Ep 68: The Current State of Travel in South East Asia and Beyond
Spotify
Google
PodbeanAbout This Episode
28 Apr 2021 • 35m00sWith the COVID-19 pandemic now in its 14 month, what have we learned and how will those lessons be – or not be – applied in future? This week, Gary and Hannah take on some of the ‘big picture’ talking points in travel and tourism in ASEAN.
The show asks, and tries to answer, 7 critical questions:
- What do travel and tourism mean today, and do we have a different outlook than before the pandemic?
- What have been the biggest changes for the travel industry - which will be temporary, and will any be permanent?
- What has been the most overlooked development so far?
- What have we learned in the first 4 months of 2021, and is the current outlook different than expected at the end of 2020?
- Are travel bubbles relevant any more now that we have vaccines?
- Realistically, what are the expectations for travel and tourism in South East Asia in 2021 - and will there be a noticeable ‘turning point’?
- Looking further ahead, what are the reasons to be optimistic, and what are the pessimistic factors?
Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed
Play
10 Apr 2026 • 14m33s
Ep 297: How Have 6 Weeks of War Changed ASEAN's Travel Economies?: Start the Weekend with The South East Asia Travel Show
“Could South East Asia’s travel landscape look different in 12-18 months time?” The episode explores how Middle East conflict affects the region’s travel sector. Key topics include:
The region’s dependence on imported oil, LNG, jet fuel, petrochemicals, and fertilizers Rising fuel costs and electricity supply challenges Government energy-conservation measures and work-from-home policies Food price inflation impacts Jet fuel scarcity effects on travel and tourism operations Hosts Gary and Hannah examine broader war-related economic consequences across Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific, comparing these disruptions to the COVID-19 pandemic’s travel impacts and discussing potential long-term shifts in the industry.
Play
6 Apr 2026 • 17m51s
Ep 296: LCC Strategy Shifts, Türkiye & Taiwan in the Spotlight & Vietnam Targets 50 Million Visitors: Start the Week with The South East Asia Travel Show
The episode examines how fuel costs have escalated dramatically for airlines, now consuming “50-55% of its operating costs. That previously was 30-35%.” As Middle East tensions escalate, Southeast Asian low-cost carriers face intensifying financial pressures. Hosts Gary and Hannah explore developments across Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, Bahrain, and Taiwan, discussing Batik Air’s 35% flight reduction and network cutbacks by competing carriers. They also examine Tony Fernandes’ hints regarding a potential partnership with a major Turkish airline and SunPhuQuoc Airways’ decision to launch international operations from Taipei.
