Ep 75: Will Phuket Reopen on 1 July?, with David Luekens

Listen to this episode

Spotify

Google

Podbean

View All Episodes

About This Episode

11 Jun 2021 • 37m00s

Thailand, and specifically Phuket, is central to tourism discussions in South East Asia right now. To check the inbound reopening pulse, Gary and Hannah chat with David Luekens, Bangkok-based travel journalist and creator of the Thai Island Times newsletter.

The discussion looks back on the various proposals by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thai government to reboot tourism over the past year, and the reasons for the failure of the Special Tourist Visa.

David also discusses the stop-start nature of domestic travel over recent months, and the impact of the recent COVID-19 outbreaks. With Thailand expected to confirm the Phuket Sandbox reopening programme soon, we assess the challenges and opportunities both for Phuket, and Thai tourism more broadly.

We also look at the strategies of destinations such as Koh Samui and Chiang Mai, and David updates us on the progress of Thailand’s vaccine rollout out a it starts to gain momentum.

Show notes

Thai Island Times here.

Find David on Twitter here.

« Next Episode Ep 76: Travel Reopening: Is it Only About Inbound Tourists? Previous Episode » Ep 74: The Past, Present & Future of Golf & Casino Tourism in ASEAN, with Bill Healey

View All Episodes

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.