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The South East Asia Travel Show is hosted by Gary Bowerman and Hannah Pearson. Each week, we discuss the hottest travel talking points in the 10 countries of ASEAN, and the influential travel markets of Asia Pacific and beyond.
228 Episodes
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With a 5.0 TripAdvisor rating, Phare, the Cambodian Circus based in Siem Reap, must be doing something right.
We speak to Craig Dodge, their Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, about the journey this social enterprise has taken from humble beginnings in Battambang to shows in New York City. Along the way, we talk Cambodia's tourism recovery and the pull between positioning it as a mono destination vs part of a multi-country Southeast Asian itinerary.
Lastly, we finish off with why Craig is such an advocate for Cambodian attractions and tour operators to get online.
As we speed towards the mid-point of 2024, it's time to revisit our annual top 10 list of travel wishes and expectations, which we created in January. How have our predictions measured up so far this year? En route, we assess whether travel visa waivers have become a competitive battleground in South East Asia, and look at evolving patterns in the Public Holiday vs Weekend vs Weekday travel economies. Plus, are we seeing any progress to bridge the Say-Do gap in sustainable travel activity, and is there any evidence to support the AI hype in travel supply and demand? And we track the timeline of Thailand's institutional journey to become the region's first nation to legalise same-sex weddings. When could this become enshrined in law, and how might it influence new travel trends?
From "Everyone wants to go to Japan" to "Thailand's on the verge of over-tourism" to "Three towers with a surf board on top". Welcome to our new monthly mini-roundup of the key moments from recent podcast discussions and interviews. During April, Philip See, Group Chief Sustainability Officer & CEO of Loyalty and Travel Solutions of the Malaysia Aviation Group, discusses the sustainable aviation challenges and opportunities in South East Asia. Plus, we head to Japan to break down the astonishing surge of inbound travel from South East Asia to one of Asia Pacific's hottest destinations. We tackle the re-emergence (or otherwise) of Thailand's THB300 tourism tax, and Hannah consults Google Maps to locate the under-development fourth tower of Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands resort. All this and much more in our April rewind.
1“Whatever happened to ‘Quality Tourism’?” As we complete one-third of 2024, what were the top 8 travel talking points in April? Gary and Hannah journey across the region, with stops in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, China and Dubai. We analyse the increase in Chinese arrivals to ASEAN & Asia Pacific in Q1, and preview the May Labour Day holiday. We review travel volumes during the Songkran, Eid/Lebaran and Khmer New Year travel periods. Plus, a Thai tourism leader calls for a new visitor levy to battle over-tourism in primary destinations, while Malaysian budget hoteliers raise their rates. We assess the regional aviation impact of Dubai’s catastrophic flooding and the eruption of Mt Ruang in Indonesia. Plus, Bali raises a Dengue Fever alert and Singapore hits 95% of its pre-pandemic monthly arrivals in March - partly thanks to a certain tortured pop poet.
Travel and tourism in South East Asia are heavily stat-driven. Indeed, 2024 is turning out to be a year of shouting loudly about milestones and 2019 catch-ups across the region. So, this week, Hannah and Gary assess 8 hot numerical topics, taking us to Singapore, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Japan. En route, we deconstruct the 2023 total of 100 million arrivals to South East Asia, and analyse the Q1 figures in key markets. Thailand is out front in ASEAN, while Japan is breaking monthly records in North East Asia - with strong support from South East Asian travellers. Plus, will the 6-nation ASEAN border-free travel visa get off the ground? When are Vietnam's 2 high-speed rail routes to China slated to begin construction? How has Malaysia achieved an 85% growth in cruise port visits compared to pre-pandemic? Plus, how many passengers rode the China-Laos railway in its first 12 months, and why is the 4th tower at a Singapore tourism icon gaining media coverage across Asia Pacific?
As sustainability targets in aviation gain sharper focus, airlines and governments in South East Asia are racing to implement strategies. These range from sustainable aviation fuel levies to in-house trainings. With news this week that Malaysia plans to implement a carbon levy, Hannah picks the perfect time to discuss a broad range of issues with Philip See, Group Chief Sustainability Officer & CEO of Loyalty and Travel Solutions, of the Malaysia Aviation Group. This compelling chat takes us back to the pandemic when Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, AMAL and MASWings were restructured and recapitalised, and the subsequent strategy shifts in operations, marketing, ancillary services - and sustainability. The discussion dives deeply into key issues around SAF, such as production, procurement and formulation, and whether costs will be passed onto passengers. Philip also discusses socially sustainable initiatives, such as recruiting and training female aviation engineers and pilots, and environmental issues that extend beyond emissions, such as managing waste.
Well, we’ve completed the first quarter of 2024 – where did that go? March was another frenetic month, with plenty of travel and tourism news, statistics, announcements and pronouncements. So where is South East Asia at exactly 2 years after the region began to reopen after the pandemic? Gary and Hannah discuss March’s Top 8 talking points, with stop-offs in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and China. En route, we analyse potential legislative shifts for Marriage Equality and Casino Gaming in Thailand, Singapore's World’s Best MICE City campaign and Vietnam's Q1 arrivals surpassing the same 2019 period. Plus, illegal resort development in a protected area of the Philippines, the launch of AirAsia Cambodia and Bali's Tourism Tax leakages. And is China this year's hottest outbound destination for South East Asian travellers?
Welcome to our new monthly mini-roundup of the key moments from The South East Asia Travel Show’s recent editions. The March rewind features red-hot talking points including ASEAN's domestic and international flight recovery, Indonesia's most popular outbound destinations, the opportunities for adventure travel in Laos and China's remarkable inbound tourism policy shift. We also discuss Thailand's Prime Minister becoming the nation's pre-eminent tourism salesman, and the passing on of travel costs to tourists and travellers around the region. Plus, could Vietnam build a high-speed train connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in just five hours? Many thanks to our expert guests this month: Pauline Suharno in Indonesia, Inthy Deuansavanh in Laos, Brendan Sobie in Singapore, James Clark in Australia and Yereth Jansen in China.
"It is my dream for Laos to be at the centre of adventure eco-tourism in the region." Laos is a beautiful land-locked nation clad in forested mountains, but its adventure and eco-tourism sectors are still developing from a low base. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome Inthy Deuansavanh, Head of Vientiane-based Inthira Group, which owns and operates eco-minded hotels, resorts, restaurants and adventure travel experiences throughout Laos. A lifelong hiker and camping enthusiast, Inthy's journey began by opening a restaurant for tourists before he pioneered adventure-based eco-tourism and the Green Discovery Sustainability Fund. Inthy talks about the evolution of sustainable tourism experiences in Laos, and why the nation needs more eco-conscious tour operators. He discusses how the China-Laos train is opening up exploration of remote areas of beauty, and the importance of involving local communities in the tourism eco-system. Plus, what is the ‘Coffee in the Sky’ experience? And which country provides the most tourists for Inthira's adventure activities (clue: it may be a surprise, although celebrity social media influencers are a key driver)?
Indonesia is by some margin the largest country, with the largest population and largest economy, in South East Asia. It also counts a fascinating interplay between inbound and outbound travel and a vast domestic travel and tourism sector. This week, Gary and Hannah welcome back Pauline Suharno, President of ASTINDO, the Indonesian Travel Agents Association, to discuss the overall recovery in 2023, and the outlook for 2024. En route, we discuss the hot destinations for outbound tourists, the continued high cost of domestic air tickets and new travel packages for passengers jumping aboard the Whoosh high-speed rail. Plus, what's the current status of development for the 5 Super Priority Destinations? Will destinations welcome a record number of domestic travellers for the upcoming Lebaran (Eid al-Fitr) holidays? And what are the key areas to be addressed for the promotion and development of Indonesia's travel and tourism sector?
From Changi's statistical milestone to a festive travel renaissance and Taylor Diplomacy to Thailand's 'Tourism Salesman'. As the end of Q1 2024 draws near, we move towards another major milestone. Nearly two years ago, on 1 April 2022, South East Asia began to fully reopen after the dark days of the pandemic. So, how has the first quarter of 2024 panned out, and what were the key takeaways? This week, Gary and Hannah assess the Top 8 travel and tourism talking points from throughout the region in the first three months of 2024. En route, we discuss the debut of China's C919 aircraft in ASEAN, the Thai PM's tourism pitch at ITB Berlin and higher passenger service charges in Malaysia. Plus, we look at AirAsia's plan to launch new airlines in Singapore and Vietnam and its parent company's goal of listing on the Nasdaq later this year. And we garnish each talking point with the region's latest travel statistics.
Today marks 4 years since the WHO declared Covid-19 a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. We know what happened next, especially in Asia Pacific where the impacts on travel lasted longer than elsewhere. So where is South East Asia's air travel recovery currently at – and what is the outlook for the rest of the year, and beyond? To discuss these big questions, Gary chats with Brendan Sobie, Founder of Sobie Aviation and one of the region’s most prolific aviation analysts. The discussion covers the entire aviation, airline and airport landscape. Which markets have achieved a full domestic recovery and which haven't - and will they ever do so? Is the 'post-pandemic honeymoon' period for large airline profits ending? And how are legacy carriers and LCCs positioned for the next phase of realignment? We look at the 5 busiest international airports in Asia Pacific, and the traffic shifts as competition re-intensifies. And, we address the evolution of air fares, which are moderating but "still significantly higher overall than they were". Plus we discuss higher costs for airlines, and how this makes managing yields more challenging. And we analyse the growth outlook for the region's mega-markets, China and India, influential markets, such as the Middle East, Central Asia, Japan, South Korea and Australia and intra-ASEAN trends.
Are we seeing the start of a transformation in China's travel sector? While outbound tourism grabs the headlines, a vibrant domestic travel recovery and a shift towards opening up its inbound sector garner less coverage. That is starting to change as the Chinese government expands its visa-free policy to visitors from 15 countries (11 from Europe and 4 from South East Asia). Given that inbound travel has always been a low priority, has the pandemic changed everything? And how closely is this dramatic shift aligned with a drive to attract more investment for reviving the economy? To analyse these questions, Gary is joined by Shanghai-based Yereth Jansen, China CEO of Darling Advertising and a UN Tourism consultant. We address the impact of the Covid years on China's travel economy, and the current state of the domestic recovery. Also. we assess moves to make it easier for foreign visitors to navigate their way around China and pay for products and services, and how provincial governments are developing new international marketing campaigns. Plus, we look at how live-streaming and short-video apps are gaining market share in China for selling travel products, and the pressure this places on OTAs like Ctrip - which is ramping up the APAC marketing strategy for its Trip.com brand.
Wherever you travel in South East Asia, it’s impossible to miss that transport infrastructure is being built out on a vast scale. After the lull of the pandemic era, this will accelerate over the next decade and beyond. Airport capacities are being expanded, high-speed and urban railways constructed and even new cities built from scratch. So how will this influence the future direction of travel and tourism in the region? This week, Gary is joined by James Clark, Founder of the Future South East Asia newsletter, to assess the current status of 8 potentially game-changing travel and transport projects throughout ASEAN. From new airport terminals in Bangkok and Phnom Penh to high-speed railways in Vietnam and Thailand, we also look at the new light railway connecting southern Malaysia and Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City's debut metro line. Plus, we stop off in Indonesia to assess the progress of its new capital city, Nusantara, and the long-touted Bali Railway - which aims to reduce traffic congestion in the south of the island and speed up journeys to/from the airport.
Happy Anniversary to us. Launched on 9 January 2020, The South East Asia Travel Show has reached the 200 episodes milestone. This week, Gary and Hannah reflect on the key travel and tourism issues from the past four years, a large chunk of which was clouded by the pandemic. Within one month of launching, the WHO classified the Novel Coronavirus as a global health emergency, and two months later declared a pandemic. Despite covering travel during a period when very little travel was actually happening in the region, we've been able to interview experts from 18 different countries in South East Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. We've also covered diverse topics ranging from Ethical Travel to Concert Tourism, Travel Sandboxes to Vaccinated Travel Lanes, and Travel Filmmaking to Tourism Transformation Planning. Along the way, the show has grown its international reach. So far in 2024, our podcast has been downloaded in 73 countries, from the US to India, Thailand to Brazil, Turkey to Ukraine and Morocco to New Zealand. So, please join us to look back across a rollercoaster four-year ride, and our thoughts about the regional travel outlook for 2024 and beyond.
Bali has bounced back impressively over the past year for international and domestic arrivals - but will that momentum endure as regional competition intensifies in 2024? This week, Bali introduces the International Tourism Levy, which must be paid in addition to the visa-on-arrival fee. Could this impact tourist numbers? To help us piece together the details and discuss the tourism outlook, Gary and Hannah welcome back Simona Chimenti and Melina Caruso of the Bali Hotels Association. We recap Bali's vital statistics from 2023 and the top visitor markets, plus we look at efforts to encourage Indonesian travellers in specific segments to stay local rather than head overseas. We analyse the current status of two mega-markets, India and China, touch on new flight services and key issues such as booking windows and seasonality. Plus, when and how do visitors pay the International Tourism Levy? What's the latest news about the proposed Bali railway? And what steps are hotels taking to tackle plastic trash and food waste across the island?
This week, multi-Grammy-winning Taylor Swift kicks off her Asia tour in Tokyo ahead of dates in Melbourne, Sydney and six sold-out shows in Singapore. Music tourism is a hot emerging trend in Asia, with destinations like Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Macau, Bangkok, Jakarta and Hong Kong competing to attract shows by Asian and global megastars. So, what happens next? Could Concert Tickets & Events Travel Packages become a new category on OTA and SuperApp platforms alongside hotels, flights and car rentals? Might payment brands become pop ticket distributors? Does the event ticketing model need to change – and, if so, what are some of the potential scenarios for the travel industry? Gary and Hannah are joined by Martin Haigh, Sales Director of Total Ticketing, which is a supplier of live event ticketing software to travel agents, attractions, integrated resorts, stadiums and B2C ticketing companies. We discuss the mechanics of concert and sports event tourism, potential disruption to the sales channels for music concerts and major events - and the reasons why so many Taylor Swift fans missed out on their dream ticket.
The 2023 visitor arrivals and airport passenger statistics are published, and the gloves are off. As the region prepares for a vibrant Lunar New Year travel season, 2024 is set to be the most shape-shifting year for travel since 2019. So, how has South East Asia started the year in travel and tourism terms? Gary and Hannah discuss January’s Top 8 talking points, which include bilateral visa-free travel agreements with China, proposals for a "seamless ASEAN" and a "single ASEAN airline", plus a national MICE Sustainability certification. We also discuss the variable forecasts for visitor arrivals in 2024 and shifting post-Covid patterns of competition among Asia Pacific's four largest airports. Plus, we assess the origin and curtailment of a significant tax hike that caused uproar across Indonesia's tourism industry.
Boosted by a population surpassing 100 million, Vietnam counts one of the region’s fastest growing travel and aviation markets. To assess the outlook for tourism in 2024, Gary and Hannah welcome back Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter. We begin by recapping the 2023 recovery for inbound, outbound and domestic travel, and dissect the top visitor markets. We discuss the challenges for the air market, particularly with high prices irking domestic passengers and the financial struggles of Bamboo Airways. Transport infrastructure remains a hot topic. We assess the progress of new airport developments in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces, and the latest status of the much-hyped North-South high-speed railway. Plus, we talk overdevelopment in Phu Quoc, environmental management in Halong Bay, and why Japan is such a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists.
As we begin the second full calendar year of travel and tourism in South East Asia since the pandemic, it’s time to look ahead at what 2024 might offer. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss their Top 10 list of travel and tourism wishes, expectations and forecasts for 2024. It’s going to a be competitive and challenging year, but scratching beneath the surface what are the critical issues to be addressed? We expect visa waivers will be a key destination battleground, ponder whether ASEAN should create a statistical standard for benchmarking tourist arrivals and talk tough on Revenge Travel and Generative AI. We analyse the transformative impacts of climate change and extreme weather for travel across the region, and address the 'Say-Do' sustainability gap for Asian travellers. Plus, why is the Weekend Economy a topic of interest to watch in 2024, and could Thailand enjoy a signifiant diversity boost for tourism this year?
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