN, Asia Pacific & Beyond in the Era of AI

“I was at a tourism conference in Hangzhou in 2018, where Chinese companies showed how they were using AI to personalise travel for users. That’s nearly eight years ago.” In 2025, AI became a strategic commercial tool in all sectors, including travel and tourism. But it isn’t widely understood just how effectively embedded AI already is in China’s tourism sector, and how far ahead its leading players are to much of the world.

Play

5 Dec 2025 • 39m50s

Ep 276: Visa-easing Tricks, Tariff Turmoil, Vietnam's Breakout Year & What Happened to the ASEAN Tourism Visa?: 2025 in Review

So, another year is almost over - but what did we learn in 2025, South East Asia’s third full year of travel since the Covid pandemic? This week, Gary and Hannah delve through the archives to take stock of an eventful 12 months for travel and tourism in South East Asia and the broader Asia Pacific region. We journey from the regional turmoil of Trump’s tariffs to the tourism impacts of scam centres, and from Singapore setting the standard on SAF to Timor Leste becoming ASEAN’s 11th member.

Ep 51: What is ASEAN & Why is it Important for Travel & Tourism?

About This Episode

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Ep 277: The Geopolitics of Travel & Tourism in ASEAN, Asia Pacific & Beyond in the Era of AI

Ep 276: Visa-easing Tricks, Tariff Turmoil, Vietnam's Breakout Year & What Happened to the ASEAN Tourism Visa?: 2025 in Review

Hannah Pearson

Gary Bowerman