So farewell, 2021! During the second year of The South East Asia Travel Show, Gary Bowerman and Hannah Pearson produced 67 new episodes.
This total includes 35 interviews, and an 8-part mini series entitled The Year So Far in ASEAN, which reviewed the travel year with local experts in 8 countries of the region.
Throughout 2021, the podcast was downloaded in 94 countries and regions worldwide.
Our Top 10 listener markets were 1) US, 2) Australia, 3) UK, 4) Singapore, 5) Canada, 6) Malaysia, 7) Vietnam, 8) Indonesia, 9) Thailand and 10) the Philippines.
So, here are the Top 10 episodes from the past 12 months…
10) 2021: The Year So Far in Laos, with Jason Rolan (4 August)
The spectacular country of Laos is often overshadowed by its South East Asian neighbours in travel and tourism terms. In early August, we tackled developments in the year so far in Laos with Jason Rolan, who is Senior Partner of Vientiane-based RDK Group.
Click HERE to listen
9) The Outlook for Airlines, Airports & Aviation in ASEAN, with Mayur Patel (29 September)
Airlines have been severely impacted by South East Asia’s long border shutdowns. In this episode, we review the first three-quarters of the year, and the outlook for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022 with Singapore-based Mayur Patel, who is Regional Director of OAG.
Click HERE to listen
8) A Roadmap For Tourism Reopening in Cambodia, with Nick Ray (18 June)
How do you go from filming Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie at Angkor Wat to writing travel guides for Lonely Planet and producing travel videos for Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism? We discuss these issues and Cambodia’s tourism future with Nick Ray, Principal at Hanuman Films.
Click HERE to listen
7) Preparing Hotels for a New Travel Era, with the Bali Hotels Association & Phuket Hotels Association – featuring Brad Edman & Jean Hélière (21 June)
On this special edition, we are joined by Brad Edman, General Manager of Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, representing the Phuket Hotels Association (PHA), and Jean Hélière, General Manager of Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach & Chairman of the Bali Hotels Association (BHA).
Click HERE to listen
6) 2021: The Year So Far in Cambodia, with Jacques Guichandut (1 September)
We assess Cambodia’s reopening timeframe, and discuss the opportunities of positioning the nation as a single destination, rather than part of a multi-hop South East Asia itinerary, With Jacques Guichandut, Managing Director of All Dreams Cambodia, based in Phnom Penh.
Click HERE to listen
5) Destination 2022 – All Eyes on Bali: What Happens Next?, with the Bali Hotels Association (19 October) – featuring Melina Caruso & Simona Chimenti
This show takes a detailed look at one of South East Asia’s emblematic reopening stories: Bali – with Simona Chimenti, Marketing & Media Relations Director of the Bali Hotels Association, and Melina Caruso, Technology & Marketing Consultant for the Bali Hotels Association.
Click HERE to listen
4) 2021: The Year So Far in Vietnam, with Mike Tatarski (21 July)
What is the the outlook for airlines, travel firms and domestic tourism in Vietnam, which was one of the region’s brightest hotspots before COVID-19? We find out with Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, who is Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer and founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter.
Click HERE to listen
3) 2021: The Year So Far in Indonesia, with Julia Winterflood (26 August)
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago with the planet’s fourth largest population. It is South East Asia’s biggest economy and has a highly vibrant travel market. We assess the current landscape with Bali-based Julia Winterflood, who is Head Writer of The Bali Beat and writer for Travel Weekly Asia
Click HERE to listen
2) Will Bali Reopen in July?, with Stuart McDonald (2 June)
With speculation rife that Bali would reopen for inbound tourism in July, we talk all things travel and tourism in Bali and beyond with Stuart McDonald, Bali-based founder of Travelfish and one of the region’s most influential travel media commentators.
Click HERE to listen
And the most listened-to podcast of 2021… was….
1) 2021: The Year So Far in Thailand, with Vincent Vichit-Vadakan (15 September)
Thailand grabbed headlines throughout 2021 in South East Asia, but what’s it like to live and work in a country that appeared COVID-safe, got hit hard by the Delta variant – and then reopened to tourists? We find out in an illuminating and enjoyable chat with Vincent Vichit-Vadakan, a freelance travel writer and editor based in Bangkok.