The South East Asia Travel Show

With few signs of movement on border re-openings in South East Asia, Gary and Hannah reflect on 7 lost months in travel and tourism. As August looms into view, several big questions remain unanswered. So, what have been the landmark events and milestones of 2020 so far? What outcomes have surprised, challenged and discouraged the travel industry the most? Is survival now the overarching goal for the rest of 2020? Can South East Asia reclaim its status as the world's most dynamic travel region? Will tourism be domestic and, hopefully, regional only for the foreseeable future? Are there lessons and inspirations to learn from other lifestyle and consumer sectors? And why did 'mojito romance' merit a mention? All this and more in the 30th episode of The South East Asia Travel Show!

This week, Gary and Hannah zone-in on a persistent COVID-19 pressure point: consumer sentiment and the travel fear factor. How are fear and anxiety impacting domestic tourism, and shaping attitudes towards border re-openings and the prospects for inbound and outbound travel? Featuring examples from Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, plus China, Japan and India, the discussion dives deep into the fearful factors discouraging travel bookings. Against this gloomy backdrop, will the Oxford and Chinese vaccine trials prove an inflection point that reveals fragments of light after 7 dark, unforgiving months for travel and tourism?

This is the debut edition of The Friday Rewind! Gary and Hannah deliver an express, 15-minute recap of 5 key talking points in South East Asian travel and tourism from the past 7 days. Today's topics under discussion are; 1) It’s not been a great week for Thailand; 2) Not a good week either for Vietnam Airlines; 3) AirAsia's Tony Fernandes comes out fighting; 4) Job losses at 2 big travel brands - Skyscanner and Resorts World Sentosa ... and, finally, some uplifting news... 5) Two new UNESCO Geoparks are announced in Vietnam and Indonesia and Kampot in Cambodia reports an arrivals boost. "If those stories can't lift us up, nothing can!"

2020 is proving to be a year that no-one in the travel industry or travellers themselves will forget. At times, it has seemed surreal and absurd, as well as scary and uncertain. So this week, Gary and Hannah discuss 20 travel outcomes that could not have been foreseen at the end of 2019. From Singapore Changi Airport closing 2 of its 4 terminals to a stranded Estonian tourist living in Manila Airport for 110 days, and from Chinese travellers being shut out of all SEA markets to Cambodia listing 'Cremation Costs' in its visitor arrival terms and conditions - the list is both thought-provoking and heart-breaking. The show finishes by wondering how the concept of a "Travel Recovery" became the guiding philosophy for the second half of 2020. Truly unpredictable.

South East Asia and Europe provide a connective thread in the life of Cristy Elmendorp. Born in Jakarta to Dutch-Indonesian parents, she studied in Amsterdam and London, and spent 15 years living and working in Bangkok. Spells as a TV show host, resort photographer and hospitality marketer were followed by founding her own bespoke luxury travel company, Soma Journeys. Cristy’s client trips took her across Tibet, Mongolia, Java and Iceland. Now living in the Netherlands, Cristy has published her first travel memoir, Where the Light Begins: A Seeker’s Journey for Truth, Freedom and a Place to Call Home. In conversation with Gary, she reflects on a life in travel, being a mother to her new son Goya and the prospects for tourism in a post-COVID world.

So, here we are in the 2nd week of July, and it is becoming increasingly evident that the route towards a travel recovery is lined with gigantic barriers. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss 6 critical factors hindering a tourism rebound in South East Asia, Asia Pacific and worldwide: 1) The coronavirus; 2) Border closures and travel bans; 3) Rising economic uncertainty; 4) Consumer sentiment and the travel fear factor; 5) Reduced travel industry operational capacity, and 6) The emerging marketing challenge. Is there a take-off path to brighter skies up ahead?

Well, we reach two milestones this week. We are halfway through 2020 – and what a year it’s been so far!! – and this is also our 25th podcast, so Happy Anniversary to us. To celebrate, Gary and Hannah revisit their 20 for the 2020s Travel Wishlist – which featured in the first podcast of the year back in January. Since then, of course, travel and tourism in South East Asia – and worldwide – has endured the most difficult 6 months in modern history. With some countries slowly starting to reopen for domestic travel, it's time to accept that 2020 has been a tough year for travel forecasting. How many predictions did we get right...? Listen to find out.

As The South East Asia Travel Show approaches its 6-month anniversary, here's our brand new trailer detailing some of the key issues we've discussed on the pod - and the various ways for listeners to get in touch and join the debate. For more information, visit us online at www.theseasiatravelshow.com