The Impact of Covid-19 on the Southeast Asian Tourism Industry

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST

ASIAN WEEKLY SUMMARY TOURISM 10 JAN 2021 Hannah Pearson INDUSTRY [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

As a market highly dependent on both Chinese outbound tourism and the Chinese economy, Southeast Asia is a region which was heavily affected by COVID-19 even in the early months of 2020.

With the declaration of a pandemic, as well as the closing of borders and imposition of lockdowns, Southeast Asia’s tourism economy will continue to be impacted for the foreseeable future.

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IMPACT SUMMARY Week ending Sunday 10th January 2021 INBOUND TRAVEL OUTBOUND TRAVEL COUNTRY LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS RESTRICTIONS CASES DEATHS

Cambodia None Visa restrictions Discouraged 391 0 Indonesia Partial Restricted Permitted 828,026 24,129 Laos None Visa restrictions Discouraged 41 0 Malaysia Partial Visa restrictions Restricted 133,559 542 Myanmar Partial Visa restrictions Discouraged 130,049 2,826 Philippines Partial Visa restrictions Permitted 487,690 9,405 Singapore Partial Visa restrictions Restricted 58,907 29 Thailand Partial Quarantine Flight restriction 10,298 67 Vietnam None Visa restrictions Flight restriction 1,513 35

Data accurate as of 20:45 (UTC+8) on 10 Jan 2021 Partial lockdown = closure of schools or some non-essential services (e.g., entertainment), recommendation to work from home Lockdown = closure of all non-essential businesses, restricted movement COVID-19 case & death statuses from John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center VACCINE SUMMARY Week ending Sunday 10th January 2021 TYPE OF VACCINE % OF POP ESTIMATED COUNTRY Secured or In Talks DOSES SECURED COVERED ROLL-OUT SOURCES

Cambodia COVAX; China, Sputnik V Not Available 20% Mid-2021 1, 2, 3 AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, 13 Jan Indonesia Merah Putih, Novavax; Pfizer, ~ 329 mil ~ 61% 1, 2, 3, 4 2021 Sputnik V, Laos COVAX, Sinopharm, Sputnik V - 20% Started 1 Pfizer, China, AstraZeneca; Malaysia Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, 19.2 mil 30% Feb 2021 1, 2, 3, 4 Sputnik V Myanmar COVAX, Covishield, China 30 mil 28% Feb 2021 1, 2, 3, 4 COVAX, AstraZeneca, Covovax; 1, 2, 3, 4, Philippines 33.8 mil 35% Q1 2021 China, Sputnik V, Pfizer, Moderna 5, 6, 7, 8 Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac, locally Singapore Not Available 100% Started 1, 2 developed AstraZeneca, Sinovac, locally Thailand 63 mil 45% Feb 2021 1, 2, 3 developed AstraZeneca, COVAX, Sputnik V Vietnam 50-150 mil 26-78% May 2021 1, 2, 3 locally developed; China, Pfizer,

Data accurate as of 20:00 (UTC+8) on 10 Jan 2021. Sources: Various

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Cambodia sees 1.27 million tourists over 31 Dec – 3 CAMBODIA Jan. On Page 4 • Luxury hotel Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh opens • Government aims to increase skills of tourism professionals

Sriwijaya Air SJ182 flight crashes into sea, black boxes INDONESIA located. On Page 13 • Vaccination drive with Jokowi receiving first shot • Java and Bali to see their restrictions tightened starts on 13 Jan, amidst record case highs from 11-25 Jan

Luang Prabang 2020 visitors down 68% YoY, Vang LAOS Vieng’s down 60% YoY. On Page 37 • Vientiane is planning to develop smart zones in • Completion of a new airport in Huaphan province the city has been delayed for a 3rd time

Malaysia’s PM to announce new restrictions on 11 Jan, MALAYSIA with health system near “breaking point”. On Page 42 • MAH expects hotel occupancy to remain ~20- • Sarawak’s inbound tourists in 2020 -71% YoY 30% in Q1 2021

Myanmar Tourism Federation expect int’l tourism to MYANMAR resume in H2, with tourism operating at just 10-20%. On Page 72 • Mandalay Region Hoteliers Association asks for • 30 million doses of Covishield expected to arrive permission to reopen hotels by Feb

30 million dose deal with the Serum Institute of India PHILIPPINES for Covovax signed, delivery expected in Q3 2021. On Page 82 • Philippine Airlines starts to restore flights from • Quarantine hotels in Metro Manila are running its Davao hub out of rooms with balikbayans still arriving

SINGAPORE Singapore PM receives his COVID-19 vaccine. On Page 106 • Vaccinated travellers will still be required to • More than 300,000 Singaporeans have used their undertake stay-home requirements SingapoRediscovers vouchers

Domestic air travel drops by 60% since Jan; Thai AirAsia THAILAND says 2nd wave has “destroyed” them. On Page 133 • Additional 35 million AstraZeneca doses ordered, • Inter-provincial travel ban for 5 provinces creating total of 63 million doses in pipeline

Vietnam’s November domestic flights down just 23%

VIETNAM YoY; construction begins for Long Thanh Int’l Airport. On Page 170 • Agreement to buy 30 million doses of • Suspension of inbound flights from countries or AstraZeneca’s vaccine territories with new COVID-19 variant

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CAMBODIA Tourism industry stands to lose $5 billion USD.

TRAVEL All visa exemptions, visas on arrival and e-visas are suspended. Travellers must RESTRICTIONS have valid medical certificates issued 72hrs prior to travel, proof of medical insurance worth up to $50k USD, be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and undertake a 14-day quarantine with a re-test on the 14th day. They must deposit $2,000 USD on arrival (IATA).

LOCKDOWN Public schools to reopen on 11 Jan. Museums, cinemas have reopened. STATUS

Flight searches and booking volume for Future flight search for travel to travel to Cambodia Cambodia

Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

16 Dec: Tourists on expired visas have been granted an automatic extension >>

14 Dec: Cambodia will not shorten its 14-day quarantine >>

5 Dec: The foreign sponsorship of international arrivals will be postponed temporarily >>

30 Nov: All foreign and Cambodian arrivals must quarantine in designated government quarantine centres and will no longer be allowed to self-quarantine at home >>

13 Nov: Cambodia has been added to the UK government’s travel corridor list >>

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13 Nov: From 18 Nov, foreign arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the European Union and the US who have a sponsor must have a negative certificate within 72 hours of their departure, and have a test upon arrival. They must isolate in a hotel until the results are released, then will be permitted to leave after giving a planned schedule. Diplomats must also provide a certificate stating they are free of COVID-19 within 72 hours of their departure, have a test on arrival, and wait at least 24 hours at a hotel or quarantine for their results. Those foreigners who arrive without sponsorship must now stay in a government-designated hotel for a 2-week mandatory quarantine, and are not permitted to quarantine at home >>

5 Nov: Travel bubble talks with SE Asian nations are expected to be submitted for approval in late Nov, aiming to implement them in Q1 2021 >>

29 Oct: The Pacific Asia Travel Association welcomes the idea of travel bubbles with China, but also urges the government to look at Vietnam and Thailand as partners too. The Cambodia Hotels Association and the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents are also both enthusiastic at the prospect of a travel bubble with China >>

3 Sep: The charges for the COVID-19 tests for foreigners on arrival to Cambodia will be reduced to $100 USD each, with the remainder of their $2,000 USD deposit being paid back 3 days after the 2nd test has a negative result >>

5 Aug: Cambodia has lowered the cash deposit to $2,000 USD for foreign travellers on arrival. Travellers must buy a local health insurance package which will cost $90 USD and be valid for 20 days >>

VACCINE

29 Dec: Cambodia is planning 3 approaches to purchase vaccines: 1) obtain 20% via COVAX, 2) discuss with development partners how to purchase affordable vaccines and 3) negotiate directly with the vaccine manufacturers >>

23 Dec: UNICEF has offered to deliver 850 tonnes of vaccines every month ordered through COVAX to Cambodia >>

19 Dec: Cambodia has clarified that it has not shunned any vaccines, after media reported that it had shunned Chinese vaccines >>

15 Dec: Cambodia will obtain 20% of its vaccine, for about 3.2 million of the population. It will only accept vaccines which have been certified by the WHO. The WHO hope that a vaccine could be available by mid-2021. It has received $48 million USD in donations from the public >>

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12 Dec: The WHO has said that vaccines could be available in Cambodia in mid- 2021 or earlier >>

11 Dec: The government has received $36.8 million USD in donations for purchases of the vaccine, but has not yet decided which type to buy and where it will be sourced from. Its community cases have risen to 39 from the Zando cluster >>

9 Dec: The government will purchase 1 million COVID-19 doses, a move that should boost business confidence >>

13 Oct: China has promised that Cambodia will be one of the first countries to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The Cambodian PM has also requested Russia to provide a vaccine to Cambodia. Cambodia is also a member of COVAX >>

INBOUND

NEW 9 Jan: Local schools will reopen on 11 Jan as planned >>

NEW 9 Jan: Locals are concerned that Chinese backed developments in Kampot could damage the town’s heritage charm >>

NEW 7 Jan: Cambodia attended a signing ceremony for the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Tourism, enabling 32 job titles from 2 sectors, including hotel services and travel services, to be recognised regionally >>

NEW 7 Jan: The Angkor Wat International Half Marathon will take place on 24 Jan >>

NEW 7 Jan: The Tourism Ministry wants to increase the skills of tourism professionals >>

NEW 6 Jan: Cambodia has potential for bird watching tourism, and the Ministry of the Environment has said that it plays an important role in ecotourism development >>

NEW 6 Jan: The luxury Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh has opened >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Khmer Empire Marathon will be held on 8 Aug, after being postponed from 2020 >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Kampot International Tourism Port works are behind schedule, and are being urged to speed up works to allow completion by end 2021 >>

NEW 5 Jan: Cambodia saw 1.27 million visitors from 31 Dec – 3 Jan, 1.26 million domestic and 11,103 international. There were 152,119 to Kampot, 136,314 to Preah Sihanouk, 87,737 to Kep and 31,879 to Koh Kong >>

3 Jan: The 7th River Festival in Battambang has been postponed until 2022 >>

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2 Jan: The Ministry of Tourism announced that on New Year’s Eve, there were 699,724 tourists throughout the country. 500,166 of those were in Phnom Penh, and 51,570 in Sihanouk province >>

1 Jan: The Angkor Archaeological Park received just 400,889 foreign visitors in 2020, down 81.8% YoY. Its revenue was just $18.65 million USD, down 81% YoY >>

31 Dec: Angkor Archaeological Park has finished implementing a new irrigation system to ensure that the landscape is green year-round >>

31 Dec: Museums and other performance arts and theatres can reopen from 1 Jan >>

30 Dec: The PM has declared an end to the “November 28” outbreak, with no community transmission since 15 Dec >>

30 Dec: The PM has said that 118 tourism businesses have suspended operations, whilst 9,403 employees are jobless >>

30 Dec: Cinemas in Cambodia will reopen on 1 Jan >>

29 Dec: Private schools will be allowed to reopen from 29 Dec, whilst public schools will restart on 11 Jan >>

28 Dec: Cambodia is planning a pilot training school to open in 2021 to remedy the acute shortage of pilots >>

28 Dec: 9 mountains in Banteay Meanchey Province are being looked at as potential natural heritage sites >>

28 Dec: Cambodia has lifted its restrictions on restaurant and shop closures >>

27 Dec: The Ministry of Tourism has held a technical working group meeting to prepare the implementation of the 2020-2025 roadmap to enhance and restore Cambodia’s tourism >>

25 Dec: The government has extended its financial support program for tourism workers and textile workers from Jan to Mar 2021, with $40 per month. Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and travel agents are also exempt from monthly taxes for an additional 3 months. The Cambodia Association of Travel Agents estimates 60,000 tourism workers are unemployed, and 3,000 travel agents have suspended their business >>

25 Dec: Work has started on roads in Kep, part of the master plan for tourism development that will focus on developing new tourist attractions and enhancing existing ones to extend tourists’ stays throughout the year >>

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25 Dec: Cambodia is preparing to submit Koh Ker Temple to the World Heritage Committee early 2021 >>

23 Dec: Siem Reap’s new airport project will be 67% complete by the year-end >>

22 Dec: Koh Kong will have 7 new small-scale ecotourism sites >>

21 Dec: Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) are calling for the government to exempt tourism businesses from all tax liabilities from previous years, as well as provide loan packages at low interest rates to help businesses. They estimate it will be another 5 years for Cambodia’s tourism to rebound to 2019 levels >>

21 Dec: Residents are being urged caution over the festive period >>

19 Dec: Cambodia has not seen any locally transmitted cases for the 4th consecutive day >>

17 Dec: A popular resort, Son Sak Resort, on Koh Rong burned down >>

15 Dec: The Pacific Asia Tourism Association Cambodia Chapter (PATACC) has expressed concern that medium-sized tourism businesses have already sold their properties, and others may be running out of capital in their wait for recovery >>

15 Dec: Angkor Wat celebrated its 28th year of being included on the UNESCO World Heritage List >>

14 Dec: NagaWorld casino resort remains “fully operational” dispite the latest outbreak of cases >>

13 Dec: Cambodia’s local transmission from the 29 Nov incident has remained at 40 >>

10 Dec: Some hotels in Mondulkiri and Kratie provinces have been closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 >>

10 Dec: The Ministry of Tourism will extend the licence fee exemption for all tourism businesses until 31 Dec 2021. 2,838 tourism businesses have reduced or temporarily closed operations, with 50,996 job losses >>

10 Dec: Whilst the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents is happy with the government’s decision to waive licence fees, they feel that more needs to be done to help tour operators >>

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improving the quality of ecotourism, agrotourism, community-based tourism, adventure tourism and heritage >>

8 Dec: 9 Cambodian companies won awards at the 2020 World Travel Awards >>

7 Dec: The development of 70km of concrete roads on Koh Rong is now 30% complete >>

6 Dec: The PM has confirmed that Cambodia will not declare a state of emergency as it will cause the economy to be “paralysed” >>

5 Dec: 29 locally transmitted cases have now been detected in Cambodia, from the “November 28 community event” >>

5 Dec: Cambodia has had 1.26 million international visitors from Jan-Oct in 2020, down 76% YoY. China, Thailand and Vietnam were the biggest inbound markets. Oct saw just 20,210 visitors, down 95.8% YoY. The Ministry of Tourism hopes that numbers will start to “rebound gradually” in Q1 2021, and that China would undoubtedly be the biggest source >>

4 Dec: Agro-tourism tours are starting to be offered in Cambodia >>

4 Dec: The restoration of Takum Lake in Battambang province will be used both to prevent land grabbing, provide water for residents and attract tourists >>

4 Dec: 2021 will have 21 public holidays, with several long weekends >>

3 Dec: The Ministry of Tourism has prohibited mass gatherings at local resorts, and reminded tourism businesses to strictly follow health protocols >>

2 Dec: Angkor Archaeological Park has seen a drop of 80% YoY in its international visitors from Jan-Nov, with just 399,720. It generated just $18.6 million USD, a drop of 79% YoY >>

2 Dec: UNESCO will help to provide technical assistance to Cambodia to assess potential sites for the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites list >>

1 Dec: The Cambodian PM has said that with the new locally transmitted outbreak, the country is at its “most critical moment” that need large-scale operations to contain it. He has said that he will not ban people from going out, but residents should reduce the amount of time outside of the house over the next 15 days >>

1 Dec: Cambodia will have one of the lowest tax rates for casinos in the world, which it hopes will attract more investment >>

1 Dec: The Angkor Wat International Half Marathon will be postponed due to the outbreak >>

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1 Dec: The government has inaugurated the construction of 38 roads in Siem Reap which will modernise he city and improve tourists’ experience >>

30 Nov: Cambodia has banned wedding parties, gatherings of more than 20 pax and ordered all state schools to close until 11 Jan, the start of the next school year, whilst private schools will be closed for 2 weeks. All theatres and museums will also be closed for the next 2 weeks >>

30 Nov: The Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh Hotel will provide more than 300 jobs in the tourism sector once it opens. It is slated to open in Jan >>

30 Nov: The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) will be postponed until January 2022 >>

29 Nov: There has been local community transmission of COVID-19, but the government has stressed that there should not be panic >>

24 Nov: The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway should be completed on time, March 2023, despite the pandemic >>

23 Nov: Whilst an NGO is concerned about the proposed NagaCorp development near Angkor Wat, fearing that it would depreciate its cultural heritage value, local residents appear to be receptive to the plans – but worry that it could turn into a casino >>

23 Nov: Tourism professionals worry about whether the tourism industry can recover and if foreign visitors will return in 2021. The PATA Cambodia chapter worry that if the crisis continues for another year, then the industry could return to the state it was in 4-10 years ago >>

23 Nov: Part of Cambodia’s new international airport in Phnom Penh will be built by a Chinese owned company, MCC, in a project worth $495 million USD >>

21 Nov: The Angkor International Half Marathon will go ahead in Dec >>

19 Nov: The PM has called an end of the “November 3 event”, and cinemas and museums can reopen and weddings can take place once more >>

19 Nov: Schools will reopen from 23 Nov, as will the National Olympic Stadium >>

19 Nov: A ‘grand’ opening and closing ceremony for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games is being planned, which would reflect Cambodian culture >>

19 Nov: A tourism seaport will be built on Koh Tonsay in Kep province, part of the Kep Tourism Master Plan >>

18 Nov: The Ministry of Tourism and Alliance Plus Solutions, a local travel company, have teamed together to offer a free Amadeus flight booking training course for those studying tourism >>

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18 Nov: The government is organising small-scale tourism products in communities to boost the economy through ecotourism >>

18 Nov: NagaCorp has announced plans for a non-gambling resort which will be near Angkor Wat, The Angkor Lake of Wonder. The project would cost $350 million USD and would have phase 1 completed by 2025. It would be the first resort the company is building which does not include a casino, and it would aim to attract Chinese tourists and then funnel them to NagaWorld in Phnom Penh >>

17 Nov: Workers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 will be able to apply for a 4-month technical or vocational training course, receiving a monthly stipend of $50 USD for food and accommodation expenses >>

17 Nov: Cambodia’s international airports’ passenger traffic has dropped 70% from Jan-Oct. In Oct, there was just an average of 33 flights daily, with international flights originating from China, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei >>

16 Nov: A green belt value chain will be developed jointly by the Ministry of Tourism and Yamato Green >>

13 Nov: Gyms and fitness centres will be closed again temporarily until further notice >>

12 Nov: The Cambodian PM has stated that the country will not go into lockdown, despite numerous cases caused by the Hungarian Foreign Minister’s visit >>

12 Nov: The renovation of the Angkor Wat gardens has now been completed, something welcomed by local residents >>

11 Nov: Tourism is starting to see the impact of the fear of a 2nd wave of COVID-19, with businesses reporting a decline in sales. The Cambodia Association of Travel Agents has said that if there are more positive cases recorded, then “we could be facing the closure of related businesses as well if things start getting worse” >>

11 Nov: Cambodia has banned all state-organised events in Phnom Penh and neighbouring provinces to stop the spread of COVID-19 >>

1 Oct: A 6th round of stimulus measures has been announced, focusing on the garment, textile, tourism and aviation sectors. Tourism workers will receive $40 USD/ month for 3 months, whilst registered hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and travel agencies will be exempt from tax for the next 3 months. The PATA Cambodia chapter, whilst grateful for the aid, feels that a special fund should be set up for tourism businesses >>

1 Oct: The aviation sector will continue to have its minimum tax exempted from Oct to Dec 2020 for airlines, and the payment of civil aviation fees will be delated for 2 more months until the end of Dec 2020 >>

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31 Jul: Tax breaks for aviation companies and tourism related businesses have been extended for another 2 months to Sep, and unemployed workers in the tourism industry will receive $40 USD/month for another 2 months >>

26 May: A 4th round of economic stimulus has been rolled out, with key measures including:

• Registered hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and tour agencies in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kep, Kampot, Bavet and Poipet to be exempted from all taxes in June & July • Tourism businesses also permitted to not pay into the National Social Security Fund during business suspension • Tourism businesses exempted from renewal fees for tourism licenses in 2021 • Airline companies to benefit from exemption of minimum tax payment until July • A “Credit Guarantee Fund” of $200 million USD to ease working capital issues • Social assistance programme with cash transfers to poor families • Withholding tax rates to be reduced • Additional $300 million USD to boost key sectors (no details yet) >>

31 Mar: The Cambodian government has issued fiscal measures to support the tourism industry, including:

• Minimum 3-month 10% tax exemption for aviation sector (until May), plus debt repayment plan can be paid in installments following suspension of operations • Tourism operators such as hotels, restaurants and aviation agencies in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kep and Kampot are exempted from monthly tax • For employees: 20% of salary to be sponsored by the government, but must attend a 1 – 2 weeks short skills course organised by the Ministry of Tourism >>’

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/cambodia/

OUTBOUND

12 Nov: Silkair is increasing flight frequency between Phnom Penh and Singapore to three times weekly >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/cambodia/

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INDONESIA Losses of $7.1 billion USD so far

TRAVEL Indonesia will close all borders to foreign visitors from 1-14 Jan 2021, with the RESTRICTIONS only exception for official visits. Domestic flights permitted.

LOCKDOWN New restrictions, Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM) to be in STATUS place across Java and Bali from 11-25 Jan. Restrictions include 75% of workforce to work from home, all teaching to be conducted online, shopping malls to close by 7pm, places of worship to operate at 50% capacity, public facilities, and cultural activities closed and restaurants permitted to operate at just 25% capacity for dine-in. Essential sectors for basic needs are permitted to operate fully. Domestic travellers to Bali require an RT-PCR or antigen test.

Consumer sentiment Indonesia tourism arrivals

% change YoY

5.90%

28.90%

64.10%

87%

89.12% 87.40% 86.90% 89.22%

- - - - Source: Statistics Indonesia Source: YouGOV

Flight searches and booking volume for travel Future flight search for travel to to Indonesia Indonesia

Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard

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Total number of daily departures

Source: The Airline Flight Demand Tracker, Lufthansa Innovation Hub

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

NEW 5 Jan: The Tourism Minister has said that he plans to vaccinate 70% of Bali’s population before it reopens for international tourism. He hopes to establish a travel bubble Singapore-Bali >>

29 Dec: The Chairman of Indonesia Inbound Tour Operator Association (IINTOA) has urged the government to reinstate visas on arrival for international tourists >>

29 Dec: The Tourism Minister has pledged to prioritise COVID-19 containment measures whilst aiming for a tourism recovery, but “When traveling, we should not compromise on health and must continue to comply with health protocols >>

29 Dec: Garuda Indonesia issued 1 trillion IDR ($70.6 million USD) in mandatory convertible bonds of its planned 8.5 trillion IDR. The remaining amount will be issued gradually. Garuda Indonesia is aiming for its 2021 revenue to reach 50% of its 2019 revenue >>

28 Dec: Indonesia will close all borders to foreign visitors from 1-14 Jan 2021, with the only exception for official visits. International travellers to Indonesia until 31 Dec must present a negative PCR test 2 days before departure and will need to undergo a PCR test on arrival to Indonesia, and be quarantined for 5 days. If the result is then negative on the 5th day, they will be allowed to leave quarantine. Indonesians will also need to follow the same quarantine measures >>

28 Dec: Bali’s governor is optimistic about the revival of international tourism after his meeting with the Tourism Minister >>

17 Dec: Bali’s new RT-PCR test requirement for domestic tourists is part of the plan to be able to open up Bali for international tourists, which they plan to do in Q1 2021, the deputy governor has said >>

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14 Dec: The Indonesian government has said that it is preparing to reopen Bali, but the main concern is how Bali can control COVID-19 cases – if new daily cases were to stop appearing in the province, it could be opened soon >>

13 Dec: 7 airports will now be permitted to receive international flights, including in Medan, Batam, Jakarta, Surabaya, Manado, Makassar and Bali. Only Indonesian citizens and holders of diplomatic or business visas, or APEC card holders are allowed entry >>

10 Dec: The UNWTO has called Bali “ready” to open for international tourism soon, and said they “wouldn’t be surprised if the government announced that Bali is open before Christmas.” >>

8 Dec: The Vice Governor Bali said that they plan to reopen Bali to international tourists before 31 Mar 2021 >>

8 Dec: The Bali governor has said that he is ready to welcome Japanese tourists after a meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador for Japan and Garuda Indonesia to reopen the island. Garuda Indonesia have also said that they would be prepared to operate a Bali – Japan flight route >>

7 Dec: The government has outlined new processes that foreigners would need to follow to enter the country, including requiring antigen tests from all visitors and self-isolating facilities at the government’s expense >>

4 Dec: International travellers who are travelling for business, foreign training, or medical contributions are being permitted access to Bali. APEC business card holders are also permitted >>

2 Dec: The government is in early talks with Japan to establish a travel corridor >>

29 Nov: Indonesia is hoping to open travel corridors with Singapore and China, with a focus on providing more direct flights from both countries to Bali >>

26 Nov: The Bali government, tourism board and the China’s Consulate General for Bali met to discuss establishing a travel corridor between Bali and China, hoping that it could be in place by Feb 2021, in time for Chinese New Year >>

23 Nov: Indonesia will start to accept visa applications from residents of Afghanistan, Guinea, Israel, North Korea, Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria and Somalia, all of which need a calling visa >>

21 Nov: Bali’s Vice Governor has said that there are no plans to open Bali for international tourists on 1 Dec, saying that “it looks like foreign tourists can visit Bali again early next year.” >>

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20 Nov: Indonesia’s new eVisa will allow business entities to sponsor foreigners to enter Indonesia for business purposes. Health clearance and round-trip tickets are required, and the visa is valid for 60 days >>

12 Nov: Jokowi raised the issue of an ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement to help business travel during the 37th ASEAN Summit, pushing for it to open in Q1 2021 >>

12 Nov: Bali will allow selected international travellers into the island for the Bali Democracy Forum in Dec, a hybrid online-offline event >>

21 Oct: Indonesia and Japan will open a travel corridor for business travel, with the details finalised within a month. The requirement of a 14-day self-isolation would be relaxed to enable short term business meetings >>

12 Oct: Singapore and Indonesia have agreed a Reciprocal Green Lane for essential business and cross-border travel, with applications to start on 26 Oct. Requirements include a pre-departure and post-arrival COVID swab test, with points of entry and exit the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Batam Centre Ferry Terminal for sea travel, and Changi Airport and Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport for air travel >>

2 Oct: The Safe Corridor Initiative (SCI) between Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport is hoping to be able to bring in Korean tourists to the island, with a ground assessment set to take place next week, and a start date slated for later in Oct – although this will still need approval from the Indonesian government, as it involves immigration >>

17 Sep: Foreign members of mixed nationality families may now enter Indonesia after a change to their visa policy >>

3 Sep: Malaysia will extend a ban on citizens from countries with more than 150,000 cases of COVID-19 from 7 Sep, including Indonesia >>

21 Aug: Indonesia has signed a travel corridor deal with China for essential business arrangements, effective immediately >>

13 Aug: Indonesia and South Korea have established a travel corridor for essential business and diplomatic travel between the 2 countries, which will open on 17 Aug >>

31 Jul: Indonesia has established a travel corridor with the UAE for essential business, official and diplomatic trips, effective immediately. Travellers would be exempted for a 2-week quarantine, but they would need to undergo a COVID-19 test prior to travel. The Indonesian Foreign Minister said more agreements, such as with South Korea and China, are also being negotiated >>

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VACCINE

NEW 9 Jan: The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency have indicated it would keep to its agreed timetable to authorise the vaccine and would be able to issue emergency use authorisation for Sinovac before Wednesday >>

NEW 8 Jan: Indonesia will start its vaccination program on 13 Jan, with Jokowi receiving the first shot >>

NEW 8 Jan: Sinovac’s vaccine is deemed halal by the Indonesian Ulema Council >>

NEW 7 Jan: Bio Farma has been authorised to produce 100 million doses of Sinovac >>

NEW 6 Jan: The development of the Red and White vaccine is now at 60% >>

NEW 5 Jan: Indonesia’s plan to complete the COVID-19 vaccination drive within a year as seen as too ambitious by health experts, and that the focus on this may lead to testing, tracking and treatment to be of secondary importance >>

3 Jan: A survey has shown that 81.7% of respondents would be ready to have the vaccine >>

31 Dec: Indonesia will soon receive the raw materials from China’s Sinovac to produce 15 million doses. It received a second shipment of 1.8 million doses of the vaccine on 31 Dec >>

29 Dec: Indonesia is about to finalise a contract with AstraZeneca for 50 million doses, and one with Pfizer for 50 million in the first week of Jan. It has now secured 329 million doses, with 125 million from Sinovac, 50 million from Novavax, 54 million from COVAX >>

29 Dec: Indonesia will undertake its vaccination program in 2 stages. The 1st, from Jan-Apr 2021 will be for health workers, public service workers and the elderly, whilst the 2nd will run from Apr 2021-Mar 2022, for other vulnerable people in areas with high risk of transmission >>

28 Dec: Indonesia expects to have 370 million doses from different companies by 2021, with the target of 181 million people being vaccinated >>

25 Dec: Indonesia has allocated 73 trillion IDR for a COVID-19 vaccination programme in 2021 >>

23 Dec: A survey has shown that the majority of Indonesians are worried about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, with just 37% willing to be vaccinated, a drop since the previous week’s survey >>

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22 Dec: The elderly are not likely to be the first recipients of the vaccine, as potential vaccines such as Sinovac have only been tested on ages 18-59 >>

20 Dec: Jokowi hopes that the vaccination program will start in Jan >>

18 Dec: The government is focusing on speeding up the clinical trial of the home developed vaccine, the Red and White Vaccine, to ensure mass production by the end of 2021 >>

16 Dec: Jokowi will be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and the government has changed its policy and will be offering the vaccine free to all >>

15 Dec: A government survey has shown that 65% of Indonesians would be willing to receive a vaccine, whilst 27% said they were still hesitant >>

13 Dec: Java and Bali will be prioritised for the first round of vaccination >>

12 Dec: The government will target to supply non-subsidised vaccines to 75 million people, and hope to have both subsidised and non-subsidised vaccination programs by Jan 2021 >>

10 Dec: Muslim clerics are expected to issue a halal certification for the Sinovac vaccine >>

7 Dec: Indonesia has received its first batch of Sinovac vaccines, 1.2 million doses. The date has not yet been set for the vaccination program, but is likely to be in January, as it is still awaiting emergency approval. The government also needs to finalise the distribution systems >>

7 Dec: Indonesia is looking at procuring vaccines through COVAX, where it could gain enough for 3-20% of the country’s population >>

5 Dec: Indonesia has issued a decree to allow vaccinations from Bio Farma, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Pfizer or Moderna, but they must obtain an emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency before it can be used. It will prioritise as a first group 3.5 million frontline workers, the 2nd group 5 million religious and community leaders and local authorities, the 3rd group teachers and the 4th government officials and council members. The 5th are members of the Health Care and Social Security Agency, whose fees will be paid by the government – more than 86 million >>

3 Dec: The Association of Indonesian Haj and Umrah Organizers (Amphuri) has asked that the government prioritise umrah pilgrims for the vaccination program, particularly the more elderly, stating that this would reduce the burden on umrah tour operators >>

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29 Nov: Indonesia is carrying out simulations of its mass COVID-19 vaccination program, to ensure a smooth rollout. The government is aiming to roll out the program by the 3rd week of Dec. They have signed an agreement with Chinese pharmaceutical firms for 143 million doses, 10 million from UAE G-24 and 100 million from AstraZeneca. Its preliminary target will be to vaccine those aged 18- 59 first. Their cold chain preparation has now reached 97% completion >>

27 Nov: The Red and White Indonesian-developed vaccine may be ready for distribution in Q4 2021 >>

27 Nov: Indonesia is in talks with Pfizer about obtaining their vaccine, as well as the cold-chain facilities required >>

24 Nov: The government will decide soon if red zones will be prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine >>

19 Nov: The head of Indonesia’s food and drug agency BPOM has ruled out the possibility of emergency use authorisation for a COVID-19 vaccine in Dec, but a compassionate-use authorisation for medical workers may be possible >>

18 Nov: Indonesia’s home developed Red and White vaccine is expected to be ready for production by end 2021 >>

INBOUND

NEW 10 Jan: The black boxes location of the Sriwijaya Air plane has been found, and the Indonesian military is confident that they will be recovered soon >>

NEW 10 Jan: A Sriwijaya Air plane SJ182 which went missing shortly after takeoff from Jakarta on 9 Jan has had more debris discovered with the plane’s registration number, as well as human remains. The plane took off and within 4 minutes of departure began a steep descent and stopped transmitting data 21 seconds later >>

NEW 10 Jan: Landslides in West Java have killed 11 people and many more are still missing >>

NEW 9 Jan: Indonesia has reported more than 10,000 cases for 2 days running >>

NEW 9 Jan: Mt Merapi in Central Java/ Yogyakarta provinces has released a column of hot cloud which rose 200m above the crater and 600m towards the upstream of Kali Krasak River. It is at Alert level >>

NEW 9 Jan: Jakarta has made the decision to tighten its large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) from 11-25 Jan, with active cases hitting a high of 17,383 >>

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NEW 8 Jan: Java and Bali will see their restrictions tightened from 11-25 Jan, including implementation of working from home by as much as 75%, all teaching to be conducted online, shopping malls to close by 7pm, places of worship to operate at 50% capacity, public facilities, and cultural activities closed and restaurants permitted to operate at just 25% capacity for dine-in. Essential sectors for basic needs are permitted to operate fully >>

NEW 8 Jan: Private jet operator Indojet have seen private jet bookings unaffected by the partial lockdown set to take place from 11-25 Jan, saying that “occupancy is getting higher”. The top routes include Jakarta-Bali and Jakarta-Labuan Bajo >>

NEW 7 Jan: The new restrictions in place in Java and Bali are called PPKM, Enforcement of Restrictions on Public Activities, rather than PSBB. It will be implemented in areas which have a death rate above the national average, a recovery rate below the national average, those with active cases above 14% and hospital occupancy of above 70%, affecting: Jakarta; Bogor, Bogor regency, Depok, Bekasi, Bekasi regency, Bandung, West Bandung regency, and Cimahi in West Java; Tangerang, Tangerang regency, and South Tangerang in Banten; Semarang, Solo, and Banyumas in Central Java; Gunung Kidul regency, Sleman regency, and Kulonprogo in Yogyakarta; Malang and Surabaya in East Java; and Denpasar and Badung regency in Bali >>

NEW 7 Jan: Bali has extended its requirements for a negative PCR test or antigen rapid test from 9 Jan for all inbound domestic travellers. The test must be from within 7 days of travel, but air travellers can now use an antigen test as an option, rather than just the RT-PCR test which was required over the year-end holidays >>

NEW 7 Jan: Doing things that matter or make a difference is what Indonesians are most looking forward to for travel in 2021, according to a new survey from Agoda. Travelling sustainably and supporting less touristy destinations is also important >>

NEW 6 Jan: 366,000 people visited Bali between 17 Dec-3 Jan >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Tourism Ministry is expected to facilitate investment for the tourism sector by introducing tax holidays or other incentives >>

NEW 6 Jan: The expansion of areas of the Komodo National Park which are now being zoned for tourism developments is worrying the locals and ecologists >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Transportation Ministry said that there was a significant drop in land transportation over the year-end break compared to last year, to 5.6 million, whilst ferry transport decreased by 47% and air travel by 42% to 2 million >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Tourism Minister has forecast 7 million arrivals in 2021 >>

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NEW 5 Jan: The Tourism Minister has asked sports tourism to be expanded, with a commitment from golfing communities of sports events. He also suggested that triathlons be expanded to the 5 super-priority destinations, as well as marathon events >>

NEW 4 Jan: Indonesia’s economy is predicted to grow by 6% in 2021, according to Oxford Economics >>

NEW 4 Jan: Indonesia’s Nov foreign arrivals fell by 86.31% YoY to 175,313, whilst it increased on a monthly basis to 13.9% >>

NEW 4 Jan: Jakarta’s transitional PSBB has been extended until 17 Jan >>

NEW 4 Jan: A cash assistance program is set to be rolled out in stages, including assistance with basic food from Jan-Dec and cash social assistance of 300,000 IDR/ month per household from Jan-Apr >>

NEW 4 Jan: A marine ecosystem project, the Indonesia Coral Reef Garden, has planted corals and underwater structures across 7 hectares of the Bali Sea >>

NEW 4 Jan: Nusa Dua and Mandalika Bali were among the top destinations for domestic tourists to Bali over the year-end >>

NEW 4 Jan: The government decision to ban inbound arrivals for 2 weeks has worried tourism players, who are concerned it could be extended further >>

3 Jan: Indonesia has added 7,203 new cases in 24 hours >>

1 Jan: The Tourism Minister has suggested that people undertake staycations if they want to travel, rather than travel further afield, during the New Year holiday >>

31 Dec: The Tourism Minister has suggested that tourism businesses use big data to understand domestic tourism trends better >>

31 Dec: Citilink Indonesia and tiket.com held a Bali Beach Bike festival from 17-19 Dec, with a cycle ride from Sanur to Ubud >>

31 Dec: The Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation has launched 12 electric motorcycles to promote sustainable tourism. They will initially be used within the Nusa Dua area >>

30 Dec: Jakarta and Central Java have asked residents to stay at home for New Year's Eve >>

30 Dec: Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park will require visitors to show an antigen test result, as well as limiting its capacity to 30% over the New Year holidays, until 8 Jan >>

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30 Dec: Indonesia’s case numbers from Nov to Dec jumped by 55% in a single month >>

29 Dec: The peak of passengers at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport was 16,789 on 23 Dec, 82% down YoY, but Bali operators are reporting a positive impact on their businesses over the New Year holiday period >>

29 Dec: Banyuwangi is planning to push tourism to drive economic recovery, with tourism to be “health-oriented” >>

29 Dec: Domestic tourism via Gilimanuk Port in West Bali has dropped 55% YoY >>

29 Dec: The Tourism Minister has said that his previous idea of tapping into Bali’s “halal tourism” potential is “over” >>

29 Dec: Central Java will close down 84 tourist sites over the New Year holidays >>

29 Dec: Photos have gone viral of a packed Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after the change in policy for international arrivals into Indonesia >>

28 Dec: The Tourism Ministry has said that they had agreed with the governor of Bali to “move together quickly yet stay careful” for tourism recovery. They will continue to push confidence measures for foreigners and locals about tourism in Bali >>

27 Dec: Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has opened up a COVID-19 test centre for all, with 700 walk-in visitors able to be tested daily, as well as 150 drive-through visitors >>

27 Dec: More roads are being planned in Nusa Penida, Bali, to accommodate tourists, as it does not currently have a sufficient road infrastructure to accommodate motor vehicles >>

26 Dec: Batik Air and AirAsia have been banned from flying its Jakarta-Pontianak route from 26 Dec-6 Jan after transporting COVID-19 positive passengers >>

26 Dec: Thousand Islands have welcomed 3,000 visitors from 24-25 Dec >>

26 Dec: Bandung City held random antigen tests for 3 hotels in Bandung, as well as at several tourist destinations >>

25 Dec: Indonesia recorded its highest daily rise in deaths, at 258, and 7,259 cases >>

25 Dec: Angkasa Pura I, the airport operator, has added more testing locations, including drive-throughs at certain airports to try to prevent long queues for its antigen tests >>

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25 Dec: Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport has added a second antigen testing facility inside the airport >>

24 Dec: Denpasar schools will only reopen in May 2021 >>

24 Dec: Bintan Resort Cakrawala is engaging SG Clean to conduct training to understand the SOPs and look at opening a special travel lane with Singapore >>

23 Dec: The new Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy has 3 main plans to reinvigorate Indonesia’s tourism, including innovations, particularly in the way the 5 super-priority destinations are organised, adaptation to current protocols and collaboration >>

23 Dec: The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) is pleased with the appointment of the new Tourism Minister, as he comes from an MSME background and is highly concerned about the tourism industry >>

23 Dec: Central Java will screen tourists at key tourist attractions during the yearend holidays with antigen tests >>

22 Dec: State civil servants are being restricted from travelling out of town between 21 Dec to 8 Jan, in a bid to reduce the number of travellers over the year- end break >>

22 Dec: The government has downgraded 2020’s predicted GDP to -1.7% to 2.2%, due to shrinking household spending >>

22 Dec: The Tourism Ministry is preparing a “Book Now, Travel Later” campaign >>

22 Dec: Google and Apple studies have both shown an increase in the number of Indonesians going out of their houses, although it remains below April’s baseline >>

22 Dec: Kuta Beach will restrict access on New Year’s Eve, to prevent crowding >>

22 Dec: The COVID-19 Task Force reminded travellers that they can take antigen tests prior to arriving at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport, to avoid the large queues which have been forming >>

21 Dec: Many travellers through Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport are choosing to take RT-PCR tests instead of antigen tests as they return to their hometowns, to keep from spreading infection >>

21 Dec: Air travellers to or from Java Island will need to take a rapid antigen test within 3 days of departure, whilst those travelling to Bali by air must have an RT- PCR test valid within 7 days, from 19 Dec to 8 Jan >>

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21 Dec: There have been long queues at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for antigen tests >>

21 Dec: Jakarta has extended its transitional large-scale social distancing (PSBB) until 3 Jan >>

21 Dec: Traveloka has said that it is looking to go public soon, and may merge with a special purpose acquisition company to list on the stock market >>

20 Dec: Medan will continue its Christmas and New Year celebrations, but will ask residents to avoid crowds >>

20 Dec: Ulun Danu Beratan Temple in Bali has received 1,000 cancellations from travellers after the last-minute requirement for an RT-PCR test to enter the island >>

20 Dec: A price ceiling of $17.73 USD has been set for antigen tests in Java and 275,000 IDR outside of Java after cost variances across the country >>

20 Dec: A Lion Air plane skidded off a runway in Lampung, with all passengers and crew safe >>

18 Dec: Bali’s government after imposing strict rules on domestic travellers arriving by air from 19 Dec to 4 Jan requiring an RT-PCR test have now relaxed the guidelines slightly, with tests valid within 7 days instead of 2 >>

18 Dec: Garuda Indonesia handled 1.5 million passengers in Q3 2021 >>

18 Dec: Jakarta will limit activities in public places from 18 Dec until 8 Jan, including limiting office opening hours until 7pm, restaurants, tourist sites and shopping malls until 9pm. Those travelling into and out from the city will need to provide negative rapid antigen tests, and public transport will operate until 8pm >>

18 Dec: Batam’s Hang Nadim International Airport is expecting an increase in pax over 18 Dec – 4 Jan, predicting it will be 3 times the total number of pax in Nov. Nov saw 95,545 departing pax and 98,632 arriving pax >>

18 Dec: Investors, including those from China, will still continue to invest in the Lake Toba area >>

18 Dec: Tourism businesses are feeling optimistic that the vaccine will revive the industry, with demand growing already. The Association of Air Ticketing Companies in Indonesia (ASTINDO) have said that demand for tourism has increased 20-30% compared to May >>

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17 Dec: AirAsia and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have partnered to offer promotional packages for flights and member hotels on AirAsia’s website >>

17 Dec: The number of domestic air passengers as a whole is just 30 million, with a drop of 60-70 million, according to the Indonesian National Air Carriers Association >>

17 Dec: The PHRI has said that the sudden demand from the Bali government for travellers to present RT-PCR tests has led to cancellations, with 133,000 pax demanding refunds, 10 times higher than usual, and a loss of 317 billion IDR >>

16 Dec: Garuda Indonesia have started to make preparations for transporting vaccines >>

15 Dec: Jakarta will encourage companies to follow a 75% of employees work from home policy from 18 Dec to 8 Jan >>

15 Dec: The Bali government has banned celebrations, fireworks and getting drunk during the Christmas and New Year Holiday >>

15 Dec: Bir Bintang has assisted tourism businesses in Bali to get the new normal tourism protocols certificate from the Bali Tourism Agency through training programs >>

14 Dec: The Indonesian Transportation Minister believes that Bali will be the top tourist destination for Indonesians over the holiday season >>

11 Dec: Indonesia reached 600,000 cases, with a single day fatality high of 175 on 11 Dec >>

11 Dec: A Kompas survey showed that marine attractions are the most popular for Indonesian travellers at 28.4%, followed by ecotourism (19.5%), shopping/ culinary trips (12.2%) and historical attractions (9.4%). A PegiPegi survey showed that 75% of Indonesians plan to travel over the year-end holiday >>

11 Dec: Kualanamu International Airport has had just 210 international passengers in Oct, and from Jan-Oct has seen a 76.84% YoY drop >>

11 Dec: Bali will permit tourism businesses to hold New Year’s Eve celebrations, so long as protocols are in place and capacity is limited to 50% >>

11 Dec: AirAsia Indonesia has launched a new Jakarta – Padang route >>

10 Dec: The Indonesian MICE industry has lost $3.1 billion USD in losses, according to the Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association. Bali is planning to integrate MICE into its tourism recovery strategy >>

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10 Dec: West Lombok has seen 35% of 1,400 total rooms booked for the year-end holidays >>

10 Dec: Jakarta has banned any New Year’s Eve festivities which could generate crowds >>

10 Dec: Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport is expecting 387,000 domestic passengers over the year-end holidays. The airport forecasts an increase of 6.9% YoY for domestic pax, and is already operating at 50% capacity in Dec >>

10 Dec: Surakarta wants to enforce a 14-day quarantine for domestic travellers into the area, supposedly from 15 Dec. Even travellers with negative test results would need to quarantine >>

9 Dec: Jakarta has extended its transitional PSBB until 21 Dec due to an increasing trend of cases after the long holiday at the end of Oct >>

9 Dec: Indonesia held its regional elections, with more than 100 million Indonesians eligible to vote >>

9 Dec: Bali’s unemployment rate has reached 5.6%. The Vice Governor of Bali has said that tourism contributes more than 50% to the island’s economy, and that the “We love Bali” program to promote domestic tourism needs to be pushed harder >>

9 Dec: Westin Hotels are opening its first branded property in Surabaya >>

8 Dec: The UNWTO held a “Capacity Building Workshop on Restarting International Tourism in Bali”, in partnership with the Indonesian government >>

7 Dec: Ngurah Rai International Airport saw an increase in flights of 27.5% and passengers 51.8% between Oct to Nov 2020 >>

7 Dec: Angkasa Pura II have opened up a new rapid test station for travellers at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, with an outdoor as well as drive- through service. It costs $6 USD per pax >>

5 Dec: Government departments are rushing to hold their meetings externally at hotels in Bogor, Serpong and Tangeran, as civil servants try to spend their budget for this year in the fear that if they do not, their future allocation will be cut >>

4 Dec: The government has linked a decline in compliance with wearing a face mask and social distancing to the recent surge of cases in Indonesia, citing the long weekend from 28 Oct – 1 Nov as the main trigger for the decline in discipline >>

4 Dec: AirAsia Indonesia is doubling its flights from Jakarta-Lombok after seeing an increase in passenger numbers >>

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4 Dec: Hotels in Nusa Dua managed by the Indonesian Tourism Development Center (ITDC) have seen an increase in domestic holiday bookings for the year-end, with occupancy at 12% for 1-24 Dec, and 32% for 24-31 Dec. Some hotels have even reported occupancy of up to 60% in late Dec >>

4 Dec: Yogyakarta will launch patrol teams to supervise health protocols in public places during the year-end holidays >>

4 Dec: The Central Java Governor has urged residents not to travel over the year- end holidays >>

3 Dec: The West Java Governor has urged travellers not to visit Greater Bandung, as it is now a red zone. Hospital occupancy rates in West Java are now around 80% >>

3 Dec: The majority of hotels in Jakarta enrolled in the government quarantine programme have now pulled out, according to the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) Jakarta chapter, as existing customers cancelled bookings after the news broke of them participating in the scheme >>

3 Dec: Indonesia saw a record 8,369 cases on 3 Dec >>

2 Dec: Jokowi has cancelled 3 collective leave days – 28, 29 and 30 Dec, to cut the risk of transmission >>

2 Dec: The accommodation and food sectors contracted 11.86% YoY in Q3, making it the second worst performing sector, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). Hotel occupancy was down to 37.48% in Oct, down 19.3% YoY, mainly driven by the long weekend in Oct. Bali has the worst hotel occupancy rate, at 9.53% in Oct. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) estimate that international arrivals will be 13-14 million in 2021 >>

2 Dec: The Central Government confirmed plans to build a railway line from Badung to Buleleng in Bali, which they are optimistic will boost tourism in Bali >>

2 Dec: Bali’s health officials have said that the spike in cases has not been linked to the extended holidays, and instead warned that it came from traditional ceremonies, hospital and office clusters >>

1 Dec: The Indonesian Travel Agents Association has objected to the government’s plan to review airport gateway status, leading to some potential destinations losing international hub status. They warned it could lead to a 30-40% drop in tourism post-COVID for those destinations, particularly for Bandung, Belitung and Lombok >>

1 Dec: International arrivals to Indonesia have dropped 88.25% YoY to 158,190 in Oct, but an increase of 4.57% vs Sep 2020. 12,670 passengers arrived by air in Oct

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(-98.51% YoY), 45,690 by sea travel and 99,740 by land. Indonesia’s Jan-Oct numbers are 3.72 million, down 72.35% YoY >>

1 Dec: West Sumatra will have 3 tourist festivals in Jan 2021, including Pamalayu Festival, Serak Gulo and Indian Culture, and the Cap Go Meh Festival >>

1 Dec: Jakarta’s governor has contracted COVID-19 – he is asymptomatic, and is self-isolating >>

1 Dec: Bali is asking the federal government to hold more national events and government conferences on the island >>

1 Dec: Indonesia will hold a round of the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship at the Mandalika race track on 14 Nov 2021, dependent on the construction and homologation >>

30 Nov: Garut Regency in West Java is planning to sell tickets online for its tourist attractions, with a digital tourism map, online shopping and delivery and CCTV at destinations through which tourists' activities could be seen >>

30 Nov: Angkasa Pura II, the state airport operator, will add time slots for airlines who want to increase flight frequency over the year-end holidays. They will also extend operational hours to allow physical distancing >>

30 Nov: Nusa Dua is hoping to become a COVID-free zone, implementing strict health protocols, resorts testing guests on arrival at the airport, having a designated vehicle to take the guests to the resorts, and all staff residing within the property. They hope these protocols will be actioned in Dec >>

30 Nov: In person learning will resume in January 2021 at schools, so long as strict requirements are in place >>

29 Nov: Jokowi has approved the plan to put 7 state-owned enterprises, including Garuda Indonesia, under a new holding entity. The other entities include airport operator Angkasa Pura I and II, park and tourism complex operators Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation and Hotel Indonesia Group, amongst others >>

29 Nov: Yogyakarta welcomed 1.67 million tourists from Jul-Nov >>

29 Nov: Indonesia reported a record daily case number of 6,267 on 29 Nov >>

28 Nov: Garuda Indonesia will open a direct flight from China to Bangka Belitung to support the tourism industry. They have also proposed 2 special economic zones to increase the length of stay >>

28 Nov: The Vice Governor of Bali has said that for many Bali hotels, the “situation is getting worse”. He has requested $687.9 million USD in soft loans help for

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tourism businesses. Bali’s Hotel General Manager Association has said that hotel occupancy in Bali is around 10-15% >>

28 Nov: Indonesia will host the 2021 Global Tourism Forum in Bali >>

28 Nov: Grab and Banyuwangi Regent will partner together, with Grab supporting tourism businesses through selling tickets and Banyuwangi attractions >>

27 Nov: The government plans to designate each super priority tourism destination a different tourism market. They would promote Likupang to middle-class Chinese tourists, whilst Labuan Bajo would be a premium destination with a limited visitor capacity. They are also considering limiting the number of visitors to Borobudur Temple >>

27 Nov: New villas continue to be built on Bali, partly due to investor confidence that Bali will continue to be a desirable travel destination, as well as the digital nomad trend >>

27 Nov: Tiket.com has launched its Online Ticket Week LOKAL event, an online event with discounted prices on flights, accommodation and activities >>

27 Nov: The Ministry of Transportation will support tourism recovery in the five priority destinations in Indonesia through transportation infrastructure, increasing connectivity between cities, airports and tourism attractions, e.g. establishing direct flights from Australia to Labuan Bajo, Yogyakarta with Europe, the US and Australia and for cruise ships in Tanjung Mas, Bali, Labuan Bajo and Manado >>

27 Nov: The Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI) has said that they expect 2021 international arrivals to be 13-14 million, down from 2019’s 16.1 million, assuming a rebound with the mass vaccination. They expect domestic tourists to reach 240 million in 2021, down from 275 million in 2019 >>

27 Nov: Garuda Indonesia have also said that their passenger numbers are increasing, and on 25 Nov flew 17,000 pax, the highest since May. They expect their daily flight number to be 60% of 2019 levels in 2021. They have also seen an increase in year-end bookings, with 75,000 tickets booked already, and more expected with last minute bookings >>

27 Nov: Panorama Sentrawisata, the tour and travel company, do not think that the government’s decision to cut year-end holidays will affect travellers greatly, as many customers have already booked travel and the “public’s longing to go on a holiday is through the roof”. Vaccination will be the key to tourism recovery and confidence >>

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27 Nov: Statistics Indonesia (BPS) have shown that Jan-Sep international arrivals were -70.57% YoY, to 3.56 million visitors, and that 23.5 million domestic pax flew in Sep >>

27 Nov: Denpasar is establishing 25km of cycle lanes in Denpasar, with the first stage underway >>

27 Nov: Grab has launched 30 Electric Based Vehicles in Bali, as well as built Battery Exchange Stations in 7 different locations >>

25 Nov: Indonesia had a record number of new cases on 25 Nov, with 5,534 >>

24 Nov: 75% of Indonesians are planning to travel during the year-end holidays, according to a new survey by PegiPegi. Other findings include that 45% plan to drive, 30% travel by plane and 11% take a staycation >>

24 Nov: The Tourism & Creative Economy Ministry and Hype Festival have co- launched a new series called “Wonders”, which will promote Indonesia’s 5 super- priority destinations: Lake Toba, Likupang, Borobudur, Mandalika, and Labuan Bajo. It will showcase the destinations through audio-visual experiences >>

24 Nov: 33 tourist spots will have free wifi provided by the Badung Bali Regency Government, to try to attract more visitors >>

24 Nov: The Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy (MoTCE) have launched a new domestic stimulus program, Big Promo, to attract domestic tourists to 12 locations across Indonesia. There will be 50,000 vouchers available which include a 225,000 IDR voucher for staycations, tours and attractions, a 100,000 IDR meal voucher and a 75,000 IDR shopping voucher. The vouchers can be redeemed when buying hot deals on the website bigpromo.co.id, and have 1,208 subsides packages for sale as of 17 Nov. Industry players are happy with the launch, but regret that it kicked off so late >>

24 Nov: AirAsia Group expect AirAsia Indonesia to return to 47% of its pre-COVID capacity in Q4 >>

23 Nov: Indonesia’s cases have now surpassed 500,000 >>

23 Nov: The Bali Hotels Association has dismissed stories that Indonesia may implement an alcohol ban as a story that always comes up and “then goes all quiet again” >>

23 Nov: Jakarta has extended its transitional large-scale social restrictions until 6 Dec >>

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22 Nov: Hotels in Bali are offering heavily discounted rooms, whilst the Head of Ubud Homestay Association has said that many hotels are now targeting longer stay visitors >>

22 Nov: The Mandalika MotoGP circuit construction will start mid-2021 >>

21 Nov: Bali will prepare to open its schools in early 2021, as the Indonesian government has now allowed each province to make their own decision on reopening >>

21 Nov: Garuda Indonesia is one of the safest airlines in terms of its health protocols, according to the Safe Travel Barometer, with a score of 4 out of 5 >>

21 Nov: Lion Air has launched 2 new routes, Surabaya-Ternate and Manado- Makassar >>

20 Nov: The Education and Culture Minister announced that schools will be able to open for face to face learning from Jan, so long as they follow protocols >>

20 Nov: Garuda Indonesia’s shareholders approve issuing bonds up to $600 million USD, part of the government’s rescue plan for the airline, with the bonds being purchased by the Finance Ministry. They hope that the bond issuance can “can encourage faster recovery, which can help national economic recovery.” They are also reviewing whether to fly their Boeing 737 Max planes, but it is “not a priority for Garuda to fly” >>

20 Nov: The Central Jakarta District Court has voted the Lion Air Group out of bankruptcy after 2 petitioners filed claims >>

20 Nov: Bali authorities are waiting for one more week to decide if year-end celebrations will go ahead, based on if the last long weekend caused an increase in cases >>

19 Nov: Amanjiwo hotel will be offering a luxury train journey across Central Java, The Journey Through Java, from 10 Dec. The 500km, 7-hour journey starts in Jakarta and finishes near Amanjiwo Hotel near Borobudur >>

19 Nov: The state-owned train operator has stated that passengers on certain routes will no longer require rapid tests – but they would still need to adhere to health protocols >>

19 Nov: Indonesia’s central bank cut interest rates on 19 Nov to 3.75%, its fifth reduction this year >>

19 Nov: The Minister of State-Owned Enterprises has affirmed the government’s plan to focus on medical tourism, saying that Bali will be the new destination for checkups, rather than Indonesia or Malaysia. He added that Bali can be a training

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centre for doctors and nurses, partnering with Japan to develop the medical facilities >>

19 Nov: Garuda Indonesia will launch 20 new flight routes in Nov, including between Batam and Surabaya, Jayapura and Nabire, and Labuan Bajo and Surabaya >>

19 Nov: The Finance Minister has said that a hurdle to economic recovery is the weak consumption amongst the upper-middle class, with household spending falling 4.04% >>

19 Nov: Google will contribute $11 million USD to Indonesia, $10 million USD of which will be given to MSMEs through loans >>

19 Nov: 9 Dec will now be a public holiday for the simultaneous regional elections for 9 provinces throughout Indonesia >>

18 Nov: Garuda Indonesia will leave aside its plans for unmanned aerial vehicles, with 100 planned for cargo use and 50 aircrafts which could do vertical take-off and landing >>

18 Nov: Bali’s governor has complained about Garuda Indonesia’s flight tickets to Bali being “overpriced”, and that business class tickets are now twice the price. Garuda Indonesia have stated that their ticket prices are dynamic and affected by demand >>

17 Nov: AirAsia has said that its Indonesia domestic sales volume up 52% WoW and sales value up 126% WoW >>

17 Nov: The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurants Association (PHRI) has said that losses in the Indonesian tourism industry have now exceeded $7.1 billion USD (100 trillion IDR), and led to 550,000 lay-offs of hotel employees as of the start of Nov >>

17 Nov: The Jakarta Deputy Governor has stressed that crowds for Christmas and New Year will not be permitted this year. This comes after thousands gathered for Islamic Defenders Front leader Rizieq’s celebration event for the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad in Jakarta >>

17 Nov: Visit Wonderful Indonesia Board and the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agency Association (ASITA) have urged the Jakarta governor to lift the transitional PSBB as it is not effective >>

17 Nov: Images on social media have been circulating of large numbers of beachgoers on beaches in Bali who are not wearing face masks or social distancing >>

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17 Nov: The Tourism and Creative Ministry have said that they plan to reactivate nature and adventure tourism, as they have seen Indonesians preferring this type of travel >>

16 Nov: The Bali Hotels Association has warned against the consequences of an alcohol ban in the country, saying that the current laws were sufficient and focus should be given on its implementation and enforcement >>

16 Nov: The Bali Hotels Association (BHA) has condemned an Australian documentary which showed a Bali hotel in disrepair and questioned whether the industry would survive. BHA said that the documentary was not representative of the facts and implied that all hotels in Bali were similar to the one shown >>

16 Nov: The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry have launched an integrated health, safety and security system (3K) which will be introduced in the top 10 priority destinations of Indonesia. It will be rolled out in Labuan Bajo initially. The 3K system will have a single command centre which will coordinate responses >>

16 Nov: Indonesia’s COVID-19 task force may recommend that the long holidays at the year-end be cancelled if it sees a further correlation between holidays and an increase of cases >>

16 Nov: Kualanamu International Airport in N. Sumatra has now resumed all domestic routes >>

15 Nov: Garuda Indonesia was the 6th best brand in YouGov’s Best Brands list, falling from 2018 and 2019’s 1st place >>

15 Nov: The COVID-19 task force will recommend that the government declares long holidays for the year-end, so long as the public follows health protocols. They noted that the number of cases after the Oct long weekend were not as high as after the Sep holidays >>

15 Nov: More hotels and restaurants in Labuan Bajo should apply for the cleanliness, health, safety and environmental sustainability (CHSE) certification, as only 3 hotels have CHSE certification so far >>

14 Nov: Wings Air will open 2 new routes in East Nusa Tenggara, Kupang – Ruteng and Kupang – Lewoleba >>

14 Nov: Only 157 foreigners visited Bali in Q3, a drop from 1.8 million last year. Domestic air passengers were also down 90% YoY. The Bali Hotels Association have said that luxury hotels saw occupancy levels of 30% during the last week of Oct >>

13 Nov: Indonesia saw a record number of cases on 13 Nov at 5,444, 2 weeks after the long October holiday weekend >>

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13 Nov: Indonesia plans to start its mass vaccination campaign by the year end and is seeking emergency authorisation to do so, with advanced plans already in plan to distribute it. Health workers, police and the military would be the first recipients >>

13 Nov: The Tourism and Creative Ministry led events practicing emergency scenarios such as earthquakes and tsunamis in East Nusa Tenggara >>

13 Nov: AirAsia Indonesia will launch 5 new routes in Dec: Jakarta-Padang, Jakarta- Pekanbaru, Jakarta-Palembang, Jakarta-Pontianak and Bandung-Bali >>

12 Nov: The state-run secondary mortgage firm PT Sarana Multigriya Finansial (SMF) will work with the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry to develop homestays in the National Strategic Tourist Destinations >>

12 Nov: Garuda Indonesia and Carex will partner to give out 100,000 health kits to airline passengers from 11 Nov – 15 Dec >>

12 Nov: 1,294 residents have been evacuated from the areas surrounding Mt Merapi as volcanic activity continues, with evacuation shelters on standby in case of eruption >>

12 Nov: The fast boat from Bali to Gili Trawangan has reopened for tourists. They are averaging around 50 passengers for the fast boat service >>

12 Nov: IATA forecasts that Indonesia will have the world’s 4th largest air passenger market by 2039, up from 10th place in 2019, due to the growth in the middle class >>

12 Nov: Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport has been accredited by the Airports Council International’s Airport Heath Accreditation program >>

12 Nov: Australia has offered to lend Indonesia 1.5 billion AUD to help fight COVID-19 >>

11 Nov: The Indonesian government will inject 1.2 trillion IDR into state-owned enterprise port operator Pelindo III to develop Bali’s Benoa port. It will also allocate 470 billion IDR into the Indonesian Tourism Development Corporation to finance the infrastructure development on Labuan Bajo >>

11 Nov: The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is supporting Nias Pesisir’s Video Tourism Contest to revive the local tourism industry, with funding of 25 million IDR for the winner. They stated that marine tourism contributes to 2.4 million tourists >>

11 Nov: East Java and Jakarta reported their lowest daily cases since Aug on 11 Nov >>

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14 Oct: The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has said that it wants to disburse $224 million USD of grants for tourism businesses and local administrations, sourced from the government’s national economic recovery fund. It will be provided to regions where revenue from hotel and restaurant tax was at least 15% of its locally generated income in 2019, and for the government’s 10 priority tourism destinations and 5 super priority destinations. 70% of the grants will be given to businesses, 30% to local administrations. They will also allocate 119 billion IDR for businesses to obtain CHSE certification >>

13 Aug: 3.8 trillion IDR has been allocated to support the tourism sector and creative economy through a number of initiatives, including subsidy and income tax allowance. Indonesia’s foreign tourists is expected to drop to 5 million vs. 2019’s 16 million, and 120 million domestic tourists vs 2019’s 303 million >>

30 Jul: The government is to provide cash transfers of $165 USD to 10-12 million MSMEs and working capital loans of 2 million IDR >>

23 Jul: The Tourism Minister has proposed that tourism businesses be fully exempt from corporate income tax, as well as increase the limit for working capital loans. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association estimates that Indonesia’s tourism revenue has lost 85 trillion IDR as of mid-July. The Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Ministry has also instructed its related agencies to spend their 4.1 trillion IDR business trip budget in 8 designated tourist areas: Banyuwangi, Bali, Borobudur Temple, Lake Toba, Riau Islands, Labuan Bajo, Likupang and Mandalika >>

4 Jun: Indonesia unveiled a stimulus package of $47.6 billion USD, with an aim to strengthen the healthcare system, support businesses from bankruptcy and boost consumer consumption >>

13 May: The government will provide a $1.68 billion USD stimulus package for tourism that will include airfare and hotel discounts in Q3 to boost consumption by the middle class >>

29 Apr: 5 schemes have been introduced to support MSMEs, including tax incentives, loan restructuring, emergency working capital assistance, amongst others, helping 23 million companies >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/indonesia/

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OUTBOUND

3 Dec: Garuda Indonesia Group’s Oct traffic was -82.3% YoY, with international pax down -96.5%, and an average load factor of 23.7%, down -55.8pp >>

20 Nov: The Indonesian government will make the health protocols stricter for umrah pilgrims, ensuring that umrah tour operators are following the rules, validating swab test results and looking at quarantine processes. 3 groups from Indonesia have travelled to Saudi Arabia already, 359 pilgrims in total. 13 pilgims on arrival to Saudi Arabia tested positive for COVID-19 from the 1st and 2nd batch, meaning that all pilgrims from those groups had to be quarantined for longer and missed visiting Madinah >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/indonesia/

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LAOS Could lose up to $500 million USD in tourism revenue.

TRAVEL International scheduled and chartered flights are suspended. Fast-track RESTRICTIONS immigration started with China on 1 Nov.

LOCKDOWN Businesses are allowed to reopen from 18 May, and transport and interprovince STATUS movement is allowed again. Schools reopened. Indoor and outdoor sporting activities are allowed to take place. From 2 Jun, night markets, restaurants and cinemas to be reopened. Entertainment venues such as karaoke are now permitted to reopen. Social gatherings permitted.

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

29 Dec: Laos has suspended charter flights to and from all other countries until 23 Jan to prevent a second wave from incoming travellers >>

1 Dec: Laos and Vietnam resumed international commercial flights, with Vietnam Airlines operating the flights between Hanoi-Vientiane >>

30 Nov: Laos will suspend charter flights which are experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19. They will allow humanitarian flights, but passengers will not be able to transit through countries with COVID-19 outbreaks. It will continue to suspend its tourist visas until the end of the year >>

13 Nov: Laos has been added to the UK government’s travel corridor list >>

10 Nov: Laos and Vietnam’s PMs had a discussion in which they agreed that they should further facilitate passenger and cargo flows between the 2 countries, with plans to reopen border gates and resume commercial flights >>

2 Nov: The Laos government is discussing travel policies with Vietnam and Japan, as well as other ASEAN countries. It will suspend tourist visas and keep borders closed until 31 Dec >>

29 Oct: Vietnam and Laos have held bilateral talks where they discussed a need to reopen travel between the 2 of them and restart commercial flights, amongst other issues >>

28 Oct: Laos’ agreement for a fast-track immigration with China will begin on 1 Nov – Chinese nationals will need to test negative on arrival and to have been

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quarantined for 14 days in China prior to departure, as well as 48 hours on arrival in Laos. They will be permitted to enter via the Boten border gate, but it is a one- way agreement, with Laotians not permitted to enter China. A fast-track entry for Vietnam is expected to open a week later >>

15 Oct: The National Taskforce will allow returning residents to complete quarantine in their homes or places of employment instead of designated centres. They must first wait 48 hours on arrival for their test results to come back negative. Tour groups must carry certification of a 14-day pre-flight quarantine, and a negative test result to be allowed entry >>

12 Oct: Tour operators who wish to bring in tour groups to the country from destinations with no community outbreak of COVID-19 must seek permission from the Taskforce Committee >>

2 Oct: The government has agreed in principle to allow tour groups to visit Laos from countries where there are no community cases. It has also agreed in principle to resume charter flights with countries that have no outbreak. They are also continuing discussions with China and Vietnam for fast-track immigration policies. Quarantine will also be relaxed for those arriving from countries with no community outbreak, who will only need to be tested and wait 48 hours for the results – they will then be able to quarantine at home or in a place arranged by their employer. A basic fee for tests will also be implemented. Tourist visas will continue to be suspended >>

23 Aug: Laos and Japan have agreed to open their borders to one another for expatriate and long-term residents as early as Sep. Travellers must stay at home or at a designated place after arriving for 14 days. Laotian students with Japanese government scholarships will also be allowed entry as soon as possible. Japan also pledged $18 million USD to refurbish schools in Laos. They will also speed up talks to allow essential business travel >>

VACCINE

NEW 6 Jan: Laos has said that the first vaccines administered have had good results, and will schedule more frontline medical staff next week >>

31 Dec: Laos has received 2,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China, and has already started to vaccinate 200 volunteers as the 1st phase of its trials. Russia has also said it will provide 500 doses of the Sputnik V in early Jan >>

24 Dec: 20% of Laos’ population is expected to be vaccinated by mid-2021, with at-risk groups prioritised. They will receive the vaccine in Apr through COVAX >>

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17 Dec: Laos is expecting to receive and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. He government announced that they will use a vaccine developed in Britain >>

16 Dec: Laos is considering the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, after its certification in Russia >>

14 Oct: China will offer Laos priority access to vaccines >>

12 Oct: Laos is holding talks with Russia to trial the Russian Sputnik V vaccine >>

INBOUND

NEW 8 Jan: Visitors to Luang Prabang were down 68% YoY in 2020, with just 257,647 visitors. 142,435 were foreigners, whilst 133,212 were domestic >>

NEW 7 Jan: The National Eld’s Deer Sanctuary in Savannakhet Province is now open for tourists to stay overnight, with a forest tour and activities >>

NEW 7 Jan: Vang Vieng saw a fall of 60% in its visitors in 2020, and are aiming to attract 300,000 visitors in 2021. Despite the newly opened highway from Vientiane, occupancy remains high on the weekends only >>

NEW 7 Jan: Vientiane is planning to develop smart zones in the city, aiming to make the city more liveable >>

NEW 6 Jan: The completion of a new airport in Huaphan province has been delayed for a 3rd time due to budgetary constraints >>

NEW 6 Jan: Construction of a 5th bridge linking Laos and Thailand has begun >>

NEW 5 Jan: Luang Prabang is set to build a new park in the city, adding more green space >>

31 Dec: Bokeo has eased its travel restrictions to reduce the impact on tourism and the economy >>

30 Dec: The China-Laos railway tracks have now been extended from Vientiane to Luang Prabang >>

30 Dec: There have been concerns raised over the safety of the main ferry operating between Luang Prabang and Chomphey District >>

30 Dec: Vientiane plans 30 large-scale developments from now until 2025 to accelerate economic growth. Projects include a new international airport in Xaythany district, commercial parks and tourism-related projects >>

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24 Dec: A proposed Lao PDR Tourism Recovery Roadmap has been released, concluding that “it is unrealistic that domestic tourism in the short term, will provide the cash flow to tourism businesses.” It suggest the reactivation of a national tourism board, as well as Intensify collaboration between the private sector and the government, deploy tourism loan packages, support tourism SME campaigns, facilitate infrastructure investments and strengthen the brand >>

23 Dec: The fee structure for tests has now been adjusted, with foreigners, tourists and those planning to travel abroad for work being charged 1,200,000 LAK and hospital patients, civil servants and Lao students 50,000 LAK >>

21 Dec: The Vientiane – Vang Vieng expressway has now officially opened >>

18 Dec: Luang Prabang authorities have cancelled New Year celebrations, as well as Hmong and Khmu traditional festivals over fears of an outbreak >>

16 Dec: The Vang Vieng Music Fest has now been rescheduled, after the recent cancellation of the Vientiane International Marathon and the Foton Vientiane Half Marathon >>

15 Dec: Authorities are strengthening COVID-19 prevention measures in Bokeo province, with activities which require a large crowd to be banned >>

14 Dec: The government has said that Laos is at risk of a second wave due to the situations in neighbouring countries >>

12 Dec: The Vientiane – Vang Vieng Expressway will open on 20 Dec >>

11 Dec: Laos is looking to focus on ecotourism and agritourism in 2021 to attract more foreign visitors from 2021 to 2025. The government has said that a wider variety of tourism products and activities must be available. The country’s Jan-Sep international visitors were down 74% YoY. One of the major challenges Laos faces is that road access to tourism sites is inadequate, and air and transport also remains unsatisfactory >>

11 Dec: The Skills for Tourism Project, a scheme to help Lao youth with vocational training for tourism, continues to be successful, even in the face of COVID-19 >>

10 Dec: Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos leaders approved the Tourism Development Plan for CLV Development Triangle Area 2020-2025, vision for 2030. This involves 13 provinces across the 3 countries being linked for tourism development, improving the quality of ecotourism, agrotourism, community-based tourism, adventure tourism and heritage >>

4 Dec: Laos has locked down Ton Pheung District in Bokeo Province after 2 Chinese nationals infected with COVID-19 entered illegally >>

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3 Dec: The Vientiane to Vang Vieng expressway’s opening was delayed from its original 2 Dec date, to late Dec >>

30 Nov: Laos has extended its COVID-19 prevention protocols until 31 Dec, but will still allow in principle religious ceremonies, festivals, and entertainment venues >>

30 Nov: The Laos-China railway is scheduled to open in Dec 2021, but it may face delays due to villagers residing in areas allocated for the project, parts being stolen and illegal bridges being built over the tracks >>

30 Nov: Laos’ hotel quarantine procedures have come under scrutiny, as sometimes people had contact with friends whilst in hotel quarantine but it was not reported to health authorities. People staying in government-approved hotels must pay for their own stay >>

27 Nov: The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and Amazing Lao Sole Co., Ltd are partnering to boost sustainable tourism, planning a tourism consulting company who will provide advice to businesses considering investing in tourism. They also want to improve the standards of tourism workers, as well as develop a tourism marketing plan. They will run a tourism information campaign for both local and international tourists >>

19 Nov: Vang Vieng has had over 1.1 million visitors over the last 5 years, of which 700,000 were foreigners >>

17 Nov: Luang Prabang’s tourism industry has been hugely affected, with many hotels, restaurants and vars still closed >>

16 Nov: A committee has been formed by tourism businesses to create an event, “12 days in Luang Prabang”, with the goal to attract domestic tourists over Christmas and the New Year >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/laos/

OUTBOUND

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/laos/

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MALAYSIA Forecast RM100 billion in losses in 2020

TRAVEL Passengers not allowed to enter Malaysia (except Malaysian nationals, permanent RESTRICTIONS residents, work pass, international students and MM2H permit holders). 10-day quarantine in designated centres on arrival. Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) with Singapore opened 17 Aug.

LOCKDOWN “Conditional Movement Control Order” (CMCO) until 31 Jan in Sabah, Selangor, STATUS Kuala Lumpur, areas of Johor Bahru. Schools closed nationally until 20 Jan 2021. Inter-state and inter-district travel permitted. Employees in areas under CMCO advised to work from home. Mask wearing in crowded places obligatory. Rest of the country under Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) until 31 Mar.

Consumer sentiment

Source: YouGOV Flight searches and booking volume for Future flight search for travel to Malaysia travel to Malaysia

Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard

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Total number of daily departures

Source: The Airline Flight Demand Tracker, Lufthansa Innovation Hub

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

NEW 9 Jan: Malaysian citizens with Permanent Resident status in Singapore are now eligible to use the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) between the 2 countries from 11 Jan >>

NEW 4 Jan: The Malaysia Association Tour Agency (Mata) is calling for the borders to reopen, saying that the country is “ready to welcome tourists from green zone countries”, whilst the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has said that the government needs to look into standardising protocols with targeted countries >>

NEW 3 Jan: Malaysia and Singapore are in talks on standardising protocols for those who need to travel between the 2 countries on compassionate grounds >>

28 Dec: South Korea have said “when the Malaysian side is ready, a travel bubble can be implemented immediately,” for officials and businessmen >>

28 Dec: The government has reconfirmed that it cannot prevent overseas Malaysians returning home from countries which have seen the transmission of the new COVID-19 strain >>

27 Dec: The Tourism Ministry continues to look at negotiating travel bubbles with green zone countries such as Singapore, Brunei, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and New Zealand >>

22 Dec: The government has said that it is still not the right time to open Malaysia’s borders, even to “green zone” countries >>

22 Dec: International students will be allowed entry into Malaysia from 1 Jan, except for those from the UK >>

20 Dec: The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is drawing up a plan to allow delegations from neighbouring countries to enter Malaysia for business events, including Singaporeans in Desaru, Thais in Langkawi and Bruneians to Sabah and Sarawak >>

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13 Dec: The quarantine period for those entering Malaysia will be shortened from 14 to 10 days >>

8 Dec: Malaysia hopes that Brunei will consider its proposal of a reciprocal green lane >>

8 Dec: The Ministry of Tourism is looking at travel bubbles with green zone countries, and are identifying mechanisms to reopen travel in a safe manner. They include small group special interest tours, such as golf, diving or hiking, and travel itineraries would need to be approved by the authorities, and arrangements made through licensed travel agents >>

4 Dec: The government is currently evaluating the quarantine length of 14 days, to see if international flyers could have it shortened to 12 or 10 days >>

4 Dec: The Youth and Sports Ministry are looking into sports bubbles, to ensure that international championships can still take place in 2021 >>

27 Nov: The Malaysia-Singapore border reopening will be delayed due to the rise in cases in Malaysia, the Johor government has said >>

25 Nov: The Ministry of Health would allow for a shortened quarantine period than the current 14-days, but individuals would need proper screening and consideration depending on the circumstance >>

23 Nov: Malaysia and Singapore continue to negotiate on the protocols for Malaysians who commute regularly to Singapore >>

20 Nov: Foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens from 23 countries which are barred from entering Malaysia will now be able to enter the country with the Immigration Department’s permission >>

19 Nov: Johor has asked for an early implementation of a 3rd border opening scheme, the Daily Commuting Arrangement (DCA) between Malaysia and Singapore, with students and teachers being prioritised. They propose that it starts with just 7,000 individuals in the early stages >>

28 Oct: Malaysian students will be permitted to return abroad for their studies, and may be accompanied by their parents >>

4 Oct: Foreign students will not be allowed to enter the country until 31 Dec, even if they have already received approval, the Immigration Dept has announced. The physical registration and learning of students in Oct 2020 intake has been postponed >>

12 Sep: The regulations for Malaysians travelling outbound has been updated and Malaysian diplomats and their families, students who study overseas and

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Malaysians who are long-term passholders of another country do not need prior approval to leave. Those categories which do need approval include Malaysians with job offers abroad, those attending MICE, parents who will accompany their children for studies and those with family emergencies. Leisure outbound travel is still not permitted for Malaysians >>

3 Sep: Malaysia will extend a ban on citizens from countries with more than 150,000 cases of COVID-19 from 7 Sep. Amongst those countries banned are the US, UK, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Malaysians returning home from those countries will be permitted, but must undergo the 14-day quarantine >>

25 Aug: Foreign spouses and children of Malaysians will be allowed to enter the country >>

4 Aug: The Malaysia My Second Home (M22H) scheme has been temporarily frozen, to re-evaluate the programme >>

1 Aug: Further requirements have been revealed for the cross-border travel arrangement between Singapore and Malaysia, including for the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) having documentation from their companies or host agencies to show that the visiting country has approved the trip and be tested before and on arrival. Travellers must stay in their declared accommodation until negative test results are released. Those on short visits of up to 14 days must follow a controlled itinerary for their stay and not use public transport. Those on the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) can do so only via the land borders and travellers entering Singapore must serve a Stay Home Notice (SHN) of at least 7 days and have a COVID-19 test >>

15 Jul: The Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) will be limited to 2,000/ day initially, whilst the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) will allow 400 people per country on a weekly basis >>

14 Jul: Malaysia and Singapore have agreed 2 schemes for reopening the borders, to start on 10 Aug:

1. Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), for essential business and official purposes. Travellers would need to undergo PCR swab tests 2. Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) for Malaysian and Singapore residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country, to enter for work. They will be able to briefly return to their home country after 3 consecutive months of working >>

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VACCINE

NEW 9 Jan: Malaysia is aiming to complete vaccination of 70-80% of its population within 18 months, including Malaysians and foreign workers. Phase 1 would be for 500,000 people (300,000 healthcare workers and 200,000 frontliners), phase 2 for 3 million senior citizens and 3.2 million people with co-morbidities in Q2 and phase 3 in Q3 for the general population >>

NEW 8 Jan: The government has said that Malaysians will not be able to choose the vaccine they want, and will be allocated instead according to storage requirements and the vaccination centre >>

NEW 5 Jan: Vaccination will not be mandatory in Malaysia >>

3 Jan: 1 million frontliners and high-risk individuals will start to be vaccinated from Feb, in the first phase of the program. The 2nd phase will be from Apr/ May, with 6.2 million doses of the vaccine deployed >>

31 Dec: The Health Ministry has said that around one third of Malaysians polled are afraid of the vaccine >>

30 Dec: Malaysia will intensify its efforts to develop vaccines with the UAE >>

23 Dec: Malaysia is in talks with Pfizer to boost its purchases for another 20% of the population. It is also in final negotiations with Sinovac for 14 million doses, CanSino for 3.5 million and Sputnik V for 6.4 million doses, and in talks with Moderna and Johnson & Johnson >>

23 Dec: The Ministry of Health has said that it would take 3-4 months to register a COVID-19 vaccine with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) >>

23 Dec: Malaysia is procuring vaccines to cover 80% of the population, at an estimated cost of RM2.05 billion >>

23 Dec: Malaysia has signed a deal with AstraZeneca for 6.4 million doses, due to arrive in H1, covering an additional 10% of the population >>

23 Dec: The COVID-19 vaccine is permissible for Muslims, the Religious Affairs Minister has said >>

19 Dec: 1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccines should arrive in Feb, with 1.7 million arriving in Q2,5.8 million in Q3 and 4.3 million in Q4 >>

19 Dec: The government should conclude a negotiation with AstraZeneca on 21 Dec to purchase enough vaccine for 20% of the population. This now brings the total to 50% of population covered, and they will try to get all vaccine supplies in Q1 2021 >>

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13 Dec: The government is planning to increase its vaccine purchases to 60-70% of Malaysians. It also has an agreement with COVAX which would cover 10% of the population >>

12 Dec: The government has said that it will not rush the vaccines through “emergency use” approval >>

10 Dec: An Ipsos poll has shown that 86% of Malaysians agree that vaccinations against serious diseases should be compulsory >>

10 Dec: The WHO has said that Malaysia will not struggle with cold chain distribution and storage, as it had proved itself capable during an outbreak of Polio in Sabah >>

10 Dec: The government has said that everyone must have universal access to an affordable, accessible and equitable vaccine >>

4 Dec: Malaysia Airlines has stated that MAB Kargo has adequate infrastructure to handle the transportation and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to Malaysia and beyond >>

27 Nov: Malaysia has signed a deal with Pfizer Inc to obtain doses for 6.4 million people, so long as it is approved by the US FDA and Malaysian drug regulators >>

26 Nov: Malaysia is on the priority list for China’s vaccine >>

26 Nov: AirAsia’s Teleport is ready to focus its logistics operations on delivering vaccines across the region, putting together technology and infrastructure >>

18 Nov: Malaysia and China have signed an agreement, giving Malaysia priority access to COVID-19 vaccines developed by China >>

INBOUND

NEW 9 Jan: The government will announce new measures to stop the spread of COVID- 19 on Monday 11 Jan >>

NEW 9 Jan: Inter-state and inter-district travel restrictions could be implemented once more to control the spread of COVID-19 >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Keningau Tourism and Culture Association in Sabah has been created to promote the tourism sector and introduce new products >>

NEW 8 Jan: 88 tourism companies were certified by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) with the Certificate of Compliance COVID-19 Adopt and Adhere

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Guidelines and relevant government standard operating procedure (SOP) by the end of 2020 >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Housing Ministry has allocated RM8.9 million for the upgrading of tourism facilities in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Johor. They will focus on small- scale projects, and plan to upgrade recreational areas in Port Dickson, a popular beach tourism area >>

NEW 8 Jan: The EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned that a second strict lockdown could lead to the collapse of the economy, with the closure of many businesses >>

NEW 8 Jan: 50,000 people have been evacuated and 6 have died due to monsoon rains on Malaysia’s east coast >>

NEW 8 Jan: Penang’s Thaipusam celebrations have been cancelled for the first time in a century >>

NEW 7 Jan: Malaysia hit a new record high of cases, at 3,027 >>

NEW 7 Jan: YouTrip, a mobile multi-currency wallet, is looking to expand into Malaysia in the next 6-12 months, in partnership with Visa. It sees a $12 billion USD outbound market in 2021 >>

NEW 7 Jan: 79 tourists who were stranded in Taman Negara National Park due to rising flood waters since the end of Dec have now been rescued >>

NEW 7 Jan: Sarawak is looking at opening up a trade and tourism office in Brunei Darassalam >>

NEW 7 Jan: Spending more quality time with loved ones is what Malaysians are most looking forward to for travel in 2021, according to a new survey from Agoda. Travelling at a slower pace is also important >>

NEW 6 Jan: Malaysia’s health director-general is calling for targeted lockdowns as the health system is near “breaking point”, and expect cases to continue to spike over the coming weeks >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Grand Hyatt has launched The Grand Getaway, a plane themed dining experience, where passengers “board”, check in luggage and even walk through a mock Kuala Lumpur International Airport >>

NEW 5 Jan: An Ipsos survey has shown that 82% of Malaysians believe that 2021 will be better than 2020 >>

NEW 4 Jan: Sarawak’s inbound tourists in 2020 were just 1.2 million, down 71% YoY. The State Tourism Board is encouraging tour operators to look at Siasitok, a

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campaign to encourage Sarawak tourism to Sarawakians, with discounts of up to 50%. They also have urged tour operators to look at inbound tours, rather than outbound, and promote Sibu as a gateway to the central region >>

NEW 4 Jan: The Business Events Council Malaysia has said that the government allocations to the Meet in Malaysia campaign will not be sufficient to help the industry supply chain, and is calling for a reduction in utility costs, tax breaks and ease licensing requirements. The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers has also said that business events businesses have seen losses of RM2.25 billion, a drop of 90%, since the MCO was implemented in Mar, with 5,619 employees laid off >>

NEW 4 Jan: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) expects hotel occupancy to peak over Chinese New Year and other festive periods, but that it would remain around 20-30% for Q1 2021. However, it would be higher at tourism destinations such as islands and beach resorts >>

NEW 4 Jan: AirAsia and the Penang State Tourism Bureau have partnered together to increase connectivity to Penang, as well as special travel offers >>

NEW 4 Jan: The Melaka Horror House, a new tourist attraction, is set to open in May and attract 300,000 visitors every year >>

NEW 4 Jan: The Ministry of Tourism has suggested that the Kaamatan, Sabah’s Harvest Festival, and Gawai, Sarawak’s Harvest Festival, are added to the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia itinerary as a major festival, to promote unity >>

3 Jan: More than 6,500 people have been evacuated due to heavy flooding in Johor state >>

2 Jan: Central Terengganu is targeting 1 million visitors for Visit Kenyir Year 2021 >>

2 Jan: All educational institutes should reopen according to the academic calendar on 20 Jan, the government has reassured, even in those areas still under the CMCO >>

2 Jan: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) have welcomed the cancellation of the High-Speed Rail link between Singapore-Kuala Lumpur, saying that if it had been implemented, Malaysia’s airports and cruise ports would have been “feeder providers” >>

1 Jan: Penang government plan to focus on domestic tourism for H1 2021, including family-oriented holidays, eco-tourism and creative cultural tourism >>

1 Jan: The Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) has been extended until 31 Mar >>

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1 Jan: Tourism Malaysia have launched a “Leisure at the Zoo” stimulus campaign with discounted tickets for selected zoo attractions until 31 Mar >>

1 Jan: The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project has been terminated once more, after both sides didn’t reach an agreement by its 31 Dec deadline >>

31 Dec: Tourism Malaysia, Shopee and the Malaysian Association of Hotels have launched their new joint campaign, PRE1.0 “Jom Cuti-Cuti Malaysia! Experience Malaysia Like Never Before”. It will run from 31 Dec-31 Mar, with e-vouchers available of RM50 for 3D2N stay at 1-3* hotels, and RM100 for a 3D2N stay at 4-5* hotels >>

31 Dec: Sarawak is looking at creating Bau into an ecotourism destination >>

31 Dec: Malaysia Airports has started an initiative, The Butterfly Effect, aimed at making its airports more inclusive for autistic passengers >>

31 Dec: The Tourism Minister has said that 2021 will be the year to support Malaysia’s economic recovery through domestic tourism, calling for Malaysians to explore >>

29 Dec: The Kuala Lumpur International Logistics and Transportation (KiLAT) 2020 exhibition has been postponed once more to 5-7 Oct 2021. LIMA 2021 has also been rescheduled to 2023 >>

29 Dec: Online Service providers of accommodation bookings must register with the Malaysian Tourism Tax System before Jul 2021. The government expects this tax to generate between RM21-46 million in tourism tax >>

29 Dec: The National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 is expected to drive rural tourism in Sabah, the Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association has said. The Coalition of Sabah Rural Tourism Association also said that the human resources side of the policy would held to produce highly skilled workers, but the quality of infrastructure in Sabah must be improved >>

29 Dec: The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) are confident that the government’s new tourism strategy for 2020-2030 will help “uplift” Malaysia’s image and that the incorporation of healthcare tourism into investment zones would generate higher income for the country. They will embark on 3 initiatives: raising Malaysia’s profile as a World Healthcare Marvel, strengthen the country’s position as the fertility and cardiology centre of Asia and work with selected hospitals to become landmarks of world-class healthcare >>

29 Dec: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) have said that the country must create new strategies to develop tourism products, promote digitalisation, infrastructure development and incentives for domestic and foreign

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travel plans. They also hope the government will encourage locally developed industry online platforms to book travel products, rather than foreign platforms >>

28 Dec: Genting Malaysia will focus on the completion of its new outdoor theme park, Genting Skyworlds, for mid-2021 opening, whilst Malaysia Airlines has said that it will focus on assisting vaccine distribution, reconnect global economies and revitalises businesses in 2021 >>

28 Dec: The Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Sabah, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur has been extended until 14 Jan. Some subdistricts of Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Johor Bahru have also been extended until 14 Jan >>

27 Dec: Tourism Malaysia expects hotel occupancy rates to increase once the RMCO is lifted – they are targeting an increase of 20% >>

27 Dec: Melaka looks to introduce seaplanes in 2021, with an investment of around RM500 million. The State Tourism Committee have also said that new products will be introduced to attract domestic and foreign tourists. Arrivals to Melaka over the last 2 weeks has increased >>

26 Dec: Ipoh City Council is aiming to make Ipoh one of the most attractive destinations in Malaysia by 2025. They are focusing on the 3 Hs: hipster, heritage and health >>

26 Dec: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has seem a spike in hotel bookings over Christmas and the New Year, with an expected occupancy rate of 50-60% >>

26 Dec: Malaysia recorded its highest number of daily cases, 2,335 >>

24 Dec: The Department of Statistics Malaysia forecasts that Malaysia’s economy will continue to recover in early 2021 >>

24 Dec: The Transport Ministry will look into alleged claims that Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang has been using unlicensed private jets for commercial purposes >>

24 Dec: Perak state has allocated RM10 million for tourism, with RM4.4 million used to upgrade infrastructure of products. 300 tour guides would receive RM700 each, whilst travel agents would receive RM2,000 to help create packages to promote Perak. They will also make one-off payments of RM10,000 to 12 associations and NGOs to stimulate the industry >>

24 Dec: Tourism operators and tour guides will be given a discount of up to 40% to pay any fines until 30 Jun >>

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24 Dec: Attractions in Penang are starting to see an increase in visitors over the year-end, with The Habitat seeing over 200 a day vs 50 during the CMCO period, and Penang Hill to 3,000 during weekends, from 1,500 >>

23 Dec: Malaysia Airports is expecting the number of passengers to increased 4X vs the previous month’s same period, to 99,000 domestic and 19,000 international pax from 24-31 Dec >>

23 Dec: A survey has shown that Malaysia allegedly has the 2nd highest number of private jets operating without valid air operator certificates in Asia operating out of Subang’s Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport >>

23 Dec: Malaysia has launched its National Tourism Policy (DPN) 2020-2030. It includes 6 key areas, including: governance transformation, creating an inclusive tourism investment zone and intensifying tourism digitisation, enriching the experience and satisfaction of tourists, strengthening commitment to sustainable tourism, and increasing the capacity of human capital in all tourism sub-sectors. Technology-based tourism investment will be encouraged, and the government is looking at establishing Special Tourism Investment Zones for tourism products. Their target is for Malaysia to be the ‘Top of Mind Ecotourism Destination of the World’ >>

23 Dec: The Ministry of Tourism hopes all tourism stakeholders will join together to strengthen Malaysia as a top tourism destination through the National Tourism Policy (DPN) 2020-2030. Malaysia will prioritise quality tourists, and position the country as an eco-tourism destination >>

23 Dec: AirAsia has seen an increase in domestic bookings since state borders reopened, and have increased flights between Kuala Lumpur-Penang to 4 times/ day. They are also collaborating with Penang Global Tourism to offer special packages >>

23 Dec: A new campaign Safe2Spa Jom Spa, has been launched by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to help the local spa industry recover, with 10,000 discount vouchers worth RM30 each distributed to customers >>

22 Dec: AirAsia will reduce its fleet by 10% next year, letting go of around 20 aircraft whose leases are coming to an end. Tony Fernandes forecasts it might take 2 years for revenue to return to normal, but that the airlines has “a chance” at returning to profit next year >>

22 Dec: The government has seen the retail sector starting to recover, as well as hotel occupancy rates grow to 23.4% since the CMCO was lifted in the majority of the country and interstate travel was permitted once more >>

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22 Dec: Malaysia’s plan for “cruises to nowhere” is on hold, with Penang Port saying that its proposal submitted in Sep is still awaiting approval, with no movement any time soon. They have said that 64% of the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal’s 1.16 million pax in 2019 were from the “cruise to nowhere” packages offered by Leisure World and Oriental Dragon cruise ships >>

22 Dec: Airport traders at Kota Kinabalu International Airport are struggling to survive, saying that the airport management are asking them to sign a one-year agreement in exchange for a 6-month rental rebate >>

22 Dec: Airbus would lose more than $5 billion USD worth of orders if AirAsia X’s debt restructuring is approved. It is challenging the plan >>

22 Dec: Penang has launched a new campaign, “Experience it all in Penang, responsibly”, to attract domestic tourists, comparing 14 local tourist attractions to international ones >>

22 Dec: Sabah tourist attractions can reopen at 50% capacity. MICE and weddings and celebrations are also allowed at 50% of the room capacity >>

22 Dec: AirAsia have launched 32 new routes as a group in 2020, including smaller cities and 2nd tier destinations >>

22 Dec: The relaxation of regulatory requirements for tourism businesses, such as the size of the premises and permission to conduct other businesses in their premises, has been extended until 30 Jun >>

21 Dec: The exemption period for licence renewal fees and additional licences for tourism businesses has been extended from 1 Jan-30 Jun 2021 >>

21 Dec: Sabah has continued to promote itself for tourism in 2020 through the online MATTA Fair, MITA e-Travel Fair, fam trips for bloggers, media and travel agents and digital campaigns >>

21 Dec: Some retrenched airline staff have started their reskilling training courses which have been funded by the government >>

21 Dec: AirAsia X has said that Malaysia Airports is not entitled to collect passenger service charges in a defence against the airport operator’s claims >>

20 Dec: Prasarana Malaysia has launched a My30 Plus 30, Buy 1, Free 1 Package, an unlimited travel pass for travel throughout Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding area for just RM30 per month >>

20 Dec: Sabah is putting emphasis on rural tourism in its state budget, allocating RM17.2 million for its development, an “unprecedented” amount >>

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20 Dec: The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) will launch its 10-year strategy for 2021-2030, with 3 strategic pillars: optimisation, foresight and competitiveness >>

20 Dec: Kuala Lumpur will not have its usual New Year’s countdown >>

20 Dec: The Pillars of Sabah 3.0 art project will be another tourism product for Kota Kinabalu >>

19 Dec: The Former finance minister has said that the Malaysian tourism industry can’t expect to recover from its RM100 billion losses without direct assistance, and that he thought the numbers did not reflect the full devastation of the industry. He also said that “false” projections of high hotel occupancy levels are downplaying the severity of the situation. He urged the government to expand the wage subsidy scheme, extend loan moratorium payments and offer a RM10 billion credit line to them >>

19 Dec: Sabah expects 1.3 million tourist arrivals in 2021, generating RM2.51 billion. This is conditional on the borders being reopened. The state government is allocating RM227.97 million to fund the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah and stimulate growth >>

19 Dec: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has said that bookings are increasing again at resort hotels and beach areas, but bookings in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are still low. They are looking at average Dec hotel occupancy levels of 30% nationwide, with the last week of Dec reaching 50-60%. The Sarawak Tourism Federation has said that hotels in the state are struggling, as hotels which are quarantine hotels are not allowed to receive guests, and in Kuching, nearly all hotels are quarantine hotels >>

19 Dec: Kelantan state has had 456 evacuees after flooding in the state >>

19 Dec: Langkawi Development Authority have seen encouraging hotel bookings for the year-end, with 27 flights arriving on the 18 Dec, and 23 on the 19 Dec >>

18 Dec: Tourism and cultural sectors under CMCO will be permitted to reopen from 19 Dec, including MICE, tourism products, cultural and heritage exhibitions, theme parks, family entertainment centres and indoor playgrounds. Visitors are limited to 50% capacity. Water sports and recreation sectors would in principle be opened from Jan 2021 >>

18 Dec: The Wangchuan (wangkang) ceremony and related practices have been inscribed into the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list after a joint nomination by China and Malaysia. Pantun, a type of Malay poem, has also been listed >>

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18 Dec: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and Bureau Veritas Malaysia have signed a “Travel Safe Malaysia” Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label, to position Malaysia as a safe country. It will be supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and offered to all MATTA members >>

18 Dec: The Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Seremban and Sabah will be extended until 31 Dec, with just 3 areas exempted >>

18 Dec: Google has said that drops to retail and recreational locations in KL dropped by 36% vs the baseline between early Nov – mid-Dec, from its mobility trends data >>

18 Dec: Zoo Negara has reopened, but will operate at reduced capacity >>

17 Dec: Mt Kinabalu is expecting to receive more visitors over the year-end, based on forward bookings. Only 10% of its current 450 mountain guides are working >>

17 Dec: Selangor is launching a new campaign, “Nak Bercuti? Pusing Selangor Dulu!” (Want to go for a holiday? Explore Selangor first!) to promote tourism. The tourism vouchers will be available though Touch ‘n Go and Lazada e-wallets from 8-31 Jan. 10,000 tourism vouchers worth RM200 will be available, with 3,000 Selangor frontliners will receive a RM200 tourism package voucher in 2021, part of its Selangor Tourism Voucher subsidy programme. The state expects 5 million tourists in 2021 >>

17 Dec: TruTrip have said that over 6 million Malaysians have travelled since Apr >>

17 Dec: Penang has welcomed the government’s decision to allow its ferries to remain in service, after it had been announced that the ferries would be grounded from 1 Jan 2021 until refurbishment of the terminal is completed by 2022 >>

17 Dec: Spiritual tour packages could be introduced in Melaka, the Chief Minister has suggested >>

16 Dec: Penang is calling for the government to designate it a duty-free island once more, to attract tourists >>

16 Dec: Malaysia Airlines’ restructuring exercise is expected to be finalised by 31 Dec. The government is holding discussions on the debts and leasing >>

15 Dec: A senior minister has said that Malaysians have to “accept the reality that we have to live with Covid-19” >>

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15 Dec: The Deputy Transport Minister has said that airlines might take 3 years to recover completely >>

15 Dec: AirAsia X proposed a rights issue of up to RM300 million, and the issuance of new shares of up to RM200 million, a ‘critical component’ of its RM63.5 billion debt restructuring exercise >>

15 Dec: Lessor BOC Aviation has asked a Malaysian Court to dismiss AirAsia X’s debt restructuring exercise as it gives too much power to Airbus as a creditor >>

15 Dec: The Malaysian 2021 budget has been passed in Parliament, after doubts whether it would pass at all >>

15 Dec: Melaka government is hoping to have flights from Kota Kinabalu and Penang to Melaka International Airport with Firefly, to boost tourism. It is also in discussion with AirAsia to see if the carrier will continue its operations at the airport after announcing its withdrawal >>

14 Dec: Kedah is promoting itself through an influencers’ roadtrip through the state. It has also seen an increase in the number of tourists, particularly those from Penang >>

14 Dec: Those returning to Sarawak from overseas will be permitted to undergo a 10 day quarantine at stipulated facilities, and will then be able to self-isolate at home until the 14th day >>

14 Dec: Tourism Malaysia have launched the first Malaysia Truly Asia ASEAN Virtual Hunt 2020, virtually connecting 30 teams of media reps from 9 SE Asian countries who will use Zoom for a virtual treasure hunt around Malaysia >>

13 Dec: The Ministry of Housing received RM50 million to upgrade infrastructures in areas that could be developed for rural tourism >>

13 Dec: Melaka has had heavy traffic congestion since 11 Dec, with tourists entering the city, something that the Melaka chapter of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is thankful for, but acknowledge it is still a long way to recovery >>

13 Dec: The PM has suggested that a group farming vegetable in Sengkang set up an agrotourism centre >>

13 Dec: The inaugural Melaka Golf Championship will take place on 18 Dec, sponsored by Tourism Melaka. It hopes to showcase the potential of the state >>

12 Dec: Endau Rompin Johor National Park will be nominated as an ASEAN Heritage Park >>

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12 Dec: Sarawak has said that it has only welcomed 1.1 million visitors from Jan- Nov, a 71.5% YoY drop in arrivals. Its Nov arrivals alone were just 13,362 tourist arrivals, down 95.8% YoY >>

11 Dec: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has said that the government needs to extend electricity discounts for the tourism industry, as well as increase a targeted wage subsidy. Hotel occupancy peaked for the National Day holiday in Aug at 42%, stabilised to 39% in Sep and is now at 20% >>

11 Dec: The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council are aiming to achieve medical tourism revenue of RM1 billion in the next 2-3 years – it’s original target for 2020 was RM2 billion >>

11 Dec: Sabah state’s COVID-19 spokesperson has said that it will take a big effort to restart the state’s tourism, even once vaccines are available, and it could take up to 4 years >>

11 Dec: Malaysia’s unemployment increased to 4.7% in Oct, up 0.1% from Sep >>

11 Dec: Visitors to Terengganu state from red zones should contact health authorities for a risk assessment >>

11 Dec: Firefly Airlines will start its jet operations from Penang as a northern hub, to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Johor Bahru in January >>

10 Dec: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will launch short term initiatives to boost domestic tourism, including e-vouchers and rebates. They will also promote lesser known destinations, and undertake media promotion >>

10 Dec: Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group, has said that domestic flights are ‘doing well’ and he expects to open up international routes within 6 months. However, the airline expects it may have to return aircraft in the short-term, but there will be a strong recovery in 2022 and 2023 >>

10 Dec: Tourists who book accommodation online may be charged tourism tax, in a proposed amendment to the Tourism Tax regulations. This would be levied on any accommodation made available through online bookings and digital service providers >>

10 Dec: MATTA has urged other states to follow Sabah’s example with financial relief for tourism SMEs. Sabah have allocated RM2 million to be given to 503 licensed travel and tour companies, each receiving RM4,000 one-off assistance >>

10 Dec: The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is confident that its “Meet in Malaysia Campaign” will encourage the tourism industry >>

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10 Dec: AirAsia have seen an increase in its sales since Malaysia permitted interstate travel >>

9 Dec: The National Security Council is in talks with the Ministry of Tourism to reopen tourism attractions, and are awaiting the latter’s suggestions of which parts of the industry should be reopened >>

9 Dec: The annual RISE Conference, focusing on startups, will be held in Malaysia from 2022-2024, with an anticipated RM500 million boost to the local economy >>

9 Dec: Melaka tourism products will be sold on Shopee and Lazada, hoping to boost sales >>

9 Dec: The federal government will discuss with the Sarawak state government the necessity of Sarawak’s policy to quarantine any arriving from peninsula Malaysia >>

9 Dec: 99,969 Malaysians have been made redundant since the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) until 27 Nov >>

9 Dec: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) is hoping that locals will reinstate their holiday plans and take advantage of special deals by their members. They also plan to collaborate with Tourism Malaysia through online platform Shopee, for Malaysians to book hotel deals with special vouchers, expected to be live by end Dec >>

9 Dec: AirAsia have said that governments in Asia may require inbound travellers to have COVID-19 vaccines, but that airlines will not be making the decision for travellers >>

8 Dec: MATTA have said that tour packages sold by its members will include airfares, ground arrangements, and if necessary, COVID-19 testing and private dining arrangements from peninsula Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak >>

8 Dec: People who book quarantine hotels through MyEG Services, the government’s digital services provider, are now being charged RM15 fee >>

8 Dec: The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) sees passenger traffic recovering in 2021 by between 94.2-100% YoY, the equivalent of 51.7 to 53.3 million pax. Its best case 2020 passenger scenario is now 26.6 – 29.7 million, falling 72.8% YoY >>

8 Dec: InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) will triple the number of hotels in Malaysia over the next 5 years, from 4 to 14 >>

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8 Dec: Malaysia Airports will extend its relief package to all retailers, with up to 20% rental rebate from Jan 2021. Airlines will also have a 30% rebate on charges such as landing, aircraft parking and check-in counters >>

8 Dec: AirAsia has said that it is “quietly optimistic” for 2021, and expects pre- COVID demand to return in 6-12 months. AirAsia Thailand is already back to pre- COVID levels, and will surpass it by end Dec. It is also converting its passenger planes into cargo planes, and is in discussion about starting 3 new airlines in the region >>

7 Dec: Sarawak tourism businesses have not yet received the state government’s grant of RM20,000, despite it being 5 months since the scheme was announced >>

7 Dec: Malaysia’s international arrivals from Jan-Sep were -78.6% YoY, with just 4.29 million. Tourism receipts also dropped by -80.9% YoY to RM12.6 billion >>

7 Dec: Domestic travellers to Labuan must have a negative test result at least 3 days prior to departure >>

7 Dec: AirAsia is running a special 3-day promotional campaign on domestic flights after interstate and interdistrict travel has been permitted >>

7 Dec: MATTA have praised the government’s decision to allow interstate travel, as it coincides with the year-end peak travel season >>

6 Dec: Penang tourism organisations greeted the news that Penang will have its CMCO lifted on 7 Dec positively. Hotels are now waiting for protocols on year-end celebrations and whether there will be a maximum of 250 imposed, or if it would be according to venue capacity >>

5 Dec: The government has extended the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Johor Bahru and the majority of Sabah state until 20 Dec. However, they have now ended the CMCO on 6 Dec for Putrajaya, Labuan and Penang, Perak, Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan (except certain districts). The government said that if the CMCO continued, Malaysia’s GDP would lose RM300 million per day. Inter-district and interstate travel will also be permitted, but the government is still looking at what tourism activities will be allowed >>

5 Dec: Sabah tourism businesses are anticipating more bookings as the interstate and inter-district travel restrictions have been lifted. The Sabah Tourist Association have said that this will allow income for tourist-related sectors, but they are still unsure whether people in Sabah would travel that much, whilst other states may feel hesitant to visit Sabah as it is still a red zone >>

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5 Dec: The government will discuss the issue of working from home for those states under CMCO on 7 Dec, as well as which tourism activities should be permitted >>

5 Dec: Malaysia has hit the 70,000 cases mark >>

5 Dec: Mt Kinabalu has now been reopened for climbing activities from 7 Dec, but at 50% capacity >>

5 Dec: Domestic tourism is permitted again in Sabah, with water activities such as jet skiing and canoeing allowed at 50% capacity >>

4 Dec: The My30 campaign by Tourism Malaysia and Prasarana Malaysia, which was scheduled to start on 7 Dec, has been postponed due to the CMCO in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Its aim was to encourage the public to take trains and buses using the Rapid KL network >>

4 Dec: Sabah will reopen its state borders, allowing social visits from Malaysians, long-term immigrant pass holders and family members of resident Sabahans ahead of Christmas. Visitors to the state will need to undergo an RT-PCR or antigen test 3 days before travel >>

3 Dec: Johor dropped ranks from third to seventh place as a tourist destination between 2016 to 2018. Consequently, Tourism Johor will now focus on promotion and marketing, with the first phase focusing on domestic tourism, whilst the second will be on international tourists. They plan to have media fam trips, use social media, KOLs and produce more multilingual videos and articles >>

3 Dec: The Human Resources Ministry have said that 99,696 workers have lost jobs between Jan – 27 Nov >>

2 Dec: Malaysia has been named the top ranked country for Muslim Friendly Travel, according to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2020/2021 >>

1 Dec: 75% of Malaysian businesses only expect to return to pre-pandemic profitability by the end of 2022 in a new HSBC survey >>

1 Dec: MHholidays have launched a new Trip and Tours product, which is available on Malaysia Airlines operated flights and will be expanded to Firefly codeshare flights in 2021 >>

1 Dec: 13 hotels in Johor have now stopped operations >>

30 Nov: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd have posted a net loss of RM319.72 million in Q3, with Malaysia operations decreasing in revenue by 73% YoY >>

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30 Nov: Scuba diving in Sabah has been permitted once more, to stimulate the tourism industry and allow some recreational activities. Operators must still ensure social distancing and a maximum of 30% boat capacity >>

30 Nov: AirAsia is launching 8 new domestic routes, including Langkawi-Ipoh, Langkawi-Kota Baru, Johor Baru-Bintulu, Johor Bahru-Kota Baru, Penang-Sibu, Penang-Kota Baru and Kuching-Langkawi >>

29 Nov: Kota Kinabalu’s sunsets were recently mentioned as some of the most beautiful in the world in a recent K-drama, leading the tourism minister to believe there will be an influx of Korean tourists once borders reopen >>

29 Nov: The Malaysia Tourism Council have said that more than 70% of tourism workers will lose their jobs if borders are not reopened in 6 months. They estimate that around 50% have been retrenched currently >>

28 Nov: Sabah will apply for UNESCO Geopark status for the Kinabalu Park, hoping that they could obtain this by end 2021 >>

28 Nov: The PM has said that he will call for a general election once the pandemic is over >>

28 Nov: 9.6 million people, around 30% of the country’s population, are expected to be vaccinated in 2021 >>

27 Nov: The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) has said that they will take the lead in developing new tourism products, including building new hotels and upgrades to the existing ones. They also plan to invest in the Damai peninsula to create a major tourism destination, which will include resorts, theme parks, cable cars, jungle trails and a marine, costing around RM4 billion >>

27 Nov: Negeri Sembilan state has allocated RM2.693 million for tourism events >>

27 Nov: Kuching lifted its CMCO on 27 Nov >>

27 Nov: The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has asked the government to think about allowing retrenched airline workers to become Ministry of Health frontliners, as the allocated RM50 million for training of 8,000 airline employees in the Budget 2021 is not sufficient. The Human Resources Minister has said that as of 13 Nov, 40,766 tourism workers had been made redundant >>

27 Nov: Business prospects are forecast to be pessimistic in Q4, but better than previous quarters, according to a report from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) >>

27 Nov: AirAsia will soon distribute RM50 e-vouchers to 24,000 domestic travellers as part of the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia campaign >>

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26 Nov: The Finance Ministry has said that the government is “not involved in any plans to save any companies including commercial flight companies […] to avoid discrimination occurring to other companies that are also affected by this pandemic”. They also said that there were no plans to close Malaysia Airlines down yet, and the government is in talks with Khazanah to determine the direction of the company >>

26 Nov: AirAsia is looking into potential monetisation opportunities, as well as considering rights issues, debt financing and private placement to raise for capital. Research houses believe that AirAsia would need more than one round of funding >>

26 Nov: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) does not believe that the 2021 Budget will help the tourism industry, saying that “domestic tourism is not the main solution to assist our fledgling tourism industry which is now at its lowest” >>

26 Nov: Malaysia’s Budget 2021 was passed in Parliament, and will now move to a third and final reading to be approved, despite anxiety that the opposition would not support the budget >>

26 Nov: The mandatory 14-day quarantine period for domestic travellers from Sabah to Peninsular Malaysia has been removed >>

26 Nov: Malaysia will impose mandatory screening for 1.7 million foreign workers >>

25 Nov: AirAsia Group posted revenue of RM443 million for Q3, a decline of 86% YoY, but an increase of 272% vs Q2. Their net loss for Q3 grew to RM851.78 million, making its Q1-Q3 net loss RM2.66 billion >>

25 Nov: The Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara has said that the profile of medical tourists arriving into Malaysia in 2020 has changed – previously it was fertility treatments, now it is for critical procedures such as brain or cardiovascular surgery. The Penang Adventist Hospital has created digital solutions for teleconsultations for patients >>

25 Nov: Malaysia has seen a record number of cases for 2 days in a row, with a high of 2,188 cases recorded, mainly due to a cluster linked to factory workers >>

24 Nov: AirAsia believes that the travel situation will have stabilised by 2022 and that 2021 will be a “much, much better year than 2020” >>

24 Nov: The finance minister has told Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia Airlines’ sole shareholder, to “ensure that MAS continues to be in the position of strength to support the economy when it recovers” >>

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24 Nov: News of the Green Zone Domestic Travel Bubble will help support Sarawak’s tourism industry, the Sarawak State Minister for Tourism has said >>

24 Nov: The government has received 478 applications from tourism SMEs for the Penjana Tourism Financing Scheme, with 208 applications approved to the value of RM41.8 million >>

24 Nov: Malaysia Airlines has created a special incentive program to promote domestic travel, under the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia campaign, with subsidised tickets until 8 Dec for travel until 30 Jun 2021. Customers are also entitled to discounts of RM200 on economy and business class normal fares to all domestic destinations when they sign up for their frequency fliers programme, Enrich. MHholidays is also offering a 25% discount on flight and hotel domestic bookings until 8 Dec >>

24 Nov: AirAsia Group expect AirAsia Malaysia to return to 31% of its pre-COVID capacity in Q4 >>

23 Nov: The Tourism, Arts & Culture Ministry (MOTAC) have said that their plan is to restore travel confidence, revive domestic tourism and maximise current resources. They will focus on collaboration with airlines, tourism businesses and non-government associations through a “Cuti-Cuti Malaysia” campaign, and plan vouchers, discounts and cash rebates. Tourism Malaysia will collaborate with industry players to boost demand for inter and intra state travel, increase the use of public transport, and collaborate with Karyaneka, to offer discounts on Malaysian crafts. They also encouraged Malaysians to take advantage of being able to travel between green zones for domestic travel, and that they should book their plans via licensed travel companies, as they would be able to arrange for a movement permit directly with the police >>

23 Nov: 204 tourism businesses have closed down, including 109 hotels and 95 tourism agencies >>

23 Nov: The Tourism Ministry expects that the industry will lose RM100 billion in 2020 >>

23 Nov: The government is looking at the need to extend the CMCO until the end of the year >>

23 Nov: Malaysia’s job market will be better in Q4, according to the Institute of Labour Marketing Information and Analysis >>

23 Nov: Sarawak state is looking at charter flights to connect Sarawak with Singapore and other destinations, engaging with Hornbill Skyways, but this plan would only be implemented once COVID-19 cases are “no longer prevalent”. He also thinks that the state needs its own airline to improve its connectivity to potential destinations such as Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Australia >>

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23 Nov: Tourism Pahang is collaborating the Asia Brotherhood Centre (ABC) to promote the state to motorsports fans. Pahang tourism destinations will be listed in the Malaysia Local Route Pitstop, with food listings, handicrafts, homestays and agro-tourism locations. The collaboration will start with the Pahang Border Ride from 25 Dec with 60 riders touring all districts in the state >>

23 Nov: The government will support the idea of developing a jade eco-tourism spot near Mt Kinabalu >>

22 Nov: AirAsia Group has received 7 stars from Airlineratings.com for its COVID-19 health procedures >>

21 Nov: Malaysia Airlines is seeking financial help from Khazanah Nasional as its debt restructuring discussions with creditors continue. The amount sought was not disclosed, but sources say it could be up to $500 million USD >>

21 Nov: The Malaysian Tourism Council is calling for the government to provide immediate assistance to the tourism industry >>

20 Nov: Travel for domestic tourism will be permitted within and between states which are green zones for COVID-19 from 22 Nov. Pahang, Perlis, Teregganu and Melaka will return to green zones, as well as the majority of Kedah, Johor and Sarawak >>

20 Nov: The CMCO will be lifted in Johor, Kedah, Melaka and Terengganu from 21 Nov, earlier than planned, but Kelantan state will have a CMCO imposed for 2 weeks >>

20 Nov: SMEs in Sabah are calling for the Wage Subsidy Program to be expanded to minor players in the tourism industry, including traders who were linked to tourism >>

20 Nov: Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) is running a campaign, “Taste of Sarawak”, by offering Sarawak cuisine at local hawker stalls in Singapore >>

20 Nov: Sabah’s Scuba Junkie dive operator has won Dive Magazine’s “Best Scuba Diving Dive Centre of Resort in the World for 2020” >>

20 Nov: AirAsia has implemented a new system, Scan2Fly, which uses AI features to determine whether a passenger is eligible to fly before they even arrive at the airport, including verification of health certificates >>

20 Nov: The Trade Minister sees Malaysia’s economic recovery as a U-shape, rather than V-shaped. A crucial vote on the Budget 2021 will take place next week – if the opposition does not pass it, it could lead to a vote of no-confidence in the current government >>

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20 Nov: The Terengganu state tourism department is using online and social media marketing to promote existing products and services >>

19 Nov: The Johor City and Nature Tour Guide Association (JCNTGA) are calling fo the state government to use the down time to upskill and reskill tour guides, including ecotourism courses >>

19 Nov: The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) have said that some of their members are offering outdoor cleaning services, in a desperate attempt to generate revenue >>

19 Nov: Selangor state will give a special RM1,000 incentive to 553 tourism players, made up of tourist guides, homestay operators and community hosts, who have had their income impacted. They also planned to introduce RM2 million for a tourism voucher scheme which will see RM200 vouchers being distributed to locals who want to travel in Selangor >>

19 Nov: The Penang state government has extended the exemption of hotel room fees by 6 months until Jun 2021 >>

19 Nov: An Ipsos survey has shown that 77% of Malaysians are concerned about COVID-19, ahead of the global average of 44%, but 60% of Malaysians believe that the country is on the right track >>

18 Nov: Malaysia has crossed the 50,000 cases mark >>

18 Nov: The Tourism Ministry welcomes the idea of travel bubbles within Malaysia, saying that the SOPs are still under discussion, but that they hope it would come out quickly >>

18 Nov: 2,713 SMEs have closed down between Mar and Oct >>

17 Nov: AirAsia has said that it is confident that it will be stronger and faster than other competitors over the coming months and in 2021. Their revenue this week was up 57% vs the previous week thanks to its airasia.com Super Sale, with domestic sales in Thailand reaching 93% of pre-pandemic levels and Indonesia sales volume up 52% WoW and sales value up 126% WoW >>

17 Nov: The Tourism Ministry has said that RM200 million should be sufficient for the tourism sector in 2021, as they had been allocated RM30 million stimulus from the 2020 budget and only spent one third of the amount >>

17 Nov: Penang is looking into guidelines for short-term accommodation in residential buildings, hoping to finalise them by the year-end >>

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17 Nov: Zoo Negara has said that it only has enough emergency funds to last 3 months, and it is having difficulty meeting its operational costs of RM1 million per month >>

17 Nov: Johor hotels are asking for help from the government to allow tourism activities in green zones >>

17 Nov: Tourism stakeholders have welcomed the government’s news of possible domestic travel between green zones under CMCO being permitted, with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) saying that “we cannot afford one-size-fits-all approaches” >>

16 Nov: Sabah state has allocated RM15 million to stimulate tourism recovery >>

16 Nov: InterContinental Hotels Group is opening Hotel Indigo on the Park in Kuala Lumpur in 2023 >>

15 Nov: The Malaysia Budget Hotel Association has said that if the CMCO continues until the year-end, at least 40 budget hotels will close down and 2,000 workers laid off. They also reiterated that the financing facility was very difficult to obtain, with only 3% of its members’ submissions approved >>

15 Nov: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is calling for the government to intervene with credit and leasing companies to extend the loans, saying “Failure to address the issues and concerns of the tourism sector will greatly affect the intended tourism restart in the near future in 2021, and may lead some parties to conclude that the government views the industry as dead in 2021” >>

14 Nov: The Tourism Ministry announced an additional allocation of RM200 million in the Tourism Rehabilitation Plan 2021, including accommodation vouchers, tourist destination discounts, family travel package discounts and the “Meet in Malaysia” campaign >>

14 Nov: The Malaysian Association of Tour Agency (MATA) are relieved that there will be an additional allocation of RM200 million for a tourism stimulus package, and urged that it be made ASAP >>

14 Nov: Retailers are asking the government for individual tax exemptions of up to RM10,000 for shopping expenses and RM5,000 for tourism expenses >>

13 Nov: The Penang state government is asking for more measures to help the state’s tourism industry, proposing a loan moratorium extension and that tour operators and guides be exempted from paying license renewal fees until 2022 >>

13 Nov: Sarawak’s tourism is expected to recover to 1.4 million arrivals in 2021, with estimated tourism receipts of RM3.5 billion >>

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13 Nov: Langkawi has maintained its UNESCO Global Geopark status for the 3rd time running >>

13 Nov: The Malaysian Association of Hotels has said that they expect a hotel occupancy rate as low as 5% due to the nationwide implementation of the CMCO, and that tourism recovery may only take place late 2021 >>

13 Nov: The senior director of domestic and events for Tourism Malaysia has called for private-public sector collaborations focusing on domestic tourism to aid recovery >>

13 Nov: Malaysia’s GDP in Q3 contracted 2.3%, with improvements registered across major sectors. Bank Negara forecast its full-year GDP to be between -4.5 to -3.5% >>

13 Nov: The InterContinental Hotels Group remains optimistic that the tourism industry in Sabah will recover early next year, and will be opening the Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu by the year end >>

12 Nov: A survey by Airbnb has shown that 78% of Malaysians are interested in the idea of a workcation, and 73% are looking forward to travelling within their own country >>

12 Nov: Tourism Malaysia went viral after it encouraged Singaporeans to take a “Singapoliday”, inspired by the UK Burger King ad >>

11 Nov: The JB – Singapore Rapid Transit Link may finally break ground in Nov, after a virtual launch on 22 Nov. It will connect Bukit Chegar in Johor with Woodlands in Singapore, with the ability to welcome 10,000 passengers in peak periods >>

11 Nov: Malaysia Airports’ local air traffic performance dropped 92.1% YoY in Oct to 700,000, with international passenger movement down 97.9% and domestic passenger movement down 86.2%. Kuala Lumpur International Airport continues to operate to 31 destinations in 23 countries, whilst its passenger movements dropped 95.8% in Oct >>

11 Nov: A coalition of tour bus operators have lodged a police report against 5 federal ministries for ‘failing’ to help them, in a desperate bid for assistance. Many tour bus drivers have had to sell their buses and declare bankruptcy, according to the North Zone Tour Bus Operators Coalition, with more than 1,200 buses sold in the northern region >>

11 Nov: AirAsia’s shares rose 20% higher on 10 Nov after the news about the potentially successful Pfizer vaccine, whilst AirAsia X gained 62% >>

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11 Nov: Sabah is drawing up a roadmap for tourism recovery, which will aim to protect jobs and businesses with incentives, tariffs and discounts >>

11 Nov: A poll of 15 economists by Reuters estimated that the Malaysian economy contracted at a slower rate in Q3, at 3.2% >>

11 Nov: Airlines may take 3 years to recover from COVID-19, the transport ministry has stated, with revised 2020 pax projections by the Malaysian Aviation Commission's (MAVCOM) to drop by 75.6% YoY to 26.6 million >>

11 Nov: Airbnb welcomes the decision to include tourism tax for short-term accommodation rentals, saying that it is a fair way to raise more revenue for communities >>

11 Nov: The Association of Tourist Attractions Penang is calling for the government to resume some international travel with Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as medical tourism, to directly help the tourism industry >>

11 Nov: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) is urging the government to extend the loan moratorium to help MSMEs survive >>

6 Nov: In its Budget 2021, the government has allocated:

• RM50 million for reskilling and relocation of 8,000 former aviation workers • 500 new job allocations for Orang Asli to function as tour guides in all national parks, to help ecotourism • RM50 million budget for maintenance at tourist hotspots • RM20 million for the promotion of Cultural Villages in Terengganu, Melaka, Sarawak and Negri Sembilan • RM10 million for upkeep of heritage buildings • The Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council will receive a RM35 million allocation, up from RM25 million in 2019 • Grant of RM2,000 will also be allocated to hawker traders, tour drivers and taxi drivers in Sabah state • 6-month exemption from levies for the Human Resources Development Fund from 1 Jan 2020 • Extension of wage subsidy program for another 3 months for up to 500 employees per company for those earning RM4,000 and below a month >>

24 Sep: A new economic stimulus program has been released by the PM, worth RM10 billion. It includes RM7 billion in cash aid for SMEs and the wage subsidy scheme >>

24 Sep: Malaysia’s wage subsidy scheme will be worth RM2.4 billion, and will be given to companies who have seen a 30% decline or more in revenue YoY.

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Companies would receive RM600 for up to 200 employees for 3 months. For those new applicants who did not have earlier assistance, they would receive it up to 6 months. The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) welcomed the move, but highlighted that they are still calling for other assistance, including tax incentives, tourism marketing and tourism development >>

31 Jul: The tourism sector financing scheme under the PENJANA budget has now been opened for application. The total scheme is worth RM1 billion and it is aimed at MSMEs with financing of up to RM300,000 at a 3.5% interest rate per year >>

27 Jul: A new campaign to support MICE events in Malaysia, “Meet in Malaysia”, has been revealed by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). The campaign has 2 components: Let’s Meet Locally, for domestic business, and Let’s Meet Tomorrow, for groups with 10% international participants. Incentives for Let’s Meet Locally include free full-day city tour for a group of 30, whilst for groups of 60 with a 2-night hotel stay will see dinner sponsorship included. 150 participants and above can request for sponsorship of a full-day meeting package. Incentives for Let’s Meet Tomorrow include a full-day meeting package for groups of 120 pax who hold a meeting for 2 days or more. The campaign runs until Dec 2021 >>

5 Jun: The government released a new RM35 billion stimulus package for the economy, called PENJANA. It includes tax relief for individuals, a monthly unlimited travel pass for RM30, free 1GB data every day between 8am-6pm. For tourism it also includes:

• RM1 billion to finance transformation initiatives by SMEs (details to be announced) • RM1.8 billion in tax incentives, including tourism tax breaks from 1 Jul – 30 Jun • Moratorium on tax instalment payments from 1 Apr to 31 Dec for tourism companies (including airlines) • Personal income tax relief of RM1,000 for tourism expenses >>

08 May: Sarawak state has announced a RM300 million stimulus package, with certain measures supporting tourism workers:

• One-off cash payment of RM600 to licensed van operators • Special grant of RM1,500 to 145 tourist and park guides >>

29 Apr: Bank Negara has allocated RM5 billion for financing loans to SMEs to help them sustain operations and maintain jobs >>

07 Apr: An additional RM10 billion financial stimulus has been announced targeted at SMEs. Key measures include:

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• Wage subsidy of up to RM1,200 per employee for companies with less than 75 workers • Tax deductions for landlords to encourage rental reductions >>

27 Mar: The Malaysian government announced a new economic stimulus package valued at RM250 billion, including some support for the travel industry:

• Monthly subsidy of RM600 for 3 months for companies who have had a drop of 50% in business since 1 Jan • RM4.5 billion for SME and micro entrepreneurs comprising of five initiatives >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/malaysia/

OUTBOUND

NEW 6 Jan: Malaysia Aviation Group is looking at using a UK scheme of arrangement to complete its debt restructuring by Q1 2021, and said that “good progress” has been made >>

26 Dec: Malaysian travel agents have asked the government to negotiate on haj charges, saying that previously it cost RM30,000 but now it might be up to RM80,000 per pax due to restrictions on the number of pilgrims sharing a hotel room >>

22 Dec: Malaysia expects the cost of haj to increase due to the SOPs in place in Saudi Arabia >>

21 Dec: The Malaysian and Saudi Arabian governments will hold discussions on the conditions for pilgrims to perform haj next year >>

18 Dec: Malaysia Airlines seem to have reached a stalemate in restructuring talks with its creditors and lessors >>

17 Dec: British Airways have axed their Kuala Lumpur route, with its final flight on 28 Mar 2021 >>

15 Dec: Malaysia Airports has seen a decline of 84.2% YoY in passenger traffic in Nov. November saw 311,000 pax at their Malaysian network of airports, with domestic 234,000 (-95% YoY) and international 78,000 (-98.2% YoY). There are now 58 scheduled and charter airlines operating out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, flying to 64 international destinations >>

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11 Dec: The government has warned against fake umrah packages being marketed to pilgrims

2 Dec: AirAsia X’s debt restructuring exercise is expected to be known by the end of Jun 2021 >>

25 Nov: Emirates Airline have said that they are optimistic about business outlook in Malaysia, and have increased their services to 5 times weekly with 1,500 seats. Flights carry a mixture of passengers and cargo. However, it was forced to delay the start of its Penang – Dubai route >>

25 Nov: AirAsia has signed a partnership with Turkish Airlines, which will allow airasia.com to sell Turkish Airline inventory and combine it with AirAsia flights >>

23 Nov: The Malaysian government will get input from the National Security Council and the Health Ministry on whether to allow Muslims to perform umrah and haj >>

20 Nov: AirAsia X have been ordered to pay 6.6 million GBP to the International Lease Finance Corporation >>

19 Nov: AirAsia X have posted a Q3 net loss of RM308.5 million, with revenue dropping 94% >>

12 Nov: The Travel Corporation has seen an emergence of solo bookings from the 50+ market for its products from Malaysia >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/malaysia/

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MYANMAR 500,000 tourism workers may lose jobs

TRAVEL All visa issuances suspended. All international flights are suspended until 31 Jan. RESTRICTIONS 14-day quarantine for those who enter the country. Travellers from the UK not permitted.

LOCKDOWN Schools closed. Yangon state, Rakhine state and certain townships in Mon State, STATUS Shan State Mandalay Region, Kachim, and Ayeyarwady Region are under “Stay-at- home”: residents limited to leaving home only for essential grocery shopping. Civil servants returning to Naypyitaw will need to be tested for COVID-19 and if from a Stay-at-home township, quarantined.

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

NEW 9 Jan: The government is planning to relaunch international tourism with ASEAN and Asian countries in Q3 2021, with “travel bridges” to Laos and Cambodia, and “travel bubbles” with Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Macau >>

2 Jan: Myanmar has banned travellers from the UK from 31 Dec as a temporary measure >>

31 Dec: The government has extended its restriction on visitors to the country until 31 Jan, with visa issuances still suspended and international flights banned. The government remains in talks to resume international commercial flights in Jan >>

5 Dec: The ban on international flights has been extended until the end of Dec >>

30 Oct: Myanmar has been added to Japan’s list of countries who are banned from entering >>

28 Oct: The government has extended the ban on visitors entering the country until 30 Nov, including the suspension of all types of visas and visa exemptions >>

27 Oct: Myanmar has extended the ban on international flights until 30 Nov >>

29 Aug: Clarification has been made for foreign staff seeking to re-enter Myanmar – they will need to prove that they are on urgent businesses and must contact the Myanmar Embassy to fly on relief flights >>

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24 Aug: Myanmar and Japan have agreed to open their borders to one another for expatriate and long-term residents as early as Sep. Travellers must stay at home or at a designated place after arriving for 14 days. Japan also pledged $283 million USD to support Myanmar SMEs. They will also speed up talks to allow essential business travel >>

29 Jul: The flight suspension to Myanmar has been extended to 31 Aug. However, there are some “fast lanes” for essential businesses and officials upon request. These have started with China and Japan, and will be extended gradually to other countries. Myanmar citizens will also be allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment, studying abroad or working abroad on specially arranged flights >>

13 Jul: Myanmar are planning to allow Chinese travellers with urgent business matters to enter the country under a “Fast Track” scheme with a special quarantine program. The Chinese travellers could arrive into Myanmar via relief, special and chartered flights. They plan to expand this scheme to other countries too. Travellers must bring a negative COVID-19 test, and will undergo 2 swab tests. After 5 days, they will be able to do their work. Costs will be borne by the travellers >>

VACCINE

NEW 8 Jan: Myanmar has ordered 30 million doses of the Serum Institute of India’s vaccine, Covishield, which is due to arrive by Feb >>

NEW 6 Jan: Myanmar is asking for donations from the public for funding for its vaccination drive >>

2 Jan: Myanmar will start vaccinating health workers in Feb with the Indian vaccine >>

31 Dec: Chinese vaccines are likely to arrive in Myanmar in early 2021, the Embassy of Myanmar in Beijing has said >>

27 Dec: Myanmar has signed an MOU with the Serum Institute of India to purchase vaccine for 15 million pax >>

25 Dec: Myanmar delegates are currently in India to purchase vaccines for 15 million pax, and they expect to get a clearer idea of the purchase next week. Priority will be given to healthcare workers first >>

17 Dec: Doses for 3% of the population should arrive in April 2021 through COVAX, and another 17% in mid-2021 >>

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17 Dec: Myanmar is negotiating with international organisations to secure $950 million USD to fund its vaccination program >>

4 Dec: Myanmar is planning to procure its own vaccines, aiming to prioritise 20% of its population first with COVAX. The government aims to then procure vaccines for an additional 40% of its population next year >>

INBOUND

NEW 8 Jan: Aung San Suu Kyi has called for the Myanmar tourism industry to partner with one another to drive development, as well as ensure that the traditional characteristics of Myanmar tourism is not lost >>

NEW 7 Jan: Myanmar National Airlines has extended the suspension of its international flights until 31 Jan >>

NEW 7 Jan: Tourism companies are seeing some popularity in 1-day tours from Yangon, with activities such as riding, fishing, rowing, biking and staying overnight on farms. The Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association is incorporating agrotourism in Yangon region, Bago region, Kayah state, Chin state and Ayeyarwady region >>

NEW 7 Jan: Ywangan in Shan State is being promoted as the Virgin Land to create high- value tourists for local products, and use sustainable tourism to preserve local culture and traditions >>

NEW 6 Jan: A community-based tourism scheme will link Naypyitaw to Shan and Kayah states >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Mekong Tourism Forum, due to take place in Feb in Bagan, has been postponed to Sep 2021 >>

NEW 6 Jan: Parks in Yangon will be allowed to reopen from next week >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Myanmar Tourism Federation expect international tourism only to resume in H2, and then for tourism to be operating at just 10-20%, as many tourism businesses will have lost their skilled staff >>

NEW 5 Jan: A new tourist spot has been created in Mogaung, Kochin State, where visitors can appreciate the views of cloud seas >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Mandalay Region Hoteliers Association has asked for permission to reopen hotels in the region, but has not yet received a reply from the regional government >>

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NEW 3 Jan: Myanma Tourism Bank is giving loans to souvenir shops to boost their development >>

2 Jan: Community-based tourism will open in Jan in Done Nyaung Hmine village on Done Island, Myeik District. It is planning to create more jobs for locals >>

1 Jan: Nan Thar Island in Rakhine State is trying to be designated a marine national park >>

31 Dec: The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will provide online training for the “Enchanting Myanmar Health and Safety Protocol” program. It will be conducted 4 times, with 30 trainees accepted each time, and will last for 10 hours >>

31 Dec: The COVID-19 prevention measures have been extended until 31 Jan >>

30 Dec: The government will launch daytrip flights to Ngapali and Bagan, as well as caravan tours >>

30 Dec: Fauna & Flora International – Myanmar Programme NGO launched its online training program to promote community-based ecotourism in Indawgyi Lake >>

30 Dec: Yangon-Magway-Sittway flights should resume mid-Jan >>

30 Dec: The Myanmar Tourism Strategic Recovery Roadmap (MTSRR) 2021-2025 will be announced at the next meeting of the National Tourism Development Central Committee >>

29 Dec: Daily new cases in Myanmar have fallen below 1,000 >>

28 Dec: Wa Self-Administered Region in Shan State has been placed under lockdown on 26 Dec for 15 days >>

27 Dec: Myanmar tour operators are calling for the authorities to ease restrictions on quarantine for inter-state travel to increase domestic tourism >>

27 Dec: Mandalay has relaxed its stay-at-home restrictions for all townships in Mandalay region, excluding 48 village tracts and wards in Amarapura township >>

26 Dec: The Stay-at-home orders for certain townships in Yangon has now been lifted from 27 Dec >>

26 Dec: Kawthoung District Destination Management Organization has held a meeting with tourism stakeholders to discuss tourism revival >>

25 Dec: Lailenpi Airport in Chin State is forecast to open early 2021, and is now 80% complete >>

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25 Dec: Yangon River Cruise will operate morning and evening cruises on 25-27 Dec as part of a move to revive tourism >>

24 Dec: The Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism has held a meeting with tourism experts and reps from private travel agents to focus on implementing the Myanmar Tourism Strategic Recovery Roadmap >>

23 Dec: Mandalay will train its accommodation providers so that they are prepared once tourism reopens >>

23 Dec: Naga Self-Administered Zone has formed a tourism committee, made up of tourism business representatives and local administration. It has 21 objectives to develop the tourism industry and conserve the natural environment >>

2 Dec: Mandalay will develop Pyu Kan Village in Tada-U Township as a tourist attraction for Mandalay visitors. Agro-tourism and bird watching tours will be developed >>

21 Dec: Myanmar National Airlines operated its first non-landing sightseeing flight tour as part of the pilot project to revive tourism. Some private airlines in Mandalay are also preparing to offer sightseeing flights to Bagan and Inle soon >>

20 Dec: Yangon parks and recreational areas will be closed for 10 days, from 21-31 Dec >>

20 Dec: Myanmar National Airlines Is planning to fly to Bangkok and Singapore once international commercial flights are permitted to reopen. It is hoped that they could resume on 1 Jan >>

19 Dec: Myanmar National Airlines is offering free date changes on all domestic flights booked before and during COVID-19 >>

18 Dec: Myanmar National Airlines will launch is non-landing sightseeing flight on 20 Dec on an ATR-72. The flights will start and end in Yangon. Depending on the market reaction, extended itineraries may be developed, according to the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association >>

18 Dec: Myanmar National Airlines will launch its domestic flight to Ann Township, Rakhine State from 21 Dec. Passengers will need a test one day before the flight >>

16 Dec: The World Bank has forecasted that Myanmar’s economy will start to recover from Mar 2021, but that the poverty rate could increase >>

16 Dec: All COVID-19 prevention measures have been extended until 31 Dec >>

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15 Dec: Mandalay has extended its lockdown until 31 Dec, including a curfew and ban on dining in restaurants >>

15 Dec: Case numbers have risen in 7 regions and states outside of Yangon. All residents in Mandalay District have to follow stay-at-home orders until 18 Dec >>

14 Dec: Myanmar will end its ban on domestic flights from 16 Dec, after being grounded since 11 Sep. Passengers will need a COVID-19 test within 36 hours prior to departure. They are also planning to resume international commercial flights as soon as possible >>

11 Dec: The tourism industry is investing more into technology, the Myanmar Hoteliers Association has said >>

11 Dec: Community based tourism is being planned around Nay Pyi Taw, revolving around coffee plantation projects >>

10 Dec: The Yangon authorities have been instructed to enforce COVID-19 measures >>

8 Dec: Myanmar’s cases have crossed the 100,000 mark, with 74% of the cases in Yangon >>

8 Dec: The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism organised the opening ceremony of its “COVID-19 Safe Service Master Trainer” and “Inspector Training for Inspection” schemes who will be part of the Enchanting Myanmar Health and Safety Protocols scheme >>

7 Dec: Myanmar will look to use agritourism in 5 states and regions across the country to support tourism >>

6 Dec: The Ministry for Hotels and Tourism has said that tourism businesses which follow the Enchanting Myanmar Health and Safety Protocols will be allowed to use the Safe Tourism Myanmar Stamp >>

5 Dec: Tea shops and restaurants will allow customers to dine in for those townships not under stay-at-home orders >>

4 Dec: 4 tourist products will be launched to resume domestic tourism by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Non-landing sightseeing flights will be launched in the first week of Dec, with a river crise trip planned in the 2nd week of Dec and inland tours and voyages in the last week of Dec >>

4 Dec: Myanmar is trying to have the Kayin traditional dance recognised by the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List >>

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4 Dec: Chin state will promote ecotourism in Kanpetlet Township, Mindat District >>

3 Dec: Tourism revenue has dropped by 80%, around $2.3 million USD, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism >>

3 Dec: The government is considering relaxing the stay-at-home rules on the 44 Yangon townships under the status, imposing the rules only on those wards with high infection rates instead of the whole township >>

1 Dec: Myanmar’s cases have exceeded 90,000 >>

1 Dec: The Ministry for Hotels and Tourism have started to look at the surrounding area of Nay Pyi Taw to develop tourist attractions for local and foreign visitors, as well as community-based tourism >>

1 Dec: New viewing mounds will be built in Bagan to discourage visitors from climbing on the temples >>

30 Nov: Preparations are being made for Bagan’s pagodas to reopen, even though the authorities do not know when that will be. They plan to use an online booking system to limit visitor numbers. Online bookings can also be made to visit the national museums in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and the Royal Palace in Mandalay >>

28 Nov: Myanmar’s preventive measures against COVID-19 will be extended until 15 Dec, as cases reached new peaks after the general election >>

26 Nov: The Union Minister of Hotels and Tourism have said that the country’s dream of receiving 5 million tourists in 2020 was impacted by COVID-19, and it is working on an “Enchanting Myanmar Health and Safety Protocol for Safe Tourism Myanmar” program to convince international tourists that the country is safe >>

26 Nov: The Myanmar Ethnics Culture Festival will be postponed from 2021 >>

25 Nov: The government plans to crack down on unlicensed guides and tourism businesses to revive the industry, after travel bloggers and social media influencers have started to sell tour packages, forcing licensed travel companies to compete >>

24 Nov: Avis Myanmar is planning to triple its fleet with an investment value of $4 million USD, and add 2 new outlets in Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay >>

23 Nov: The government is considering allowing domestic flights to reopen >>

20 Nov: The Nature Advocacy group has asked the government to submit an application to UNESCO for the Irrawaddy dolphins’ habitat to be designated a World Natural Heritage Site >>

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20 Nov: The Myanmar government has asked its residents to stay at home and avoid gatherings during the cooler weather period after the country started to see a spike in cases after the general election >>

20 Nov: The Hotel and Tourism Ministry aims to improve its services, it has stated >>

19 Nov: The government is considering relaxing COVID-19 restrictions >>

19 Nov: Kanpetlet Township Hotel and Tourism Department is planning to launch a trekking trip to Khaw-nu-soum Mount (Vitoria Mountain). They are planning to build 3 rest places which can accommodate 10 pax at a time. They also plan to build a 12-mile long trekking route from Aye Camp, build stairs and railings at Kawlaung waterfall and create boat and rafting trips in Kyindwe City >>

19 Nov: The Yangon MSME Association plan to release data to show their members are in difficulties. The Union of Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry have said that the hotel and tourism industry are “struggling” >>

19 Nov: Tourism will resume under the Myanmar Tourism Strategic Recovery Roadmap, according to the Myanmar minister for Hotels and Tourism >>

19 Nov: The Ministry of Health has said that the stay-home plan from 21 Nov to 5 Dec is not a lockdown, but encouraging people to stay at home instead >>

18 Nov: 5 new tourist destinations in Bagan-NyaungU will be promoted: Kyauk Yay Kan, Zee O Village, Set Set Yo Village, Popa Taung and Kyauk Myat Maw Pagoda >>

17 Nov: The ban on domestic flights has been extended until 30 Nov >>

16 Nov: Mandalay has extended its COVID-19 restrictions until end Nov, including 21-day quarantine for those returning from other countries and townships with high levels of transmission, and obligatory face mask wearing outside of the home >>

15 Nov: Bagan-NyaungU Destination Management Organisation held its coordination meeting in Bagan on 14 Dec >>

14 Nov: The World Bank has said that the 2nd wave has had a more severe impact on businesses than the first wave >>

13 Nov: The National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi won the Myanmar General Election with 396 of 476 seats. The President will be selected early next year >>

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15 Oct: A 2nd tranche of COVID-19 funds of K21.8 billion will be disbursed to 1200 businesses >>

9 Sep: Tax relief has been extended until 31 Dec for prioritised sectors, something that the Union of Myanmar Travel Association welcomes >>

11 Jul: The government will create a fund of 500 billion kyats to support businesses, including those in tourism. The loans will help to pay salaries and will be at a 1% interest rate >>

10 Jun: The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism have announced their COVID-19 Tourism Relief Plan to help tourism operators, to run from Apr 2020 – Jan 2021:

• Phase 1 (Apr-Jun): low-interest loans. Between 9 Apr – 2 Jun, over 1,000 tourism businesses received K27 billion. Tax and license fee waivers • Phase 2 (Jun-Aug): reopening Myanmar’s tourism. Government working to open regional tourism, and health and safety plans being developed • Phase 3 (Aug-Jan 2021): begin promoting Myanmar internationally, with visa exemptions, ease of travel restrictions and boosting tourism infrastructure >>

23 May: There will be three stages in a roadmap for tourism, according to the Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism:

1. Survival, immediate action with the self-finance and stimulus package 2. Reopening and relaxing of lockdown and quarantine, to be implemented within 3-6 months 3. Relaunching, relaxing regulations and reinventing Myanmar tourism, to be implemented within 6-12 months >>

09 May: A fund of $2.5 million USD has been set up in a 3rd phase of economic stimulus to support loans to 111 industrial and tourism companies >>

02 May: A 2nd fund of $142.8 million USD is set to be created by the government to help struggling businesses >>

23 Apr: Land lease payments for 47 state-owned and private hotels will be deferred for 6 months. However, the Myanmar Hotelier Association has asked for an exemption, rather than just deferment >>

16 Apr: Hotel and tour businesses will not have to pay licence fees for one year until 31 Mar 2021 >>

18 Mar: Myanmar Government has introduced relief measures, including those for tourism businesses:

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• Covid-19 fund established and funds may be borrowed at interest rate of 1% for one year • Commercial tax and corporate income tax deadlines extended until end of Sep 2020 >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/myanmar/

OUTBOUND

26 Nov: The US will require visitors from Myanmar to pay up to $15,000 USD in visa bonds, effective from 24 Dec for 6 months >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/myanmar/

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PHILIPPINES Estimated 318 billion PHP lost in revenues from Jan – Sep

TRAVEL Temporary ban on foreigners arriving from countries which have detected the new RESTRICTIONS strain of COVID-19. Those with investment visas, or spouses or children of Filipino nationals from other countries will be permitted entry. Domestic flights permitted to reopen from 1 Jun. Non-essential outbound travel permitted from 21 Oct.

LOCKDOWN General Community Quarantine (GCQ) for Metro Manila from 1-31 Jan, whilst Cebu STATUS City is under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) from 1-31 Jan. Many industries and sectors are permitted to reopen, with 50% of the workforce. Travel agents allowed to open under GCQ areas at 50% capacity. Public transportation and staycations in areas under GCQ permitted. MICE events allowed at 50% under MGCQ areas, 30% under GCQ areas. Curfew of 12am – 4am in Metro Manila. Everyone must wear full-coverage face shields together with face masks.

Consumer sentiment

Source: YouGOV

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Flight searches and booking volume for travel to Future flight search for travel to the Philippines Philippines

Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard

Total number of daily departures

Source: The Airline Flight Demand Tracker, Lufthansa Innovation Hub

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

NEW 7 Jan: 6 more countries will be added to the list of countries and territories banned from entering the Philippines due to the detected of the new COVID-19 variant >>

NEW 7 Jan: The government has said that the travel ban from certain countries may be lifted if hospitals are not overwhelmed by cases after the year-end holidays >>

NEW 6 Jan: Individuals who have had the COVID-19 vaccine will still need to be tested and undergo quarantine on arrival to the Philippines >>

1 Jan: Philippine embassies have suspended processing and issuing of visas until 15 Jan for residents from the UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Hong Kong. Filipino residents in those countries will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine on entry to the Philippines >>

27 Dec: The Philippines will block visitors from Sabah, Malaysia, from visiting Sulu province in the Philippines after a new strain of the virus has been reported >>

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26 Dec: A travel ban on other countries who have had community transmission from the new variant will be considered, after it imposed a ban on arrivals from the UK until mid-Jan >>

22 Dec: The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) support the idea of COVID-19 passports, to help “hassle-free” travel >>

18 Dec: Foreign nationals who leave the Philippines will be permitted to re-enter, so long as they have a valid visa, pre-booked quarantine facilities and a test on arrival >>

16 Dec: The Cebu Governor supports Lapu-Lapu City government’s proposal to reopen Mactan airport to international tourists >>

15 Dec: The Bureau of Immigration supports the Department of Tourism’s initiative for a global COVID-19 passport >>

11 Dec: The Department of Tourism (DOT) supports the idea of a COVID-19 immunity passport, and will look into it to facilitate international travel >>

7 Dec: Cebu Pacific has said that they see a COVID passport as “essential” >>

2 Dec: Lapu-Lapu is lobbying the COVID-19 task force to allow a travel corridor between the island and South Korea. Philippine Airlines would run the special flight, which would see tourists being confined to Lapu-Lapu City >>

27 Nov: Filipino’s foreign spouses and children, as well as returning Filipinos will be permitted entry to the Philippines, so long as they book a quarantine facility and have a swab test at Philippine airports >>

25 Nov: The Tourism Ministry has said that they know which destinations in SE Asia or Asia will be part of their international travel bubble plans, which will “most likely involve our resort destinations” >>

21 Nov: Philippines’ health workers will now be allowed to be deployed overseas, lifting the ban that was previously in place. However, only 5,000 will be permitted to leave every year >>

20 Nov: The Bureau of Immigration will now allow foreigners to enter with visas issued pursuant to Section 9(d) of Commonwealth Act No. 613 and those with visas issued by the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, and Clark Development Corporation >>

16 Nov: The Bureau of Immigration has clarified that investors intending to enter the Philippines must obtain a Special Investor’s Resident Visa before they can enter. However, SIRV holders with tourism-related projects and establishments are still barred from entering >>

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5 Nov: Mainland China has barred Filipinos from entering the country, even if they have the necessary visas, due to the large number of cases >>

23 Oct: Philippines will allow foreigners with investment visas from Philippine agencies to enter the country >>

23 Oct: Filipinos travelling overseas no longer have to present negative antigen tests >>

22 Oct: Just 95 Filipinos left the country on 21 Oct, the first day that non-essential outbound travel was permitted, but the Bureau of Immigration expects that number to increase during the Christmas season for visits to relatives overseas >>

19 Oct: Returning Filipinos from countries with low-middle prevalence of COVID will not have to undergo testing on entry, so long as they pass the symptom screening >>

16 Oct: The ban on non-essential outbound travel for Filipinos has been lifted as of 21 Oct. Pax must have negative antigen tests, confirmed plane tickets and health and travel insurance, as well as complete an immigration declaration that they know the risks involved in travelling >>

3 Sep: Malaysia will extend a ban on citizens from countries with more than 150,000 cases of COVID-19 from 7 Sep, including the Philippines >>

VACCINE

NEW 10 Jan: The Philippines has signed a 30 million dose deal with the Serum Institute of India for Covovax, which will be available in Q3 2021 >>

NEW 8 Jan: The government is urging Filipinos to get the vaccine, reassuring the public that they are safe >>

NEW 7 Jan: The Philippines is negotiating to receive 148 million doses from 7 manufacturers in 2021. It is hoping to conclude deals with Novavax, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sputnik V. It should receive doses for 23 million through COVAX >>

NEW 7 Jan: AstraZeneca may deliver 750,000 doses ordered by Quezon City by Q3. They are in talks with other providers >>

NEW 7 Jan: The government is aiming to complete its vaccine procurement process for the first tranche in Jan >>

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NEW 6 Jan: A survey has shown just 25% of respondents in Metro Manila would be willing to get the vaccine, whilst 28% were unwilling >>

NEW 6 Jan: Local governments have been reminded that they can only get COVID-19 vaccine through a tripartite agreement with the manufacturers and the government >>

NEW 6 Jan: 15,000 Filipinos are expected to participate in the WHO COVID-19 trials later in the month >>

NEW 5 Jan: Ayala have ordered 450,000 doses of AstraZeneca as part of the private sector’s contribution to the national program. The doses will be split 50:50 between the government and the private sector >>

3 Jan: The Philippines is asking the World Bank for a $300 million USD loan to buy vaccines >>

1 Jan: The City of Manila has launched a pre-registration program to sign up for a slot in the vaccine rollout >>

1 Jan: The government is confident that the vaccine rollout will start in Q1 2021 >>

29 Dec: A clinic trial for Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has been approved, and could start in the next few weeks >>

26 Dec: Pfizer has applied for emergency use authorisation in the Philippines >>

26 Dec: Senators have warned the government about accepting the Sinovac vaccine as Brazilian trials have shown it to be minimum 50% effective >>

23 Dec: The government is set to sign a deal with AstraZeneca by the end of Dec, for 20 million doses for local governments and 10 million for the private sector. They are also negotiating with the Serum Institute of India for 30 million doses, which could arrive by July >>

21 Dec: 200 Philippine companies have “expressed their pledge and interest” to buy vaccine doses from AstraZeneca >>

21 Dec: COVAX have guaranteed enough vaccine for 20% of the country’s population >>

21 Dec: Negotiations with Moderna may start on 30 Dec >>

18 Dec: The Philippines US Ambassador has said that the Philippines would be able to secure between 4-25 million doses of vaccines from Moderna and Arcturus in Q3 2021 >>

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17 Dec: The government hopes to use Russia’s Gamaleya Institute vaccine, as well as China’s Sinovac, Sinopharm and CanSino in Q1 2021. AstraZeneca should arrive in Q2, and vaccines from Pfizer, Covax, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax and Moderna in Q3 >>

16 Dec: Deals with Pfizer and Moderna for vaccines are still under negotiation, with delivery likely to be delayed for a few months from the initially announced January date >>

16 Dec: The Asian Development Bank will lend the Philippines $9.4 billion USD, of which $400-500 million could be allocated to vaccine development over the next 3 years >>

14 Dec: The Philippines wants to acquire 25 million doses from Sinovac >>

11 Dec: AstraZeneca have withdrawn their application for clinical trials in the Philippines, as they have “enough data already” >>

10 Dec: The government have said that at least 3-5 million doses of vaccine may be procured from Russia or China, and “more or less there [is] some sort of assurance” of receiving the Chinese vaccine by Q1 >>

10 Dec: 75.5 billion PHP allocated in the 2021 national budget for vaccine procurement will be sufficient for 60 million Filipinos, the government has said. The government may also take out loans to cover the rest of the population >>

9 Dec: The Philippines may only receive the Pfizer vaccine between Q2-Q3 2021 >>

9 Dec: The first source of vaccines will likely be from China, the government has said, and both the Russian and Chinese visas are likely to arrive in Q1 2021 >>

9 Dec: Australia and China may be willing to share their excess of vaccine doses with the Philippines >>

8 Dec: The military will assist in transporting the vaccine around the Philippines once it is ready >>

8 Dec: The vaccine will first be distributed to 24 million Filipinos, including the poor, senior citizens and health workers. Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao would be given priority. Other sectoral priorities include teachers, government workers and transportation and tourism >>

7 Dec: Pfizer may provide cold storage for its vaccines >>

7 Dec: The ethics review board has approved clinical trials of Johnson & Johnson, Clover Biopharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca >>

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2 Dec: The Philippines has said that its best case scenario is to obtain China’s Sinovac vaccine and Russia’s Sputnik V, starting vaccinations in Q1 2020 >>

2 Dec: Duterte issued an executive order allowing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clear COVID-19 drugs and vaccines for emergency use >>

30 Nov: Sinovac Biotech and Clover Biopharmaceuticals may start Phase 3 clinical trials in the Philippines by early Dec or Jan >>

30 Nov: The government is aiming to vaccinate 75-80% of the Filipino population to achieve herd immunity >>

29 Nov: 30+ companies in the Philippines signed a deal with AstraZeneca for 2.6 million doses of their vaccine, the majority of which they expect to donate to the government, as well as vaccinate their employees >>

20 Nov: The government is planning to vaccinate 50-60% of the country to reach herd immunity, prioritising specific populations first in the vaccine roll out >>

20 Nov: Tourism workers will be amongst the groups prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine >>

19 Nov: President Duterte would approve emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as advanced orders for the vaccines >>

INBOUND

NEW 9 Jan: 91% of Filipinos in a November Social Weather Stations survey are worried about catching COVID-19, the highest yet >>

NEW 8 Jan: Retail sales are expected to be 20-30% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2021, as consumers stay home >>

NEW 8 Jan: White Beach, Boracay and El Nido, Palawan, have placed 2nd and 9th place in Conde Nast’s Traveler’s 25 Best Island Beaches in the World: 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards >>

NEW 7 Jan: The government has said that a saliva test for COVID-19 may be approved, although the accuracy needs to be validated still >>

NEW 7 Jan: Government agencies and local government units (LGUs) will still be able to spend the funds allocated to them in the Bayanihan 2 Act >>

NEW 7 Jan: YouTrip, a mobile multi-currency wallet, is looking to expand into the Philippines in the next 6-12 months, in partnership with Visa. It sees a $12.4 billion USD outbound market in 2021 >>

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NEW 7 Jan: Spending more quality time with loved ones is what Filipinos are most looking forward to for travel in 2021, according to a new survey from Agoda. Travelling in a sustainable way is also important >>

NEW 6 Jan: 42% of Filipinos believe that the economy will improve in the next 12 months, with a net optimism score of +24, classified as “high”, and a improvement from Jul’s -9, according to a Social Weather Stations Survey >>

NEW 6 Jan: Tourism stakeholders from Cebu support the partnership of Megawide and GMR Infrastructure for the rehabilitation proposal for Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila >>

NEW 6 Jan: Quezon City residents who want to travel outside of Metro Manila must secure health clearance from their local health centre >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Department of Tourism (DOT) has called for the City Garden Hotel in Makati, where a Philippine Airlines flight attendant was discovered dead, to explain why a New Year’s party was held in the premises when it is a quarantine hotel >>

NEW 5 Jan: Quarantine hotels in Metro Manila are running out of rooms as balikbayans are still arriving and stay longer than then the 14-day quarantine period. The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) has said that quarantine hotels are at 70% occupancy >>

NEW 5 Jan: Philippine Airlines is starting to restore its flights from its Davao hub. Previously, it had 10 flights to Manila, with just 3 re-installed – and not all on a daily basis >>

NEW 5 Jan: The improvement of an access road to Bataan National Park is expected to increase the number of visits once it is completed in Apr 2021 >>

NEW 5 Jan: Metro Manila may move to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) by Feb/ Mar 2021, depending on the number of cases, the Makati Mayor has said >>

NEW 5 Jan: IATA have urged the government to continue to provide financial relief for Philippine based airlines, as well as look at travel bubbles >>

NEW 4 Jan: The Department of Health has said that they will know by mid-Jan whether the holiday period has caused a spike in cases >>

NEW 4 Jan: The hand feeding of whale sharks in Oslob by the tourism industry is failing to comply with regulations to protected the endangered species, a study has shown >>

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3 Jan: The Passenger Forum has launched an online poll asking Filipinos to vote on the future of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport >>

2 Jan: Manila residents returning from holidaying in the provinces will be required to have a swab test before they are allowed home. They must stay at quarantine facilities until their test results are released, which could be within 1-2 days. The cost of testing will be borne by the government >>

1 Jan: The Philippines received just 3.5 million passengers from Jan-25 Dec 2020, down 79% YoY. Of those, 1.54 million were foreigners, whilst 2.03 million were Filipinos >>

31 Dec: DOT-accredited quarantine hotels have been reminded that they should not accept guests for leisure purposes, after some reports that quarantine hotels are offering staycation packages >>

30 Dec: Cebu Pacific will launch direct flights between Manila-Surigao on 16 Jan, and will reopen its Cebu-Surigao flights on 12 Jan >>

30 Dec: More tourists have submitted fake negative test results on Boracay Island. The island also expects to finish testing 2,500 tourism workers next week >>

30 Dec: The Department of Tourism have now partnered with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) to subsidise 50% of the RT-PCR test costs for 11,600 tourists, bringing down the price to 750 PHP >>

29 Dec: 91% of Filipinos are entering 2021 with hopes, rather than fears, according to a new Social Weather Stations survey. Last year, 96% entered 2020 with hope >>

28 Dec: Hotel occupancy rates in Metro Manila are forecast to remain below 50% in 2021, according to Colliers International Philippines >>

28 Dec: Metro Manila will remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until 31 Jan, as will Isabela; Santiago City; Batangas; Iloilo City; Tacloban; Lanao Del Sur; Iligan City; Davao City; and Davao Del Norte >>

26 Dec: The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will decide on the new quarantine classifications for the country on 28 Dec >>

26 Dec: Duterte has cancelled his approval of the face to face education pilot due to the new, more infectious strain of COVID-19 >>

25 Dec: Boracay’s arrivals from 1-15 Dec reached 4,359, almost triple the arrivals from 1-15 Nov and 5X from 1-15 Oct. 79% arrived from Metro Manila >>

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24 Dec: The Davao government has warned travellers against fake labs offering cheap tests after it appears passengers who arrived into the airport with invalid tests were scammed >>

24 Dec: Tourism workers on Boracay Island should be tested for COVID-19 from a special 10 million PHP budget, to ensure that the island remains COVID-19 free >>

23 Dec: 43 airports in the Philippines are now reopened for commercial flights, with just 6 remaining closed: Camiguin Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, Roxas Airport in Capiz, Tuguegarao Airport, San Vicente Airport in western Palawan, and Sanga-Sanga Airport in Tawi-Tawi >>

23 Dec: AirAsia Philippines expects that domestic flights will return to normal by Q4 2021, and international flights to start picking up in in Q3 2021 >>

23 Dec: 26,972 displaced tourism workers in the Cordillera Administrative Region have been endorsed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to receive cash assistance >>

22 Dec: Philippine Airlines’ domestic flights have been increased over the holiday season, and it has reopened flights to 15 more destinations, a 103% increase in flights vs Nov’s levels >>

22 Dec: Antique has closed its tourism sites in Barangay Aningalan, Tubudan and La Union after an increase in locally detected cases >>

22 Dec: The Microtel by Wyndham Baguio hotel is offering to reimburse antigen tests for guests who stay a minimum of 2 nights >>

21 Dec: 10,555 workers who have been displaced from tourism-related businesses have now received a certificate of eligibility to receive their 5,000 PHP cash aid. Others are being processed >>

21 Dec: The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have said that their airports are ready for a large number of passengers over the festive season >>

21 Dec: Philippine Airlines has received a 5-star rating for 2021 from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) >>

21 Dec: 62% of Filipinos have said their quality of life has worsened over the last year in a Social Weather Stations survey. This has improved from Sep’s 82% >>

20 Dec: 5,269 tourists are expected in Baguio from 20-31 Dec, with 31,418 requests received from 18-31 Dec. The highest daily arrival is 23 Dec with 843 arrivals. Pre-pandemic, the city would receive 6,000-8,000 arrivals daily >>

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19 Dec: 2 people were killed and hundreds had to leave flooded homes due to a storm hitting a coastal village on Lapu-Lapu Island >>

19 Dec: AirAsia Philippines has partnered with Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory (PADLab) to offer convenient antigen pre-flight tests >>

18 Dec: The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched a domestic travel campaign, Pasko Na!, which focuses on Filipino Christmas traditions through music. They will also run a Kain Na! Christmas Cravings food and travel hybrid festival from 17-20 Dec, with webinars and a physical food tourism Christmas market >>

18 Dec: The government should reach its goal of testing 10 million Filipinos, by early 2021 >>

18 Dec: The DOT has said that there are too many travel apps from individual Local Government Units (LGUs), as well as too many different protocols, calling it “confusing and cumbersome” >>

18 Dec: Boracay tourists must wear face shields on top of face masks, except for when swimming >>

18 Dec: Cebu Pacific are offering its test before boarding scheme for passengers flying from Manila, with antigen tests at 700 PHP per pax. Results are released within 30 minutes >>

17 Dec: The DOT has partnered with Food Safety and Hygiene Academy of the Philippines to provide training, sponsorship and information to tourism businesses free of charge >>

17 Dec: The Department of Health has warned that Metro Manila could see spikes of up to 4,000 cases/ day during the festive season, with risks of transmission in shopping malls and churches >>

17 Dec: The DOT has signed an MoU with the Philippine General Hospital to subsidise 50% of the costs of 11,000 RT-PCR tests for tourists. To obtain the subsidy, tourists will need to register online 5 days before their departure, and submit a confirmed accommodation booking and proof of transportation. The hospital can only accommodate 100 tests per day >>

17 Dec: The Health Secretary has warned that there are already signs of a “beginning surge” of cases, and they are increasing their daily testing output >>

16 Dec: The government is preparing for more inbound pax over the Christmas season, expanding the arrival capacity of some airports >>

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16 Dec: Everyone leaving their house must wear full-coverage face shields together with face masks >>

15 Dec: The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has agreed to a clinical and exposure assessment of travellers, and simplify protocols for inbound international travellers as well as interzonal domestic travellers >>

15 Dec: Cebu Pacific will recommence its flights to Surigao City from Manila and Cebu by Jan 2021 >>

15 Dec: The number of tourists diving in the Batangas has not yet increased after 2 months of reopening. The provincial tourism administration put this down to the requirement for prebooking accommodation, as well as the cost of the test. They will now lower the price for an antigen test to 1,000 PHP >>

15 Dec: Cebu Pacific have extended their unlimited rebooking until 31 Mar >>

15 Dec: 10.9 million Filipinos have lost their jobs, had lower incomes or had working hours reduced in 2020 according to the ILO >>

14 Dec: The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association has said that some Pasay hotels are picking up bookings from balibayan (returning Filipinos), both for quarantine and staycation. Hotels are also seeing an interest in ‘managed’ buffets and takeout meals >>

14 Dec: Leisure travellers to Bohol from 15 Dec will only be permitted to move around the “Panglao island bubble”, limiting tourists from visiting attractions such as the Chocolate Hills or the Tarsier conservation. Once other parts of the province have proven that they are accredited, then the scheme may be expanded to include them too >>

14 Dec: The DOT and the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) have expanded the coverage of categories tourism workers who are eligible for financial assistance >>

14 Dec: 48% of Filipino families rate themselves as ‘poor’ and 36% ‘borderline poor’ in a November Social Weather Stations poll. 31% also rated themselves as ‘food poor’ >>

14 Dec: Face to face classes at schools will be permitted in certain areas in 2021 >>

14 Dec: Philippine Airlines’ testing centre at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport will now offer discounted tests at 3,000 PHP, with results within 24 hours >>

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14 Dec: Duterte has certified as urgent 2 measures to extend the validity of the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act >>

13 Dec: 14,000 jobs at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport will be secured during the rehabilitation of the airport, Megawide has reassured >>

13 Dec: Medical and wellness tourism are expected to bounce back ahead of others, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has said >>

13 Dec: The DOT wants uniform travel protocols to make it easier for domestic tourists. So far, 8 destinations have opened to domestic tourists: Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Baguio City, Bohol, Boracay, Siargao, El Nido, and Coron, Palawan >>

12 Dec: The DOT in Central Visayas will promote Cebu and Bohol to the Vietnamese market as part of a product update >>

12 Dec: The DOT will provide additional support to Zambales as it prepares to open to domestic visitors, and will fund a Visitor Management System >>

12 Dec: New Clark City’s sports complex has been named the 2019 Sports Tourism Venue of the Year >>

12 Dec: Negros Occidental have lost 1.3 billion PHP in tourism revenue in diving, adventure tours and sightseeing, and 35.5 billion PHP in foreign tourism revenue >>

11 Dec: The consumer confidence index grown in Q3, moving to -47.9% from - 54.5% in Q2. For Q1 2021, it is at 4.3%. Business sentiment also improved, with the confidence index moving to 37.4% in Q3 from 16.8% in Q2 >>

11 Dec: Cebu province may reopen its borders to Central Visayas residents, the governor has announced, and she hopes to implement it in the next 2 weeks. However, it may be one-way only, allowing Central Visayas travellers to enter Cebu, but not vice versa >>

11 Dec: The Tourism Congress of the Philippines has elected a new board – its president remains Jose Clemente III >>

11 Dec: The DOT will partner with Makati Medical Center Foundation to ensure tourism destination safety as the Philippines opens up. It had previously partnered with Boracay, donating medical equipment and training staff >>

11 Dec: Sunlight Express Airways, a new charter airline linked to the Sunlight Hotels and Resorts group, is hoping to start its ATR operations by Christmas. Their planes will operate at 70% capacity and will be frequently disinfected. They will offer complete packages, including flights, RT-PCR tests and accommodation >>

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11 Dec: The OCTA Research Group has warned of a possible increase in cases ahead of the holidays, but have added that the latest data shows that COVID-19 numbers in the country have decreased >>

11 Dec: The DOT in Region 11 (Southern Mindanao) has launched a new campaign, ‘Ampang Kita’ (Let’s be careful), to encourage traveller confidence >>

10 Dec: Cebu Pacific is launching a 12.12 PISO sale for both domestic and international flights – guests are being encouraged to use their Travel Funds to book new flights >>

10 Dec: A 22.6 million PHP road to a tourist site in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, is now finished, giving tourists easy access to a viewing deck on Anas hill >>

10 Dec: The Asian Development Bank has downgraded its forecast for the Philippines’ GDP, forecasting it to contract by 8.5% instead of 7.3% as their September estimate >>

10 Dec: The Department of Tourism (DOT) is supporting dive tourism development in Anilao and has said that the Philippine’s commission on Sports Suba Diving ins mandated to implement safety standards. They will continue to waive accreditation fees for dive establishments and professionals, subsidise dive professionals and provide an online/offline platform to promote dive packages >>

10 Dec: Bantayan Island in Cebu is free from active cases of COVID-19 >>

10 Dec: The Trade and Industry Secretary hopes that unemployment in the Philippines will return to pre-COVID levels by Q1 2021, as the economy reopens >>

10 Dec: Cebu Pacific have said that they “cannot afford to wait for the vaccine to get here before we start confidently flying again and restarting because of the impact of travel and tourism to the economy.” They also noted that every airline job supported 24 others in the tourism sector >>

10 Dec: The government anticipates there may be a lift in tourism arrivals in Dec, with the foreign children and spouses of Filipinos, as well as returning Filipinos “balikbayans” to the country >>

9 Dec: Philippine Airlines has partnered with Guide to the Philippines, an online platform, to sell affordable Boracay Island packages under an “Easy Escapes’ promotion >>

9 Dec: A beach party held in Batangas has been condemned by the DOT. The event saw a large number of people not maintaining social distancing or wearing masks >>

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9 Dec: The Plantation Bay & Resort Spa in Cebu has issued an apology after the alleged poorly handling of a customer who had autism >>

9 Dec: Tourism businesses are still not applying for the government’s financial assistance, with just 281 loan applications received, totalling 175 million PHP, for a 6 billion PHP fund. The Tourism Congress of the Philippines has said that this is down to approved loans being for small amounts and concerns about borrowing and being unable to repay >>

9 Dec: The World Bank forecasts that 3 million Filipinos will fall into poverty in 2020, with poverty incidence increasing to 22.6% from 20.5% in 2019 >>

9 Dec: Duterte wants the government to provide free testing for those who cannot afford private labs, and is looking for the funds to be able to do this by Q1/Q2 2021. Bohol will also be granted a 10 million PHP subsidy for tourist arrivals and tourism workers’ tests in 2021 >>

9 Dec: Bohol will reopen to local tourists on 15 Dec, including those from Metro Manila. Travellers will need a negative test 72 hours prior to travel and pre- booked accommodation, transport and tours >>

8 Dec: The subsidisation of tests for tourists is “almost a done deal” >>

8 Dec: 5 tourists on Boracay Island were found to have submitted false COVID-19 test results >>

8 Dec: Duterte has appealed to the public to stay at home over the festive season >>

7 Dec: Central Visayas have lost $713 million USD in tourism revenue. The four worst subsectors hit have been accommodation, restaurants, shopping and local transport >>

7 Dec: Cebu City will relax its border control over the Christmas season, allowing people into the city to shop, do business and visit families >>

6 Dec: 7,477 of 600,000 displaced tourism workers have received financial assistance from the government, a total of 37.385 million PHP, only 1.24% of the usage rate. A total of 36,466 workers have applied for the assistance, and 81,46 of those have been denied >>

5 Dec: Tourism revenue from Jan-Nov dropped by 81.5% YoY, registering just 81.05 billion PHP. Foreign arrivals dropped to 1.3 million from Jan-Nov, -82.4% YoY >>

5 Dec: Philippine Airlines will now offer free antigen tests for passengers to General Santos City from 7-17 Dec >>

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5 Dec: STR have revealed that some recovery in the Philippine’s hotels are starting to be seen, with occupancy reaching up to 50% >>

4 Dec: Workshops, trainings, seminars, conferences and consumer trade shows are now permitted in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) at 30% capacity >>

4 Dec: Tourists visiting Boracay Island will now have their RT-PCR tests partly subsidised by the government. 4,154 tourists visited Boracay in Nov, 69% from Metro Manila >>

4 Dec: The national government wants all local government units to have moved to a Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) by Q2 2021 >>

4 Dec: The government is planning a wage subsidy scheme for MSMEs, as well as cash aid for the youth, which could pay up to 25-50% of wages for 3-6 months >>

3 Dec: The Department of Tourism (DOT) has launched an online mystery tour, called “Where in the Philippines is Sam San Mateo”, a virtual tour that uses actual tour guides located across the country to lead the game >>

3 Dec: 3.8 million Filipinos are unemployed as of Oct, the Philippine Statistics Agency has stated, equivalent to 8.7% unemployment rate, lower than Apr’s 17.6%, but higher than Oct 2019’s 4.6%. Accommodation and food service employment was down 33.2% >>

3 Dec: The establishment on Boracay Island which held a Halloween party which violated health protocols has been closed down >>

3 Dec: South Cotabato government have allocated 10 million PHP to upgrade the tourist facilities at the seven waterfalls of Lake Sebu town >>

3 Dec: The government has said that domestic travel may help to lower the unemployment rate, and are promoting places open for tourism to support job creation >>

3 Dec: Baguio City will now accept up to 1,000 tourists per day, doubling its previous limit of 500. They are opening up to Mindanao and Visayas regions >>

3 Dec: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have urged displaced tourism workers to claim financial assistance from the government >>

3 Dec: The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) now owes roughly $5 million USD to some members of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) for quarantine facilities for returning overseas Filipino workers >>

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2 Dec: The Philippines’ domestic air volume dropped to just 6.3 million from Jan- Sep, -68% YoY. 5.9 million of those travelled in Q1, with just 329,438 in Q3. Cebu Pacific flew 2.3 million pax, Philippine Airlines 1.7 million pax and AirAsia Philippines 1.3 million >>

2 Dec: AirAsia Philippines is offering a 20% discount to military personnel >>

2 Dec: Losses in the Philippines would exceed 10% of its GDP in 2020 and 2021, according to the Asian Development Bank >>

2 Dec: An RT-PCR test is still required for travellers to Boracay Island, but the Department of Tourism (DOT) has said that they may allow antigen testing eventually once contact-tracing and safety protocols are in place >>

2 Dec: Philippine air carriers have now received refund requests of 23 billion PHP, with more than half of the amount settled. Philippine Airlines has the largest amount of refunds requested, at 22.6 billion PHP >>

1 Dec: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines all restarted flights from Cebu to Bacolod >>

1 Dec: AirAsia Philippines CEO has said that pricing will be key to support air travel, and that he is confident that December will “triple passenger capacity” >>

1 Dec: The DOT is considering subsidising the cost of RT-PCR tests for tourists, and will partner with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), as they currently offer tests for 1,900 PHP, which they could further subsidise by 50% with travel vouchers >>

30 Nov: The public are being urged to stay at home during Christmas, and defer plans to return to their home province >>

30 Nov: Metro Manila will remain under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) for December, along with Batangas, Iloilo City, Tacloban City, Lanao del Sur, Iligan, and Davao City. The rest of the country will be under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) >>

30 Nov: Philippine Airlines are offering a 500 PHP discount on its RT-PCR tests, whilst Cebu Pacific is piloting a Test Before Boarding (TBB) feature, with antigen testing >>

29 Nov: The DOT has recognised that different requitements for tourists from different destinations is confusing to tourists, and they hope for uniform requirements across all destinations >>

28 Nov: Philippines has won the World Travel Awards “world’s leading dive destination” and Intramuros “the world’s leading tourist attraction” >>

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27 Nov: A new campaign, MOTOTOURISMO, has been launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to showcase exploring the Philippines by motorbike >>

27 Nov: Cebu Pacific will work with General Santos City and the Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory for a 2-week trial of its “test before boarding” process >>

27 Nov: The Department of Tourism (DOT) and Nissan partnered to launch the Safe Trips campaign, promoting land travel to reopened destinations. They took media and influencers on a road trip to Baguio City, hoping to encourage travellers to take road trips >>

27 Nov: The DOT has condemned a party that took place on Boracay for Halloween, saying that “jobs and livelihoods that were recently restored in these sites will be affected once again if an outbreak occurs in the area due to the LGU’s negligence”. 100 partygoers took part, and were not wearing face masks or social distancing >>

27 Nov: Flights between Negros Occidental and Cebu will restart in Dec >>

27 Nov: Local government units must now use the StaySafe.ph app for contact tracing, and usage be mandatory >>

27 Nov: The DOT has launched a new video campaign, “Have a Safe Trip Pinas”, which encourages Filipinos to travel in a safe way >>

26 Nov: The lockdown restrictions for Dec will be announced on 30 Nov >>

26 Nov: Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal, has now reopened to tourists. The Tourism Secretary attended the reopening, and said as it was close to Metro Manila, residents will be able to visit the area. It will be limited to 50 visitors per day for each trail >>

26 Nov: The Tourism Secretary is looking at doing fam trips with neighbouring SE Asian countries to speed up tourism recovery. She is also talking to South Korea and Japan >>

26 Nov: The government hopes that they could have vaccinated 60-70% of all Filipinos within 3-5 years. Priority recipients include healthcare workers, police and military and essential workers >>

25 Nov: Jan-Oct international tourist arrivals fell by 80.6% YoY to 1.32 million, with tourism receipts falling to 81.05 PHP, down 79.7% YoY >>

25 Nov: Baguio has approved 4,000 leisure travel requests since 22 Oct, with the number of tourists far lower than the average of 120,000/ month pre-pandemic. The city is also suffering from hotel cancellations after media reports that Baguio and Davao were high-risk areas >>

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25 Nov: The price range has been set for RT-PCR tests by the government, with public laboratories allowed to charge 3,800 PHP per test and private laboratories up to 5,000 PHP >>

25 Nov: Guimaras province will start to open up to domestic tourists, but will have different requirements for those arriving from outside the region, who will need to have a 14-day quarantine and an RT-PCR test >>

25 Nov: The chief of the National Task Force COVID-19 Response has said that Philippines could only roll out a vaccination program realistically from end 2021 to early 2022 >>

25 Nov: Displaced tourism workers in Bohol have rejected 10kg rice aid given from the government, after finding it smelled of mould >>

25 Nov: Coron, Palawan, will open to domestic tourists on 1 Dec, but visitors must have a negative swab test result, prebook accommodation and register first >>

24 Nov: AirAsia Group expect AirAsia Philippines to return to 13% of its pre-COVID capacity in Q4 >>

24 Nov: A startup in Australia is launching a competition in conjunction with the DOT in the Philippines to promote the Philippine as a wedding destination >>

24 Nov: The DOT is promoting Baguio’s cultural tourism and events such as the Ibagiw Festival >>

24 Nov: The Philippines has had its GDP forecast for 2020 slashed by Bloomberg economists to -8.9% >>

23 Nov: The Bureau of Immigration has said that 2 million foreigners have left the Philippines from Jan-Sep, but only 1.5 million entered, mainly before the travel restrictions were implemented. They have said that this will have a major impact on tourism >>

21 Nov: Ilocos Sur has now reopened to tourists, with 50 visitors per day permitted >>

21 Nov: Siargao will open to local tourists from 23 Nov. An RT-PCR test will be required for those tourists arriving from Surigao City or Sayak Airport, and those from Surigao del Norte will need a certificate from a Barangay Captain that they are not a close contact of a COVID-19 patient >>

21 Nov: Philippine Airlines have launched a “new normal pre-departure experience”, which now includes a 2-step registration process with access to PAL’s testing laboratory or testing partners. From 10 Nov, PAL passengers can use a drive-thru centre in Ermita, Manila, for tests >>

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20 Nov: The requirement for airlines to reserve areas on the plane as isolation areas has now been removed for domestic flights, as tests are already required before passengers board the plane. Age restrictions for those travelling in MGCQ areas for domestic tourism will also be relaxed, according to local government unit’s discretion >>

20 Nov: Tourist arrivals to Boracay have increased slightly, from October’s daily average of 80 to 1-17 Nov’s average of 95 (1,611 tourists in total). 72% of those came from Metro Manila >>

20 Nov: Baguio healthcare professionals are calling for a “timeout” for public activities, as the number of new cases is rising >>

20 Nov: Only 62.8% of the Bayanihan II funds have been released, with the expiry of the law in a month’s time >>

20 Nov: A 45 million PHP hotel investment in Cebu City has been approved by the Board of Investments, a 63-room SureStay Plus Hotel >>

19 Nov: Philippines will lag behind other APAC economies in 2021, with Moody’s Analytics saying that India and the Philippines will have the “deepest holes to climb out of” >>

19 Nov: Philippine Airlines will recommence its flights between Manila and Panglao, Bohol on 22 Nov, to aid with the reopening of Bohol >>

19 Nov: AirAsia Philippines is resuming its Manila – Bohol flights from 1 Dec. Leisure travellers would be limited to those who are attending meetings, weddings, conventions, exhibits or other celebrations >>

19 Nov: Baguio has restricted entry of people from neighbouring towns from 21 Nov with the increase in cases >>

19 Nov: Manila has been chosen as a “pioneer city” for the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance, helping give the city quality data needed to make well-informed decisions >>

19 Nov: The Philippine Red Cross will cut the cost of COVID-19 tests to 3,300 PHP and eventually 3,200 PHO to support tourism. Its current price is 4,000 PHP for an RT-PCR test >>

18 Nov: The Quincentennial celebration of the arrival of Christianity into the Philippines is a chance for Cebu to boost its tourism, with activities scheduled between Apr 2021 to Jan 2022 >>

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18 Nov: AirAsia Philippines has seen its Q3 traffic fall by 97% YoY, flying just 67,880 pax. Its load factor also dropped to 56%, and was operating only 5% of 2019’s capacity >>

18 Nov: The Department of Tourism (DOT) is aiming to update the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016-2022 through consultations with tourism stakeholders >>

18 Nov: Cebu City Tourism Commission is planning to offer new tourism products, including coastal tours in the city, mountain tours, historical tours and experiential creative tourism >>

18 Nov: Samar has reopened 7 eco-tourism destinations to local tourists from Eastern Visayas from 16 Nov. The destinations must keep to 50% capacity, and tourists must be 16-64 years old >>

18 Nov: Only 1,660 MSMEs have been granted loans under the Bayanihan II Act, with 26,000 applications still pending. Senators have asked the government to speed up the funding >>

18 Nov: Luzon island has been placed under a state of calamity after the recent typhoons. The proclamation makes it easier for local governments to access calamity funds >>

17 Nov: Cebu City will use granular lockdowns instead of blanket lockdowns >>

17 Nov: Applications are low for the working capital loans with SB Corp., according to the Tourism Congress of the Philippines. Only 426 tourism MSMEs have applied, with 160 completing requirements, accounting for 100 million PHP out of 6 billion PHP allocated >>

17 Nov: The Department of Health has still not even discussed the DOT’s proposal to carry out a pilot-test of a saliva test pioneered by Japan. The Compliance Association of Boracay has said that the high price of RT-PCR tests is discouraging visitors, and that only high-end tourists resorts are travelling to the island’s high- end resorts >>

17 Nov: Philippines generated interest at the World Travel Market (WTM), from the BBC’s Travel Show, as well as many international buyers >>

16 Nov: The recent typhoons have cost the Philippines 25 billion PHP and killed more than 100 people >>

16 Nov: The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) has confirmed that its annual show, the Philippine Travel Mart, will go ahead on 4-6 Dec, focused on domestic tourism. It will take place at the SM Megamall Megatrade Hall in Manila >>

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15 Nov: Baguio City has opened its annual Christmas Village >>

15 Nov: Storm Vamco has killed 67 people in the Philippines in the deadliest typhoon this year yet, with 12 people still missing. Cagayan Valley was heavily flooded with many areas still submerged. 26,000 houses were damaged >>

14 Nov: Cebu City will be closed to visits from 16 Nov from individuals with non- essential reasons to visit the city, including leisure and non-official business >>

14 Nov: Cebu City officials are considering whether to place the city under a stricter lockdown again, as daily case numbers are increasing once more >>

13 Nov: 80% of Filipinos surveyed expected there will be a vaccine at some point in 2021, and 80% expect an effective treatment for COVID-19 to be available in 2021 >>

12 Nov: International arrivals from Jan-Sep fell 80.61% YoY to just 1,318,719, and a decrease of 79.68% in visitor receipts, losing around 317.88 billion PHP >>

12 Nov: Passengers at Mactan Cebu International Airport will now need to download the Traze app to help contact tracing >>

11 Nov: Visayas’ 3 major festivals: Sinulog in Cebu, Dinagyang in Iloilo and Ati- Atihan in Aklan will still take place in Jan 2021, but will be toned down, with more limited numbers involved >>

11 Nov: PhilJets have seen a greater demand for private jet flying, with enquiries rising by over 50% in the last 3 months >>

11 Nov: AirAsia Philippines have now resolved 70% of its total refund cases, with the remaining “in progress” due to the large volume of requests >>

2 Nov: Displaced workers who could not get support from the cash assistance scheme of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), can now apply again and will be prioritised in the 2nd phase of implementation. Tourism workers under the DOT-DOLE can apply for cash-for-work schemes, or a one-time cash assistance of 5,000 PHP, under a 3 billion PHP budget. Employees from an estimated 7,951 DOT-accredited tourism companies and 8,433 LGU-licensed tourism companies could stand to benefit >>

13 Oct: The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will waive airport fees (landing, takeoff and parking fees) for domestic air carriers until the 19 Dec. Meanwhile, Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) are waiting for the details of the financing package from the Bayanihan II Act, and are expecting each airline to receive around 140 million PHP in loan assistance >>

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27 May: The House of Representatives also passed a bill allocating 58 billion PHP to support the Department of Tourism’s Response and Recovery Program. These funds will be used for:

• Providing interest-free loans or loan guarantees up to five years for maintenance and operating expenses • Credit facilities for upgrading, rehabilitation, or modernization of current establishments to be compliant with new health and safety standards • Marketing and product development promotions and programs • Grants for education, training, and advising for tourism stakeholders for new normal alternative livelihood programs • Utilization of information technology for the improvement of tourism services • Development of a tourist tracking system for emergency response and • Establishment of spatial database to improve planning capacity >>

27 May: The government started making the payouts for the second tranche of the Small Business Wage Subsidy >>

01 May: International tourist revenue in Q1 has decreased by 40.6% YoY, whilst international arrivals have declined 40.2% according to the Tourism Secretary. PHP 43 billion stimulus package to support the tourism sector is being prepared by the government. It comprises of:

• PHP 36 billion: soft loans to provide employment • PHP 4 billion: jumpstart tourism infrastructure projects • PHP 500 million: marketing and support for domestic tourism, product market and development • PHP 500 million: international marketing promotion fund • PHP 500 million: training stakeholders • PHP 1.5 billion: fund that can be used by private sector for their activities >>

04 Mar: 6 billion PHP will be spent by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in a tourism resiliency programme, focusing on domestic travel. 2.2 billion PHP will be allocated to infrastructure improvement, 1.6 billion PHP to improve secondary airports, 725 million PHP for tactical programs and initiatives, 421 million PHP for new campaigns, 467 million PHP for “engaging content” to countries not affected by Coronavirus, 85 million PHP for training >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/philippines/

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OUTBOUND

NEW 5 Jan: Philippine Airlines reopened flights to Saudi Arabia after the temporary suspension on all flights into Saudi Arabia was lifted >>

30 Dec: Philippine Airlines will continue to fly to 4 of the 20 countries banned from entering the Philippines until 15 Jan: Singapore, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong >>

23 Dec: Philippine Airlines has temporarily suspended flights between Manila and London until the end of Feb after the new COVID-19 strain detected in the UK >>

10 Dec: Cebu Pacific are increasing the frequency of its flights between Manila and Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea >>

2 Dec: Philippine Airlines is ready to offer non-stop flights to returning Filipinos to the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and some parts of Asia >>

1 Dec: Philippine Airlines is postponing its redundancy rounds until after Christmas and will be completed by 7 Jan, according to a source. Senior pilots have also been asked to tender voluntary resignations >>

27 Nov: The proposed debt restructuring of Philippine Airlines would be the largest in the Philippines, as total liabilities are $5 billion USD >>

25 Nov: Philippine Airlines is planning to seek court protection from creditors whilst it undergoes debt restructuring with the government’s help >>

23 Nov: Philippine Airlines now flies to 47 destinations: 25 international and 22 local ones >>

21 Nov: Cebu Pacific’s board have approved the sale of $250 million USD in preferred shares, which would be sold to existing shareholders >>

15 Nov: Philippine Airlines have said that its shareholders remain committed to the airline and providing funding support >>

13 Nov: Philippine Airlines saw a net loss for Q3 of 7.92 billion PHP, with a drop of 76.9% in total revenues. Jan-Sep have seen its passenger revenues drop 65.4% YoY to 35.56 billion PHP >>

12 Nov: Cebu Pacific have revealed a net loss of 14.7 billion PHP from Jan-Sep, with passenger revenues declining 74.5% YoY. Its passenger volume was 4.7 million vs 2019’s 16.7 million. 20% of its 75 planes were in storage >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/philippines/

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SINGAPORE 83% drop in international arrivals from Jan – Oct 2020

TRAVEL All short-term visitors to Singapore are barred from entering the country from 23 RESTRICTIONS Mar. “Fast lane” for Chinese and South Korean business travellers. “Business Track” with Japan from 18 Sep, “Residence Track” from 30 Sep. Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) with Malaysia opened 17 Aug. Travellers from China, New Zealand, Brunei, Vietnam, Taiwan and Australia (excl. New South Wales) do not have to serve quarantine on arrival to Singapore. RGL with Brunei, Indonesia. Air Travel Bubble with Hong Kong and Connect@Singapore to begin in 2021. Travellers from South Africa will not be permitted entry.

LOCKDOWN Phase 3 of lockdown easing started 28 Dec. Businesses reopened and social STATUS activities restarted. Gatherings limited to 8 pax. Approved attractions, hotels for leisure stays and tour operators permitted to reopen at limited capacity. Wearing a mask outdoors obligatory. MICE events up to 250 pax permitted from 1 Oct.

Consumer sentiment Singapore tourism arrivals

% change YoY

3.90%

51.20%

84.70%

100% 100%

- -

99.60% 99.86% 99.50%

- - - Source: Singapore Analytics Tourism Network Source: YouGOV

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Flight searches and booking volume for Future flight search for travel to travel to Singapore Singapore

Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard

Total number of daily departures

Source: The Airline Flight Demand Tracker, Lufthansa Innovation Hub

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

NEW 9 Jan: Malaysian citizens with Permanent Resident status in Singapore are now eligible to use the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) between the 2 countries from 11 Jan >>

NEW 6 Jan: Japan will likely cut off reciprocal business travel agreements with Singapore due to the state of emergency in Japan >>

NEW 5 Jan: Vaccinated travellers will still be required to undertake stay-home requirements and be subject to the same conditions as non-vaccinated ones, the government has confirmed. If studies show that the vaccinations stop the spread of the disease, this could be reconsidered >>

NEW 3 Jan: Malaysia and Singapore are in talks on standardising protocols for those who need to travel between the 2 countries on compassionate grounds >>

1 Jan: People who have travelled through South Africa in the last 14 days will not be permitted entry or transit in Singapore from 4 Jan. Returning Singaporeans and permanent residents will need to undergo a 14-day quarantine >>

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28 Dec: Hong Kong is not optimistic that the Air Travel Bubble with Singapore will resume, saying that now is “not the right time” >>

24 Dec: All travellers from South Korea entering Singapore from 26 Dec will need to serve their stay-home notice in dedicated facilities, including returning Singaporeans using the RGL agreement >>

23 Dec: Long-term pass holders and short-term travellers from the UK within the last 14 days will not be permitted entry or transit via Singapore, as they are concerned about the new infectious strain of COVID-19. Short-term travellers with an air travel pass and history of travelling to New South Wales in Australia in the last 14 days will not be permitted to enter from 23 Dec >>

23 Dec: Singapore Airlines has started trialling a new service which will allow immigration authorities to scan a QR code using an app to verify COVID-19 test results. Travellers from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta can enrol in the scheme if they have their tests done at selected clinics. It forms part of a partnership with IATA’s Travel Pass framework >>

19 Dec: Singapore firm Accredify is trying to build a network of clinics in Singapore to create a digital health passport which would be able to verify test results as genuine >>

17 Dec: Vietnam and Singapore have agreed to resume 2-way commercial flights for business and official travel in 2021 and set up a “green lane” arrangement. The agreement should be finalised in early 2021 >>

15 Dec: Singapore and France are working on a reciprocal green lane for short- term business and official travel >>

15 Dec: Singapore plans to open a segregated lane for business travellers from all countries, Connect@Singapore. The scheme will be open to a “limited number” of business, official and high economic value travellers for stays up to 14 days. Applications will open mid-Jan 2021. Travellers will be housed in dedicated facilities, and have regular testing, with antigen tests on days 3, 5, 7 and 11. They will also need to stay within their pre-declared travel group are not allowed to mingle with other travellers >>

14 Dec: More travellers are being allowed into or through Singapore to retain Singapore’s status as an air hub, the Trade and Industry Minister has said, but this is being done in a controlled way >>

11 Dec: Singapore will unilaterally lift border restrictions for arrivals from Taiwan from 18 Dec, allowing them to skip stay-home notices or quarantine and apply for the Air Travel Pass. Arrivals must have been in Taiwan for 14 days prior to arrival in Singapore, and will need to be tested on arrival. Business travellers from

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Singapore can travel to Taiwan with just a 5-day quarantine period. The Singapore Transport Minister has said that he is “running out of places” to unilaterally open the Singapore borders to. He also cautioned that the northern hemisphere is going through winter, and that this is “not a time” when overseas travel partners are looking to establish travel bubbles. However, he is confident that once vaccines start that Singapore “will find that more places qualify for either unilateral opening or air travel bubble.” >>

11 Dec: Singapore will enforce stricter measures on travellers arriving from Hong Kong, who will now have to serve a 14-day stay-home notice at dedicated facilities from 13 Dec >>

7 Dec: The Transport Minister remains optimistic that “different partners will be willing to open up travel bubbles”. The start date for the Singapore – HK bubble will be reviewed between Christmas and New Year as they continue to hope it could be started mid-Jan >>

6 Dec: Singapore is still looking for new travel bubble partners, the Transport Minister has said – natural partners could include those Singapore has unilaterally opened to, including Australia, Brunei, China, New Zealand and Vietnam. He is optimistic that “sometime next year” more partners will open up >>

1 Dec: The Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble’s launch has been postponed until 2021, with arrangements being reviewed in “late Dec”, due to the increase in cases in Hong Kong >>

1 Dec: Singapore has reportedly approached Taiwan for a travel bubble similar to that it struck with Hong Kong, but the Taiwanese authorities have hinted that this would not likely happen soon >>

29 Nov: Indonesia is hoping to open travel corridors with Singapore and China, with a focus on providing more direct flights from both countries to Bali >>

27 Nov: A Thai-Singapore travel bubble could boost the Thai economy, according to the US-ASEAN Business council >>

23 Nov: Malaysia and Singapore continue to negotiate on the protocols for Malaysians who commute regularly to Singapore >>

20 Nov: The chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is “confident Singapore-Hong Kong will not be the last travel bubble” >>

21 Nov: The Hong Kong – Singapore Air Travel Bubble’s start date will be delayed by 2 weeks to early Dec, due to the rise in unlinked locally transmitted cases in Hong Kong. Air travel passengers would be entitled to refunds from the airlines. Singapore’s Transport Minister has said that this is a “sober reminder that the

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COVID-19 virus is still with us […]. But we will press on and look forward to when we can safely launch the ATB.” >>

21 Nov: Arriving passengers from Hong Kong to Singapore will now be required to take a COVID-19 test on arrival at Changi airport, making a total of 4 tests required per round trip under the Air Travel Bubble >>

21 Nov: Jetstar Asia will now be permitted to operate transit routes through Changi Airport from 6 SE Asian cities (Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phnom Penh) from 1 Dec. Transiting passengers (except those from Vietnam) will need to wear a wristband so that the can be identified, will disembark from planes first and board last, and will be kept separate in an area near the front of the plane >>

20 Nov: All travellers entering Singapore from Malaysia or Japan will need to serve a 14-day stay-home notice at dedicated facilities due to the rise in cases in both countries. Those arriving from Malaysia will also need to take an RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure, and will apply for those entering Singapore under the PCA or RGL agreements. Travellers from Fiji, Finland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey will be allowed to serve a 14-day stay-home notice period at their place of residence so long as they meet certain criteria >>

18 Nov: Travellers arriving into Singapore can now buy travel insurance which will cover them for $30k SGD of COVID-19 related medical expenses, the Changi Airport Group have announced >>

14 Nov: The Singapore PM has urged countries to lift travel restrictions from ASEAN states at the ASEAN Plus Three Summit. In separate meetings with Australia and New Zealand, he also called for the 2 countries to lift their restrictions on Singapore >>

13 Nov: Singapore is introducing a new work pass for top tech professionals, called Tech.Pass, starting in Jan with 500 places. Candidates will need to meet at least 2 criteria: last drawn monthly salary of $20,000 SGD in the past year, 5 cumulative years in leading role in a tech firm with a valuation of at least $500 million USD and 5 cumulative years of experience leading a tech product with at least 100,000monthly users or $100 million USD in revenue >>

12 Nov: Flights between Hong Kong and Singapore on 22 Nov were sold out by the evening of the air travel bubble announcement, and within 24 hours, all flights for

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Nov were sold out, too. Trip.com said its searches from Singapore to HK increased by 200% 3 hours after the announcement and 300% from HK to Singapore. The hotels being looked at in Singapore and HK were luxury and high-end ones >>

12 Nov: Taiwan has said that Singapore is showing an interest in forming a travel bubble with the destination, and will soon meet with its local trade representative to discuss in further detail >>

11 Nov: The government said: "Our overall posture towards the opening of our borders is one where we are, in principle, prepared to consider more opening up, but it has to be done safely and with appropriate safeguards." >>

11 Nov: Hong Kong and Singapore have announced that their air travel bubble will start 22 Nov. Travellers between the 2 cities will need to take dedicated “bubble” flights with either Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines, and the number of pax will be limited to 200/ day. Initially, it will start with 1 flight/ day, then increase to 2 from 7 Dec. Travellers will need to take an RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure, and another test on arrival into Hong Kong. Should the 7-day moving average of daily unlinked cases cross 5 in either country, the air travel bubble will be suspended for 2 weeks >>

11 Nov: From 17 Nov, all non-Singaporean travellers from higher-risk areas will need to take a RT-PCR test within 72 hours of entering Singapore. They will also have to serve a 14-day Stay-Home notice and be tested at the end of the quarantine. Singapore are also making it easier to obtain RT-PCR tests, as from 1 Dec, anyone can obtain one from 600 clinics country-wide >>

10 Nov: Australia might consider opening its borders to certain Asian countries, including Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and certain Chinese provinces, the PM there has said >>

7 Nov: The first Chinese visitors arrived into Singapore on 6 Nov after Singapore allowed short-term visitors on a Juneyao flight from Shanghai, with 129 pax on board, a mix of business and short-term visitors >>

3 Nov: Transit travellers from Australia, Brunei, Vietnam and New Zealand are now permitted to access shops at Changi Airport and the SilverKris lounge when flying, no longer having to remain in the transit holding pen >>

30 Oct: Singapore will waive quarantine requirements for China and Australia’s Victoria state from 6 Nov, so long as they test negative on arrival. It is a unilateral move, as Australia and China still do not permit Singaporeans to enter their countries. The Transport Minister has also said that 600 travellers have arrived through the unilateral air travel arrangement, with none of them testing positive on arrival >>

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28 Oct: More travellers can serve a 7-day Stay-Home Notices at home from 4 Nov, including: Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey, so long as they fulfil certain criteria. They will need to arrange special transport from the immigration checkpoint to their residence, as well as testing facilities, with a total cost of around $200-220 SGD to be borne by the traveller >>

27 Oct: Singapore will now charge Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents for the costs of dedicated Stay-Home Notice facilities from 1 Jan, and will be responsible for their inpatient medical bills. However, they will be able to access government subsidies and insurance policies >>

24 Oct: Singapore and Germany have agreed a Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) for essential business and official travel using direct flights – the exact protocols and start date will be announced later. Germany also announced that Singaporeans are able to travel to Germany without quarantine from 27 Oct >>

20 Oct: Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders who have travelled out of Singapore after 27 Mar will now be entitled to government subsidies and insurance coverage for COVID-19 treatment if they are found to be positive upon return to the country >>

13 Oct: Travellers who have a recent history of travel to Sabah will need to serve a 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) at dedicated facilities, given the increase in cases. Any visitor who also has a recent travel history of Indonesia or the Philippines will need to have a negative test to enter or transfer in Singapore. Hong Kong will be allowed to serve a reduced SHN of 7 days at their place of residence. The Immigration Authority will also be lifting the visa suspension, and short-term visitors who require a visa can apply for one through a local contact, overseas mission or visa agent from 18 Oct. These short-term visitors will still need to apply for a SafeTravel Pass to enter Singapore. The Ministry of Health will also make it easier to get tests, increasing the number of clinics for pre-departure testing to over 150 >>

11 Oct: The Australian PM has announced that the country is in talks with Singapore to travel, but that they would need to move “very, very cautiously” >>

7 Oct: Indonesia has announced that it is in final stages of negotiation with Singapore to open a reciprocal green lane. They hope to finalise it in Oct >>

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7 Oct: The Hong Kong tourism industry is calling for its government to speed up talks to reopen with Singapore, hoping it could happen next month with a limited quota >>

7 Oct: New requirements like strict and repeated testing instead of 2-week stay- home notices are being considered for inbound travellers to Singapore. Air travel bubbles for leisure could also be made to work by setting quotas on the number of arriving travellers/ day, as travellers would need to apply before their journeys. Singapore will also continue to pursue reciprocal green lane arrangements and facilitate transfers at Changi airport – there are now around 2,500 transfer pax/ week. However, the Transport Minister has said: "For Members who are hoping to hear announcements on some air travel resumption and even possible December holiday destinations, I am sorry I will disappoint you." >>

2 Oct: Singapore has removed quarantine restrictions on travellers arriving from Vietnam and Australia (excluding Victoria) from 8 Oct, allowing them to make short-term visits under the Air Travel Pass. The Singapore Transport Minister has said that their counterparts in Vietnam and Australia are considering reciprocating the restrictions for Singaporeans arriving into their countries, but currently they would face quarantine on arrival >>

26 Sep: A “Residence Track” has been launched between Singapore and Japan for business executives and professionals who are work pass holders, as well as the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) for short-term business travellers. The Residence Track applications will begin on 30 Sep >>

23 Sep: A business travel pass for senior executives who need to undertake regional and international responsibilities is being piloted. Travellers would need to follow a strict itinerary, and upon return to Singapore, they would be able to have a test instead of a stay-home notice, self-isolating until the results come out. It would not be country specific, and travellers would have to comply with the restrictions in place in other countries. The number of passes would be limited initially >>

11 Sep: Singapore has agreed a ’Business Track’ with Japan for essential business and official travel from 18 Sep. This is the first country which Japan has established such a framework. Travellers will need to be tested pre-departure and on arrival, as well as keep to strictly controlled itineraries for the first 14 days of their trip >>

2 Sep: A fast lane for residents of Singapore and South Korea will open on 4 Sep for essential business and official trips. Travellers will need to be tested pre- departure and on arrival, as well as follow a closely controlled itinerary for the first 14 days >>

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1 Sep: A reciprocal green lane between Singapore and Brunei has been established for essential business and official trips. Passengers will need to take a test upon arrival >>

21 Aug: Singapore will allow people to travel to New Zealand and Brunei for general purposes from 1 Sep, including leisure, and students for study overseas. Travellers entering Singapore from Brunei or New Zealand will also not have to serve a stay-home notice, but will still need to have a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. However, this still depends on border measures implemented by New Zealand and Brunei, as Singapore is still in talks to ensure reciprocal arrangements, as those countries only allow their own citizens and residents to visit. Stay-home notices from low-risk countries will also be reduced from 2 weeks to 1 week, including Australia (excluding Victoria), mainland China, Macau, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, with a COVID-19 test at the end of their notice >>

14 Aug: Singapore and Japan have agreed to resume essential business travel, with an agreement to come likely by early Sep, called a “Residence Track”. This would provide a quota of cross-border business travel, including a 14-day stay home notice on arrival to each country. They would also need to maintain a controlled itinerary >>

26 Jul: Cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) will start on 17 Aug at the earliest. Applications will begin on 10 Aug >>

15 Jul: The Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) will be limited to 2,000/ day initially, whilst the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) will allow 400 people per country on a weekly basis >>

14 Jul: Malaysia and Singapore have agreed 2 schemes for reopening the borders, to start on 10 Aug:

1. Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), for essential business and official purposes. Travellers would need to undergo PCR swab tests

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2. Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) for Malaysian and Singapore residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country, to enter for work. They will be able to briefly return to their home country after 3 consecutive months of working >>

3 Jun: Further details regarding the “fast lane” between Singapore and China have been released. It will start on 8 Jun, and travellers will need to take a COVID-19 swab 48 hrs prior to departure. The test fee will be borne by the passenger. For Chinese travellers to Singapore, they must also undertake a controlled itinerary supervised by the host company for the first 14 days, and may not use public transport (except for taxis). On arrival to Singapore or China, pax will undergo a swab test, and must stay in designated accommodation (China) or isolation (Singapore) until test results are released >>

VACCINE

NEW 8 Jan: The Singapore PM has received his COVID-19 vaccine >>

NEW 5 Jan: Vaccinations will be a key focus for Singapore in 2021. People will need to pre-book their vaccines first, and will not be able to choose which vaccine they want. The Health Minister expects more vaccines to arrive in the next few months, including from Moderna and Sinovac. It will be free for all Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term residents, and enough vaccines for all should arrive by Q3 >>

NEW 4 Jan: Singapore will introduce a vaccine injury financial assistance program for anyone experiencing a serious adverse effect of the COVID-19 vaccine, to give peace of mind to the public >>

NEW 4 Jan: Those who receive the COVID-19 vaccination will receive a physical vaccination card, and will also have it recorded online in the National Immunisation Registry >>

NEW 4 Jan: The government is looking at airline crews as a potential priority for the vaccine >>

30 Dec: 40 healthcare workers were given the Pfizer vaccine on 30 Dec, in the first round of vaccinations. The Health Ministry will start vaccinating those above 70 from Feb, and then other Singaporeans and long-term residents >>

26 Dec: More Singaporeans may now need to be vaccinated due to the more infectious strain of COVID-19 >>

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25 Dec: A survey has shown that 1 in 4 Singaporean residents believe the false claim that the vaccine alters your DNA. 55% said they were willing to get vaccinated, whilst 34% were unsure >>

23 Dec: Singapore’s planned vaccination program details should be released in early January. The first vaccines will be given to healthcare and front-line workers sometime between the end of the year and Jan or Feb >>

21 Dec: The first batch of Pfizer vaccines has arrived into Singapore >>

17 Dec: 80% of Singapore’s population needs to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity, the chief health scientist has said >>

15 Dec: Moderna have confirmed that they have agreed to supply Singapore with the vaccine, although have not disclosed the volume of doses >>

14 Dec: Singapore has approved the Pfizer vaccine, and the first shipment is to arrive late Dec. Other vaccines will also be shipped in the coming months, and Singapore “will have enough vaccines for everyone” Q3 2021. The whole adult population should be vaccinated, but vaccinations will be voluntary. Priority will be given to frontline workers, the elderly and the vulnerable. The government has allocated more than $1 billion SGD for vaccine efforts, and made early payments for Moderna, Pfizer and Sinovac >>

12 Dec: Biotech firm Tychan began the final phase of its COVID-19 antibody clinical trial, which is hoped to help patients recover faster >>

12 Dec: A survey by The Straits Times has shown that 8/10 participants would want to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, with 48% willing to accept it the moment it is available >>

9 Dec: Changi Airport is positioning itself as a vaccine distribution hub for SE Asia, with the creation of the Changi Ready Task Force >>

5 Dec: Singapore Airlines will prioritise the shipment of COVID-19 vaccines once they become available, flying 7 Boeing 747 freighter planes. They will start test flights soon. Ground handlers in Singapore, Sats and dnata, are preparing to increase their cool storage capabilities >>

1 Dec: Moderna is asking the Singaporean government to approve the usage of COVID-19 in Singapore, and has said that once approval is given vaccines will be ready to ship “right away” >>

18 Nov: Singapore has made arrangements with multiple vaccine providers to be sure that it is “not last” to receive the vaccine. The country has also formed a committee to decide who should receive the vaccine first >>

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11 Nov: Singapore researchers have announced positive preliminary results from their own developed vaccine’s early stage clinical trials, and shipments are expected to start in Q1 2021. The vaccine is effective in a single dose >>

INBOUND

NEW 9 Jan: Concerns over privacy of data for users of the TraceTogether app have been somewhat allayed by the news that the law would be amended to limit the use of data to 7 serious criminal offences >>

NEW 8 Jan: Singapore’s unemployment rate fell in Nov for the first time in 2020, down to 3.3% from Oct’s 3.6% >>

NEW 7 Jan: Around 2,500 travellers have entered Singapore using the Reciprocal Green Lane arrangements from 8 Jun-25 Dec 2020, with just 2 testing positive. 835 came from Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, whilst 1,640 came from China, South Korea and Japan, and 15 from Germany >>

NEW 7 Jan: The Crowne Plaza Changi Airport will close for 2 weeks from 8 Jan due to a “precautionary measure” as 2 unlinked cases of workers from the hotel are investigated >>

NEW 7 Jan: Being able to travel unhindered is what Singaporeans are most looking forward to for travel in 2021, according to a new survey from Agoda. Trvelling at a slower pace is also important >>

NEW 6 Jan: More than 300,000 Singaporeans have used their SingapoRediscovers vouchers, with bookings amounting to $35.9 million SGD in vouchers and payments as of 1 Jan 2021 >>

NEW 6 Jan: 30% of employers in Singapore are not planning salary increases in 2021 >>

NEW 5 Jan: The cost of rapid COVID-19 tests has now been brought down to under $50 SGD, from its previous cost of $80 SGD >>

NEW 5 Jan: 12,000 travellers from high-risk countries entered Singapore from 18 Nov- 27 Dec 2020 without pre-departure tests, and just 0.85% of these tested positive, with no cases resulting in local transmission >>

NEW 5 Jan: Selected karaoke outlets may be allowed to open without the need for a swab test, as part of a pilot program >>

NEW 5 Jan: Gardens by the Bay will resume its light and sound show from

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NEW 5 Jan: Retail sales fell 1.9% YoY in Nov 2020, an improvement from 8.5% YoY in Oct >>

NEW 4 Jan: Singapore’s economy declined by 5.8% in 2020, preliminary data has shown, its first contraction since 2001, and the worst recession since independence. Q4 2020 saw a 3.8% drop, an improvement from Q3’s -5.8% >>

NEW 4 Jan: All hotel staff who are in contact with people under stay-home notices will now be tested every 2 weeks, to provide an additional safeguard in hotels >>

NEW 4 Jan: Shangri-La is offering emergency medical coverage of up to SGD 250,000 for international guests visiting under a Reciprocal Green Lane or the Air Travel Pass if they contract COVID-19 during a stay at one of the group’s hotels >>

2 Jan: Customers have been reminded that they need to book slots for Sentosa attractions after many have arrived and found they could not use their ticket >>

1 Jan: The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project has been terminated once more, after both sides didn’t reach an agreement by its 31 Dec deadline >>

31 Dec: Singapore’s November arrival numbers were the highest since March, with 14,676 visitors. More than 25% came from China (4,010), Indonesia (3,120) and Malaysia (1,200). The numbers are +9.55 vs Oct 2020. Hotel revenue dropped 82% YoY to $66.3 million SGD in Nov >>

31 Dec: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is looking into a potential breach of safety measures on the Royal Caribbean cruise, after a photo of a group of 10 gathered together circulated on social media. Royal Caribbean is also investigating the issue >>

31 Dec: Temporary relief from legal and enforcement action for event and tourism- related contracts will be extended until 31 Jan, to allow businesses to re-evaluate their plans in the light of the Phase 3 reopening >>

30 Dec: The aviation sector will be allocated $84 million SGD in addition to the previous benefits from the government. Funding would be used to support the adoption of technology and safety measures to protect airport workers and crew. The Transport Minister has said that the “harsh winter continues” for aviation, and Changi Airport is carrying just 2% of its previous pax levels. Licence fees for scheduled air services, Certificates of Airworthiness will continue to be waived, and ground handling and catering service fees will be 50% off >>

29 Dec: Singapore Tourism Board will now accept pilot applications for outdoor live performances of up to 250 people >>

29 Dec: Jurong Bird Park is celebrating its 50th anniversary with special admission prices >>

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23 Dec: Fireworks will be held at 11 locations across Singapore for the New Year >>

23 Dec: Consumer prices dropped in Nov -0.1% YoY >>

23 Dec: 70% of Singapore residents are now participating in TraceTogether >>

22 Dec: 2 hotels at Resorts World Sentosa have been barred by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) from taking new bookings for a month, for breaching safety measures >>

22 Dec: No breach in safety has been detected at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore Hotel, where several COVID-19 guests under Stay-Home Notices stayed. Investigations continue >>

21 Dec: Shopping malls have been busy in Singapore, despite still being in Phase 2 of lockdown easing >>

20 Dec: A Straits Times poll has shown that 6/10 readers are willing to pay more than the $100 SGD value of the SingapoRediscovers vouchers. Traveloka has said that it has seen more than half of its bookings for options which exceeded $100 SGD. Top interests for redemption included nature activities and staycations >>

19 Dec: The Ministry of Health is looking into the 13 cases who contracted COVID- 19 and served their stay-home notice at the Mandarin Orchard hotel. All guests have now been checked out of the hotel, and 500 staff tested >>

19 Dec: 400 fans attended a pop concert at the Marina Bay Sands’ Sands Theatre, the biggest music event since the Circuit Breaker was implemented >>

19 Dec: The start of the school year for Kindergarten and Primary school pupils will be staggered in January >>

18 Dec: Employment amongst Singaporean residents has risen to near pre-COVID levels in Sep, just 0.4% down YoY. However, the government still warns of retrenchments and people making “transitions” >>

17 Dec: A fake SG Arrival Card website which is phishing for travellers’ details and payment has been highlighted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority >>

16 Dec: Singapore’s hawker culture is now listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. An SG HawkerFest will be held from 26 Dec to 11 Jan to celebrate >>

16 Dec: A new grant will be launched on 18 Jan for lower to middle class workers and self-employed who meet certain conditions such as being retrenched, who can receive up to $700 SGD per month for 3 months >>

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15 Dec: A new short-stay pilot facility, called Connect@Changi, will open in Feb at Singapore EXPO for the business traveller segregated lane initiative. It will have 670 guest rooms and 170 meeting rooms, which will be able to accommodate 4-22 attendees in the first phase of opening. By mid-2021, it should have 1,300 guest rooms and 340 meeting rooms. The facility is being developed by Temasek, The Ascott, Changi Airport Group, Sheares Healthcare Group, SingEx and Surbana Jurong. Travellers on arrival to Changi Airport would be taken to the facility in batches, and checked in with minimal contact. Meeting rooms at Connect@Changi will have airtight glass panels separating the rooms with different ventilation systems to reduce transmission. No contact in-room dining services will be offered, as will 2-person Gympods >>

15 Dec: Singapore and Malaysia are still in talks over the high-speed rail project which is due to link the 2, with until 31 Dec to reach a final decision >>

15 Dec: Businesses are welcoming the news of moving into Phase 3 of lockdown easing, allowing attractions to welcome more visitors on weekends and public holidays. The Association of Singapore Attractions estimates that this could boost visitors by 15-20% >>

15 Dec: Dream Cruises has now had one of its ships, World Dream, conform to the OIC SMIIC Standards Halal certification, and has also been certified by CrescentRating >>

14 Dec: Singapore may soon be able to offer saliva tests rather than nasal swabs after the development of their Resolute 2.0 test kit. Changi Airport’s new testing lab, scheduled to open in Q1 2021, will use Resolute 2.0, but is not sure if they will make saliva tasting available to pax at the airport. The results from the test can be completed in an hour >>

14 Dec: Phase 3 of Circuit Breaker easing measures will start on 28 Dec. This will allow social gatherings of up to 8 pax, and venues will be able to expand capacity from the current 10sqm per pax allowance to 8 sqm per pax. Attractions can also apply to STB to increase operating capacity to 65% from 50%. Worship services will be expanded to 250 pax and live performances will also be expanded to 250 pax >>

14 Dec: 6,800 new hotel rooms are in the pipeline as of Q3 2020 for Singapore, including The Clan by Far East Hospitality, Citadines Connect City Centre, Citadines Connect Rochester Singapore, Edition by Marriott and Pullman Singapore in Hill Street. Hotel occupancy at gazetted hotels in Oct was 56.7%, a drop of 30.3pp YoY >>

14 Dec: Pasir Panjang Power Station will hold 2 live audience events in Dec with audiences of up to 400 as part of a pilot scheme >>

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13 Dec: Grand Park Orchard, which faced long queues for check in, generating viral photos of the crowds, has put this down to a surge in last minute bookings and the inability to reach all guests to stagger check in >>

13 Dec: A lagoon, Bendera Bay, on St John’s Island will be opened to the public soon for education and conservation activities >>

13 Dec: Pulau Ubin has seen 47,000 visitors in Nov, compared to 25,000 in past years in Nov >>

11 Dec: Volocopter and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) are working to launch air taxis in Singapore within the next 3 years. The first route is anticipated to be one for tourism, offering views of the Marina Bay skyline >>

11 Dec: Phase 3 is unlikely to happen by the year-end, according to experts, as the country has not reached significant adoption levels of the TraceTogether app or token >>

11 Dec: The TraceTogether adoption is now at 60%, nearer to the government’s target of 70% >>

11 Dec: World Dream, one of Genting Cruise Lines’ Dream cruises brand, now follows halal tourism guidelines from SMIIC, and has been rated by halal travel authority, Crescent Rating. It will offer 2 and 3 night cruises >>

11 Dec: The Marina Bay Sands’ Sands Theatre will host its first large-scale concert since March, with up to 500 people attending. Attendees will need to have a valid antigen test to enter >>

10 Dec: The Monetary Authority of Singapore forecasts that the Singaporean economy will grow by 5.5% in 2021 >>

10 Dec: The pilot scheme for cruises to nowhere will continue as planned, after a “swift and robust response” to a suspected COVID-19 case on board a Royal Caribbean cruise. The passenger initially tested positive, but has subsequently tested negative 3 times. The cruise was cut short by a night after the discovery of a potential case, with protocols triggered. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has said that this case has shown the “robustness of the system”, and has allowed the cruise industry to test those protocols >>

9 Dec: The World Economic Forum (WEF), usually held in Davos, will be held in Singapore in May 2021. The Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers hope that hosting this major event could lead to more job and business opportunities >>

9 Dec: The STB has signed a 3-year MoU with South Korean production company, Studio Dragon Corporation, promoting Singapore as a destination through Korean

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dramas. Filming will begin when travel restrictions end, and STB will advise which locations, products and cultures of Singapore should be highlighted >>

9 Dec: The Singapore Flyer launched a new Time Capsule attraction, which will be a multi-sensory experience of Singapore’s history >>

7 Dec: Booking platforms are still seeing a good level of interest in the SingaporRediscovers vouchers redemption, in particular for Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark and Sentosa. Traveloka have said that traffic on their platform has increased by 15x over normal periods since the voucher launch >>

7 Dec: Many Singaporeans are struggling to clear their leave by the year-end, trying to bring them forward to 2021 instead >>

7 Dec: 13 cruises to nowhere have sailed in the past month, carrying a total of 30,000 pax since 6 Nov. Both Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean have seen positive responses to the cruises >>

6 Dec: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is continuing to promote Singapore as a destination to Indian travellers, partnering with Bookmyshow, an entertainment series, to create a 4-part web series with online conversations between Singaporean and Indian personalities >>

4 Dec: The Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas cruise began its first sailing on 3 Dec as part of the ‘cruises to nowhere’. It will sail twice a week, departing on Mondays and Thursdays. The cruise liner has said that it is 99% sold out for Dec, and Jan is 50% sold out. They expect to see a surge for Chinese New Year and the March school holidays >>

4 Dec: The e-sports MLBB M2 World Championship will be held in Singapore from 18-24 Jan, with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) >>

4 Dec: Retail sales dropped by 8.6% in Oct YoY, an improvement on Sep’s -10.7% >>

4 Dec: Tripadvisor in its December Travel Index for 2020, has shown that:

• 64% of Singaporeans are still thinking about travel and where to go next, +34.8% YoY • 70% of Singaporeans will be doing more research for their next trip • 60% would prefer to travel to destinations to support local businesses • 44% most likely to prefer outdoor and nature activities compared to pre- pandemic • 57% feel at least moderately safe to travel • 49% have booked overnight stays for year-end staycations >>

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2 Dec: A survey by the Singapore Management University’s Institute of Service Excellence has shown that 63% of Singaporean respondents would maintain or increase the frequency of staycations, with 71% saying they would spend the same amount or more >>

1 Dec: 11,900 redemption of the $100 SGD SingapoRediscovers vouchers were made as of 4.30pm on 1 Dec, the first day of redemption, totalling $1.86 million SGD in payments. Bookings were a “good mix” of hotels, attractions and tours, as well as bundled packages, according to the STB. 4000 people also visited 53 community centres to enquire about the vouchers >>

1 Dec: Some customers experienced issues in redeeming their SingapoRediscovers vouchers on Klook >>

1 Dec: Singapore’s Oct international tourism arrivals were 13,400, down -99.1% YoY, but up 41.4% vs Sep 2020. Chinese arrivals made up the bulk of the arrivals (3,200), followed by Indonesia (2,420) and Malaysia (1,410). YTD Jan- Oct arrival numbers are 2.7 million, -83% YoY >>

1 Dec: Household debt in Singapore is expected to rise in the near-term >>

30 Nov: Trafalgar have launched a new tour, Singapore Arts and Cultural Gems, a 6-hour walking tour around some of Singapore’s oldest streets >>

28 Nov: 4 beers have been launched in a new series to promote Sentosa, inspired by edible plants found on Sentosa in the Islander Brew collection by local brewer Brewerkz. It is part of the STB’s Made with Passion initiative, as well as Sentosa’s Make Time for a Holiday campaign >>

28 Nov: The decision to not allow ‘stacking’ of the SingapoRediscovers vouchers is to allow more businesses to benefit, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has said >>

28 Nov: Singapore has had 2 locally transmitted cases in 19 days >>

28 Nov: Farms in Lim Chu Kang are seeing more Singaporean visitors, with visitors almost doubling compared to last year, but revenue is still missing student groups >>

27 Nov: STB is planning to work with the UK travel trade by offering new itineraries and hosting travel trade fam trips >>

27 Nov: The STB will launch a SingapoReimagine initiative, with 2 engagement series, Reimagine Travel – Global Conversations, with forums held across the world, and Reimagine Travel in Singapore, engagements with local partners and the tourism community to support the domestic travel campaign >>

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27 Nov: Singapore Virtual Trips have been launched on Airbnb in conjunction with the Singapore Tourism Board, featuring iconic chefs, a sustainability-themed tour and even an interactive bingo tour >>

27 Nov: A survey by the STB from key inbound markets to Singapore has shown that 75% of leisure travellers and 90% of business travellers would likely go abroad in 2021 >>

27 Nov: The Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore will open in Singapore in Dec, the first with direct access to 2 championship golf courses >>

26 Nov: The Chingay festival in 2021 will be held digitally, with more than 2,000 performers and 150 organisations >>

26 Nov: The Singapore Police Force have launched a heritage trail to celebrate its 200th anniversary >>

26 Nov: The Singapore TravelRevive event, jointly hosted by the STB and ITB Asia, was held from 25-26 Nov, as a hybrid event. It had close to 1,000 delegates on site, including 65 foreigners from 14 countries. International attendees had to have an RT-PCR test on arrival, as well as the new rapid antigen test before the event. The Minister for Trade & Industry at the event said: “We are not waiting for a vaccine to arrive, nor are we waiting for the Covid-19 pandemic to blow over. Instead, we are establishing foundations now to get started on a journey to reinvent and rebuild (the MICE) industry.” >>

26 Nov: NTUC Income customers who buy travel insurance will now be covered for COVID-19. It may also develop a product for inbound travellers to Singapore >>

25 Nov: Singapore’s Deputy PM has said that managing the pandemic is still the priority, as economic activities resume >>

25 Nov: Singapore is planning to reinforce its position as a global MICE destination, with the STB processing 50 applications to hold events with up to 250 attendees – 20 have been approved so far >>

24 Nov: Singaporeans can start to redeem their $100 SGD SingapoRediscovers vouchers from 1 Dec, booking via Changi Recommends, GlobalTix, Traveloka, Trip.com and Klook. The vouchers come in denominations of $10 SGD, and those who cannot redeem digitally can visit 69 physical counters across Singapore. The vouchers will be non-transferable. 200 merchants have signed up for the scheme so far, with more deals rolling out until the end of June 2021 >>

24 Nov: On having 5 different platforms to redeem the SingapoRediscovers vouchers from, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has said that creating one platform for redemptions would “not have been practical, timely or cost-effective”.

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Merchants can choose to list on all platforms if they wish, and will have to pay a commission to the booking platform – although STB has said that is helped to negotiate “much lower” commission. Trip.com will invest $2 million SGD in marketing and partnerships for the campaign, whilst GlobalTix will launch a dedicated site for the participating merchants. Traveloka will work with 200 partner merchants and Klook 200 merchants, with 14 exclusive tie-ups, who will have better placements >>

24 Nov: Consumers welcome the $100 SGD SingapoRediscovers vouchers, but some worry that a complicated redemption process may make it difficult for elderly to redeem >>

24 Nov: The Chinese New Year Bazaar in Chinatown in 2021 will be cancelled due to concerns over crowds >>

23 Nov: The Ministry of Trade and Industry expects Singapore’s GDP to contract by 6-6.5% this year as Q3 GDP dropped by 5.8% YoY, better than expected and better than the annual forecast of -7 to 7.9%. They expect the economy to grow in 2021, but it would be a “gradual” recovery, but aviation and tourism industries would not see pre-COVID levels even by end 2021 >>

23 Nov: The Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) believes that the SingapoRediscovers vouchers will “go a long way” to help domestic tourism, increasing domestic spend in other sectors such as F&B, too. The average hotel occupancy in Sep was 60%, with staycations contributing around 20% in hotels. The Society of Tourist Guides is also recommending its tour guide members to package up with hotels, attractions and tourism businesses to “take advantage” of the anticipated increase in tours. Traveloka is also “very optimistic” that the vouchers will create a “huge spike” in bookings >>

23 Nov: Cathay Pacific have said that the demand for the Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble flights were “overwhelming”, and it had sold out a few weeks’ worth of tickets before it was postponed >>

23 Nov: Many hostels are targeting the thousands of Malaysian workers who are stuck in Singapore and unable to do their usual daily commute from Malaysia >>

21 Nov: The first tours of the Singapore Airlines’ training centre started on 21 Nov. Over 20,000 people had expressed interest in the tours, but the airline is not planning to open up further sessions. The airline has also managed to reduce the amount of single plastics to 80% with the introduction of new paper boxes and bamboo cutlery >>

21 Nov: Singapore’s PM has said that he expects cross-border travel to be restricted for at least 2 more years, and for travel bubbles, “we have to keep going

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and keep those cases under control. If we can do that, then we can move a little bit further” >>

20 Nov: Airbus has opened its new integrated campus in Singapore at the Seletar Aerospace Park, something which Airbus says reflects its “ongoing commitment to our presence in key regions”, and the Singapore government called a “statement of confidence in Singapore” >>

20 Nov: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Brand Office have launched a new scheme which awards local brands a “Made with Passion” label across 4 lifestyle categories: beauty and wellness, fashion, homeware and packaged food and beverages. They will be showcased on a Shopee microsite until Feb 2021, as well as for sale on Singapore Airlines’ KrisShop >>

20 Nov: 250,000 workers have had their wages cut between Mar to Sep, the Ministry of Manpower has revealed >>

19 Nov: Some Singaporeans are worried that the $100 SGD SingapoRediscovers voucher may lead to merchants marking up their prices >>

18 Nov: Singapore has fallen to fourth from first place as the most expensive city in the world for expats to live, the first time in 7 years it did not have the top spot >>

18 Nov: Singapore’s hawker centres could soon be recognised by UNESCO as part of Singapore’s “intangible cultural heritage” >>

18 Nov: Jewel Changi Airport has now launched a “glampcation”. There are two tents set up in different areas of the airport, with access to shower facilities at Changi Lounge and include attraction tickets such as the Canopy Park and Changi Experience Studios. There is also an option for a Glampicnic, for 3 hours >>

18 Nov: Singaporean scientists have developed a breathalyser test which claims to get results within 60 seconds and has a 90% accuracy rate >>

17 Nov: Far East Hospitality will open up a new hotel on Sentosa Island, Oasia Resort Sentosa, which will focus on wellness and open in 2021 >>

17 Nov: STB have partnered with Trip.com to market Singapore as a destination in a 3-year agreement. It will cover marketing, data analytics and product development, focusing on China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand as key markets >>

17 Nov: STB will partner with Paris&Co for exchange programmes and information sharing for tourism startups >>

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17 Nov: The Once Upon A Time on the Orient Express exhibition will be in Singapore from 12 Dec – 13 Jun, and will include a pop-up restaurant in a replica dining car with cuisine cooked by a Michelin starred chef >>

16 Nov: STB have partnered with iQIYI for Singapore to feature as an exclusive destination partner in the 3rd season of its show Youth with You 3 >>

12 Nov: The operator of Expedia Singapore have stopped “false claims” on the validity period of its daily deals, as well as “undertaken not to engage in any further unfair practices” the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore have said >>

12 Nov: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with Pokemon Go with 300 new locations, encouraging local tourism. The new locations are at hotels, attractions, retailers, F&B establishments and tour ticketing booths across 10 precincts >>

12 Nov: TravelRevive, a conference held by ITB Asia and Singapore Tourism Board, will be a hybrid event held on 25-26 Nov at Marina Bay Sands >>

11 Nov: Mass testing for larger events has not yet detected any positive COVID-19 cases >>

11 Nov: The government has said that Phase 3 of reopening can start only if there is a: higher TraceTogether participation rate, compliance with safe management measures and sufficient testing facilities. The COVID-19 taskforce warned that the number of community cases may go up, and they have to be “mentally prepare for that and be ready to ensure that even if the local cases in the community were to rise, they do not form large clusters that are out of control.” They have said that Phase 3 could take place this year >>

11 Nov: Singapore Airlines has welcomed the opening of the air travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, saying that it is an “important step” >>

16 Sep: Singaporeans 18 years and above will receive $100 SGD in digital vouchers for the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers in Dec. The vouchers will come in denominations of $10 SGD and can be used at all licensed hotels, leisure attractions and local tours which have been approved by STB to reopen. The STB say “As to the exact extent of the catalytic effect, it will be a bit hard to predict at this point in time, but we hope that it is at least a few times what we have provided for in the budget.” >>

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18 Aug: The Jobs Support Scheme has been extended by up to 7 months for workers in the tourism, aerospace and aviation industries, with wages paid at 50% from Sep to Mar 2021 >>

18 Aug: “Tourism credits” of up to $320 million SGD will be given to spend domestically, called SingapoRediscovers vouchers. The mechanism for the vouchers will be announced in Sep >>

17 Aug: $187 million SGD will be allocated to support the aviation industry further, with extended financial relief for airlines, ground handlers, cargo agents, and other aviation businesses at Changi and Selatar Airport. It includes landing, parking and rental rebates. The government said that this funding “is critical to preserving our relevance as a global hub” >>

22 Jul: The STB has launched a $33 million USD domestic travel campaign, the largest it has ever run under “SingapoRediscovers”. They will partner with Enterprise Singapore and the Sentosa Development Board, as well as tourism associations, community groups and e-commerce platforms to develop unique and value-for-money experiences and packages for local travellers. It will use 3 approaches:

1. Partner with local communities to discover off-the-beaten-track activities 2. Curate precinct activities to develop authentic experiences for “Singapolidays” 3. Collaborate with tourism players to develop quality experiences and promotions >>

26 May: The Singaporean government has launched its Fortitude Budget, worth $33 billion SGD. Measures it will take include:

• Extending the duration of wage subsidies until Aug 2020, including MICE and tourism businesses at 75% • May include further support for aviation and tourism longer-term • Rental waivers for SMEs who have significant income loss • One-off $100 SGD credit for every Singapoean household to cover utilities • $2 billion SGD in cash grants to SMEs to offset rental costs • Creation of 100,000 job opportunities in public and private sectors • Financial support for startups >>

24 Apr: The STB has unveiled further information about how they plan to support the local travel industry. Steps include:

• $20 million SGD Marketing Partnership Programme • Phase 1 was launched for hotels in Apr 2020, funding half of qualified marketing costs

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• Phase 2 will increase to funding for 70% of marketing costs for hotels, attractions, inbound travel agents and MICE • $2 million SGD SG Stories Content Fund for local and international digital video content creators to create stories about Singapore • Tourism Transformation Index to help tourism businesses go digital • Launch of ThreeHouse, an innovation space for companies to collaborate • STB Marketing College – joint scheme with UOB, Facebook, Google and LinkedIn to develop online training • Minimum financial requirement for travel agents to be reduced by 90% until 31 Dec >>

06 Apr: A Solidarity Budget has been announced to support all businesses during lockdown, including:

• Increasing wage subsidies for all sectors to 75% • Deferring contractual obligations such as paying rent • Payout of $600 SGD to every Singaporean adult >>

26 Mar: Singapore released its Resilience Package, with many measures supporting the tourism industry, including:

• Job support scheme for tourism businesses which will subsidise up to 75% of salary up to $4,600SGD/ month • $90 million SGD budget for recovery marketing when the time is right • Property tax rebates and rental waivers • Enhanced training industry Professionals in Tourism grants extended • Rebates on certain fees for private bus operators • $350 million SGD fund for airlines to fund rebates on landing and parking charges; rental relief for airlines, ground handlers and cargo agents • CAAS allow Singapore carriers and airport operator to defer payment of certain fees by up to one year, as well as 50% rebate on regulatory fees >>

18 Feb: The Singaporean government have released economic measures to support the tourism industry, including:

1. $4 billion SGD package 2. Bridging loan programmes for businesses in tourism 3. Rental rebates for shops/ cargo agents at Changi 4. 15% property tax rebate for commercial properties in retail and food sectors 5. Licence fees for hotels, travel agents and tour guides waived by STB >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/singapore/

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OUTBOUND

NEW 7 Jan: Singapore Airlines is extending the elite status of all existing PPS Club and KrisFlyer memberships which expire between Mar 2021-Feb 2022 >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) have launched EASE UP, a package of incentives to attract Singaporean incentives. It includes $50 USD grants per person or a dining experience of up to 300,000 THB per event, for events taking place no later than 30 Sep 2021. Delegates will also receive free airport transfers, sightseeing or CSR teambuilding activities for up to 20 delegates and for up to 20 paying guestrooms, hotels will match the same number of rooms on a complimentary basis >>

1 Jan: Singapore Airlines will carry passengers from the UK onwards to Sydney and Auckland via Changi, despite the ban on UK passengers entering Singapore, with special limitations in place >>

31 Dec: The Association of Muslim Travel Agents of Singapore (Amtas) has been praised for discouraging Singaporean Muslims to travel to Saudi Arabia for umrah in the short-term >>

31 Dec: Singapore Airlines flew the first of its Boeing 737-8 Max planes back from Alice Springs after receiving approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to use the planes once more >>

30 Dec: Crew from Singapore-based air carriers will need to undergo stricter prevention measures. They will need to minimise their contact with locals on layovers, and those from high-risk destinations to undergo PCR tests on arrival and the 3rd and 7th day of their return to Singapore. They will need to self-isolate until a negative result from the 7th day test >>

18 Dec: Singapore Airlines will reopen flights to Dubai, Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Moscow and Munich from Jan, as well as increasing frequencies to destinations in the USA, Europe and South Africa. They expect to reach 25% of pre-COVID levels by end Mar. Meanwhile, its November carriage was down 97.7% YoY >>

18 Dec: Singapore Airlines will resume daily flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York’s JFK from 18 Jan >>

18 Dec: The Changi Airport Group has launched a year-end campaign, “A New Year, Renewed Resolutions”, which inspires travellers to dream of holidays >>

11 Dec: Singapore Airlines still believes that travel bubbles are a viable way to start international travel, and hope that a travel bubble could be established with Australia. The airline would add significant capacity to Australia once borders reopen, even if passenger demand is low >>

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10 Dec: Jetstar Asia has now reintroduced onboard catering >>

8 Dec: Feedback is being sought on a proposal for cooperation between Singapore Airlines and Vistara by the competition watchdog. The cooperation would enhance the airlines’ scheduling, pricing and code share agreements on routes between India and Singapore, as well as India and “certain agreed markets” >>

4 Dec: Singapore and Europe have aligned their aircraft safety certification processes, which will allow aviation companies to get faster approval for new technologies >>

4 Dec: Tripadvisor in its December Travel Index for 2020, has shown that top searched destinations for Singaporeans include Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, London, Seoul, Nusa Dua and Sanya >>

3 Dec: Singapore Airlines received its first passengers who booked with tickets issued under IATA’s NDC technology >>

30 Nov: Changi Airport now has over 17,000 products on its iShopChangi online platform, and have said that online sales have now surpassed pre-pandemic figures, with 90% of their customers being non-travellers. They have also held some shopping tours of their transit areas, on weekend by invitation to customers who would usually be travelling and shopping at Changi over the year-end period >>

26 Nov: Scoot has launched a new app, ScootHub, which will allow travellers to shop for duty-free and order food on their phones by scanning a QR code, reducing physical interactions >>

20 Nov: Singapore Airlines is increasing its flights to the USA, doubling flights to Los Angeles and operating its first flights to San Francisco since Apr in Dec >>

20 Nov: Singapore Airlines is still the preferred airline for Singaporeans, with 35% of Singaporeans saying it is their airline of choice for short-haul flights and 74% for long-haul, a YouGov poll has showed. It also showed that Singaporeans were the most interested in the flight simulator (48%) as part of the Inside Singapore Airlines experiences >>

20 Nov: Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) is running a campaign, “Taste of Sarawak”, by offering Sarawak cuisine at local hawker stalls in Singapore >>

17 Nov: Singapore Airlines has applied self-disinfecting coatings to key areas of their fleet, including the toilets and overhead storage compartments. They are also working on other measures which will be announced later >>

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16 Nov: Singapore Airlines Group’s Oct pax were down 98.1%, as “demand for air travel remained tepid” >>

15 Nov: Singapore Airlines is number 1 on the YouGov Best Brands list of 2020 for the 3rd year in a row, with WhatsApp and Changi Airport scoring 2nd and 3rd place >>

13 Nov: A UOB ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study has shown that 81% of Singaporeans expect international travel to resume fully by H2 2021, one of the most optimistic in the region. UOB has also seen spend for Singapore-based hotels jump 70% in Jul 2020 compared to Jun 2020, and up 65% in Aug >>

13 Nov: Singapore Airlines has raised $850 million USD through a convertible bond issue. The original issuance was planned at $750 million USD, but was increased due to strong demand. The funds will be used to strengthen its liquidity and fund operating and capex, as well as debt servicing. This year the airline has raised $12.2 billion SGD in total, and still has the option to raise $6.2 billion SGD up to Jul next year if necessary. The airline has said that is monthly cash burn is now below $300 million SGD, down from $350 million SGD >>

12 Nov: The Travel Corporation has seen an emergence of solo bookings from the 50+ market for its products from Singapore >>

12 Nov: Scoot will operate the non-air travel bubble flights between Singapore and Hong Kong, and customers already booked onto Singapore Airlines but do not meet the conditions, or who are transiting through, will be rebooked onto Scoot >>

11 Nov: Singapore Airlines has announced an extension to its KrisFlyer Miles for the 3rd time, to Jun 2021 >>

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THAILAND Could lose up to $51 billion USD in tourism revenue

TRAVEL Certain non-Thai passengers allowed entry, including: medical tourists, filming RESTRICTIONS crews, Thailand Elite card members, foreigners who have work permits, foreigners married to Thai nationals, foreigners studying at educational institutions, Special Tourist Visa holders, foreign athletes who will participate in the Tour of Thailand 2020 bike race, Thai Airways pilots and cabin crew, holders of non-immigrant types of visa, long-stay tourist visa, holders of the APEC Business Travel Card from low-risk countries, 60-day stay tourist visas and yacht passengers. Visa on arrival for nationals of 56 countries, but certificate of entry and 14-day quarantine still required.

LOCKDOWN 28 provinces, including Bangkok, “red zones” from 4 Jan to 1 Feb. Restrictions STATUS include limited operating hours and activities which would generate crowds, advising against interprovincial travel, people being requested to work from home and targeted school closures. Interprovincial travel bans to and from 5 states: Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi and Trat

Consumer sentiment Thailand tourism arrivals

% change YoY

2.50%

42.80%

76.10%

100% 100% 100%

- - -

Source: Ministry of Tourism & Sports Thailand 1, 2, 3

Source: YouGOV

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Flight searches and booking volume for travel Future flight search for travel to to Thailand Thailand

Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard

Total number of daily departures

Source: The Airline Flight Demand Tracker, Lufthansa Innovation Hub

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

NEW 9 Jan: The Thai Hotels Association (THA) are calling for the government to start preparing guidelines for vaccinated passengers to skip the 14-day quarantine >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have said that Thailand is still open to Special Tourist Visa holders, and that the recent outbreak has not had any impact on the numbers so far >>

NEW 6 Jan: Whilst UK arrivals are still permitted entry into Thailand, they must stay in their room for the majority of their quarantine stay, until their 2nd swab test comes back negative >>

30 Dec: The TAT have said that they see the opening up the country to international tourists taking place in Q3/Q4 >>

30 Dec: Foreigners who have been vaccinated will still need to undergo the 14-day quarantine >>

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26 Dec: A new online booking platform for ASQ/ ALQ hotels has been launched, in a joint initiative with the Digital Council of Thailand, Ascend Travel and Horganice. It has more than 100 hotels listed >>

26 Dec: The Tourism Ministry has urged tourism operators to work on plans to attract foreign tourists in 2021, and has said that the summer time could be a good time to open travel bubbles. They will also propose an “area quarantine” after the New Year >>

24 Dec: A pilot program for an “exclusive travel area” for quarantine in Chonburi would include health tourism aspects, including massage and food with anti-viral properties >>

24 Dec: The Tourism Minister has said that there is not much hope of attracting international visitors in Q1 2021, and that Thailand should expect a long “drought” without international tourists >>

19 Dec: The list of golf resorts for alternative state quarantine facilities will be announced next week. Golf quarantine would be limited to those travellers from low-risk countries, and must take 3 COVID-19 tests during quarantine to allow them to play golf and undertake fitness activities. 6 golf courses have applied >>

19 Dec: The Golf Course Association of Thailand said that once their members found out the details of the golf quarantine, including additional costs and the safety protocols, many members lost interest. Any course which is open to quarantined tourists would need to be closed to the general public >>

18 Dec: Tourists from 56 countries will now be allowed to enter Thailand visa free, but will still need to obtain a certificate of entry from their local embassy and a booking at a quarantine hotel. They would be subjected to a 2-week quarantine period, and the usual 30 day tourist visa would be extended to 45 days >>

18 Dec: The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has said that foreign visitors will still not return to Thailand, even if it is visa-free, util the quarantine period is unlocked. The only ones who are likely to return are long-stay and retired travellers who will spend 3-6 months in Thailand. The number of arrivals may increase to ten of thousands, but not 3 million per month as in 2019. They predict that it will take 3 years to return to the same levels >>

18 Dec: The Finance Ministry is considering giving residency visas to foreigners who invest 3 million THB in property >>

17 Dec: The government is studying whether a 10-day quarantine process is feasible, changing COVID-19 testing for arrivals from 2 days to 3 days until 15 Jan, to be able to study the results and come to a decision >>

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16 Dec: Thailand is designing a new smart visa for digital freelancers – applicants must have an employment contract with a foreign firm for at least 6 months, as well as qualifications and professional experience. They would be permitted to stay in Thailand for up to 4 years without a work permit >>

11 Dec: The Interior Ministry wants to extend visa exemption for foreign tourists from 56 countries from 30 to 45 days, with the extension running until 30 Sep 2021. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's (CCSA) have agreed that vias exemptions will be granted to 3 groups of countries: those 56 countries, an additional 6 countries which have bilateral agreements for stays of 30 days in Thailand (Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam) and 4 countries which have bilateral agreements for 90-day stays. However, visa exemptions will not be granted to Myanmar and Cambodia. Visa on arrival will remain until 30 Dec >>

9 Dec: The Special Tourist Visa (STV) can now be applied from all countries, not just those at low-risk. Travellers must still undergo a 14-day quarantine >>

9 Dec: Golf quarantines will now be permitted as an alternative to local state quarantine options, with golfers permitted to enjoy golfing during the period. They can apply for either a Single-Entry Tourist Visa (TR) or a Special Tourist Visa (STV) >>

8 Dec: Only 825 tourists from 29 countries have entered Thailand on the Special Tourist Visa, and just 6 yachts, since it opened >>

5 Dec: The Tourism Ministry has said that the government is looking at March/ April 2021 as the earliest start date for general tourism. However, Thailand will “continue with opening to businessmen, technical experts, high level workers and those in the medical field for now. 14 day quarantine will continue for now”. They revealed that the Chinese officials are suggesting waiting until mid-2021 to reopen >>

5 Dec: Phuket and Krabi are now being offered as destinations for the ‘Amazing Plus Thailand’ quarantine packages offer for international visitors >>

2 Dec: A superyacht was now been cleared to arrive into Phuket, with the crew undergoing quarantine on board >>

2 Dec: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Locanation have launched a new website, ‘ASQ Paradise’, which will provide international visitors with information about standards for quarantine and reservations for the ASQ hotels >>

1 Dec: The Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce has proposed a Guangzhou – Phuket tourism route to the government, in addition to 19 other Chinese cities which have had no reports of COVID-19 >>

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1 Dec: The government plans to increase the price of its Thailand Privilege Card “Easy Access” tier, which allows 5-year residency, by 20% >>

28 Nov: The Thai PM has stated that until a vaccine is approved, produced and implemented, the country will not open to substantial tourism >>

28 Nov: The Tourism Council of Thailand have said that the Thai government does not have a strategy to open up the country, and that the STV is irrelevant. They believe that the Thai government overreacted to isolated local cases of COVID-19, and does not see the country opening up to mass tourists until summer 2021 >>

28 Nov: 3 international yachts arrived into Por Bay, Phuket, and have begun their quarantine process. Less than 10 yachts in total have asked for permission to dock in Phuket >>

28 Nov: More hotels are being encouraged to sign up as an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ), and a new collaboration with Agoda has seen 37 ASQ and ALSQ hotels sign up for the scheme in the first phase >>

27 Nov: A Thai-Singapore travel bubble could boost the Thai economy, according to the US-ASEAN Business council >>

27 Nov: Thailand expects 1,200 international visitors in Nov and Dec, with tourists expected to spend between $6,600-13,200 USD >>

25 Nov: The Thai Hotels Association (THA) is urging the government to look at travel bubbles with other countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan, with Singapore being rated as having the highest potential. They will also propose other measures to assist hotels, including wage subsidies and establishing a hotel fund where operators can buy back properties >>

23 Nov: A new app, Thailand Plus, has been developed for tracing foreign tourists in Thailand. It will have similar functionality to the Mor Chana app, the Thai contact tracing app >>

22 Nov: Thailand seems to have changed its requirement of 500,000 THB in savings for those who are applying for the Special Tourist Visa (STV), with embassies around the world either not mentioning a specific amount, or an amount which is much lower >>

21 Nov: The TAT have announced that 681 tourists have applied for and received the STV in Nov >>

19 Nov: The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved in principle the reduction of quarantine from 14 to 10 days >>

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19 Nov: Work permits will be granted to holders of the Thai Elite Card who plan to invest at least $1 million USD in Thailand over 5 years. A plan for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to partner with local hotels and Thai Airways to offer tourism packages plus hotel stays was also approved, which will be offered from 1 Dec – 31 Mar targeting 2,000 visitors and revenue of 200 million THB/ month >>

19 Nov: Embassies seem to have removed the requirement of 500,000 THB in savings for the 60-day tourist visa >>

18 Nov: The Tourism & Sports Minister again called for a travel bubble with China, saying that he believes Thailand is prepared to handle COVID-19 cases and that the economic benefit outweighs the risk >>

18 Nov: Embassies have been reporting an interest in the 60-day single entry tourist visa, with the Association of British Travel Agents stating that they had at least 4,000 customers who have shown interest so far, with a take-up rate of 50% at least >>

16 Nov: Phuket has submitted a proposal to allow it to open to foreign yachts, with detailed plans. Por Bay would be the sole gateway for vessels and would moor in an area 6.2km from the shore during their 14-day quarantine. 60 leisure boats have shown interest in docking, including 27 super yachts and 33 cruise boats with 600-700 people each, which could generate 2.1 billion THB for the economy >>

14 Nov: Just 331 foreigners used the Special Tourist Visa in Oct, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have revealed, whilst 501 foreigners arrived on retirement visas, and 296 on the Thai Elite Card. They have said that 1,000 travellers have requested to visit Thailand via various visas, especially from Scandinavia. 900 Thai Elite Card holders have also applied to be let in. The TAT are advocating for making entry requirements more lenient, in particular the “fit to fly” certificate >>

14 Nov: The Deputy PM has said that the 10-day quarantine proposal is being prepared for submission to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) next week, but should only be implemented for those from low-risk countries >>

12 Nov: The Tourism Ministry is due to hold talks with the Chinese Embassy in Nov to find a way to allow Thai and Chinese tourists to visit one another’s country. They remain hopeful that this could take place by Feb next year. South Korea will also allow its golfers to travel to Thailand, so long as they follow quarantine procedures. The Tourism Ministry also plans to hold talks with Japan, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand >>

12 Nov: The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has asked the government to strike a travel bubble agreement with China, which would be managed via tour

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companies to effectively manage the tourists whilst in destination. They estimate this could generate 300,000 travellers per month and 15 billion THB revenue >>

11 Nov: Thai Immigration have reported that they have had 10 yachts apply to dock in Thailand, mostly from Malaysia and Singapore. The majority are planning to dock in Pattaya >>

11 Nov: The Deputy PM has said that the mandatory quarantine period will remain at 14 days for now >>

11 Nov: Thailand has relaxed its tourist visa requirements, allowing visitors in for 60 days from medium-risk countries, including from Europe. Visitors will need to apply in advance, have at least 500,000 THB in savings, health insurance coverage of $100,000 USD, outpatient insurance of 40,000 THB, take a COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to arrival and carry out a 14-day quarantine on arrival >>

11 Nov: The PM welcomed the idea of a golf quarantine, although has said that it will still need approval from the CCSA >>

30 Oct: The Tourism Authority of Thailand has said that all inbound tourist sin the first phase of reopening must stay in alternative state quarantines (ASQ) in Bangkok, as direct flights to other provinces have been delayed and Bangkok has the “best equipped” public health system. Tourists will be allowed to stay in alternative local state quarantines (ALSQ) in provincial areas if there is enough demand in the 2nd phase of reopening >>

29 Oct: Foreign tourists and crew on foreign yachts will be permitted to apply for the Special Tourist Visa scheme once they arrive at immigration checkpoints >>

23 Oct: The government has clarified that tourists entering under the STV are allowed to choose the location of their quarantine hotels, whether in Bangkok or in the provinces, after a report that tourists who wanted to choose a hotel in Pattaya were blocked. The TAT have said that 13 Hong Kong tourists have been approved under the STV, and that 13 tourists from Shenzhen, two from Singapore, 118 from Shanghai and 147 from Guangzhou have submitted requests to the TAT. If there is sufficient demand, semi-commercial flights may be allowed to bring the tourists in >>

22 Oct: Overseas yachts can now dock in Thailand, but tourists and crew members will need to quarantine for 14 days on board the yacht and be tested for COVID-19 3 times prior to entry. Officials estimate there are around 60 yachts with 600-650 crew and tourists who want to dock in Thailand, which could generate 2.1 million THB >>

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10 Oct: Foreigners who own property in Thailand will be added to the list permitted to apply to enter Thailand – but they need to be able to show a balance of at least 3 million THB deposited in a Thai bank account >>

4 Oct: All Special Tourist Visa (STV) applicants must come from low-risk countries >>

1 Oct: The STV is now officially approved, with the following conditions:

• Be from a low-risk country • 14-day quarantine in ALSQ • Provide evidence of a place to stay during the long visit • Proof of payment for hotel accommodation/ hospital for quarantine • Proof of payment for accommodation once discharged from quarantine/ deed title of visitor’s property/ evidence of renting accommodation • Proof of health and accident insurance policy, covering 40,000 THB outpatient treatments, 400,000 THB inpatient treatments • Pay 2,000 THB for a visa for 90 days, which can then be renewed up to 2 times >>

30 Sep: The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration has approved 6 groups of foreigners into Thailand, including: foreign athletes who will participate in the Tour of Thailand 2020 bike race, Thai Airways pilots and cabin crew, holders of non-immigrant types of visa, long-stay tourist visa, holders of the APEC Business Travel Card from low-risk countries >>

19 Sep: Additional requirements for travellers hoping to enter Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) will need to have quarantined in their origin country (during which they will need to have been tested twice), as well as a specified minimum amount of money in their bank account. Low-risk countries will be allowed first, but no details yet have been shared as to which countries these may be >>

18 Sep: The Tourism & Sports Ministry has said that the STV will be up and running by Oct, with Bangkok as the primary destination. It has asked tour operators to start promoting long-stay packages They have clarified that foreigners who want to enter Thailand under the STV will need to enter either by charter plane or private jet, which will be issued by Thai Embassies abroad. During the first stage of reopening, there will be a limit of 3 charter flights with a maximum of 100 pax per plane >>

27 Aug: Singapore and Thailand have agreed to speed up discussion on a reciprocal green lane for essential business travel >>

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27 Aug: Thailand will allow more foreign medical tourists to enter the country from Sep, with 100 additional health facilities allowed to accept patients, bringing it to a total of 220. Hospitals have urged for processes to move faster, saying that patients have died whilst waiting for urgent medical treatment >>

26 Aug: The PM has said that Thailand needs to open to limited foreign tourists as “the country needs oxygen to breathe for survival.” He reassured the public that they would not open the whole country to unrestricted arrivals, and stringent measures would be in place >>

1 Aug: Phase 6 has now begun, and four groups of foreign visitors will be allowed entry, including foreign business representatives, film crews, medical tourists and Thailand Elite card members. These must stay in quarantine facilities on arrival >>

VACCINE

NEW 8 Jan: Thailand’s vaccine program will receive 200,000 doses from Sinovac in Feb, which will be given to medical personnel in the 5 provinces under maximum COVID-19 controls: Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Chon Buri, Trat and Chanthaburi. Mar and Apr would see 800,000 and 1 million doses. By May, 26 million doses will be accepted for general vaccination >>

NEW 8 Jan: Thai residents will be able to start signing up for the first round of vaccines at the end of Jan >>

NEW 7 Jan: The 2 million additional doses which the Thai government has secured are from Sinovac >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Thai PM has said that Thailand has ordered an additional 35 million AstraZeneca doses, creating a total of 63 million doses pipeline so far >>

2 Jan: Thailand will increase the number of vaccines and speed up the timeline for inoculations. It has also contacted AstraZeneca to obtain another 26 million doses >>

31 Dec: Thailand has secured 2 million more doses of the vaccine, which could be delivered between Feb-Apr, but the manufacturer was not named >>

14 Dec: Thai Baiya Phytopharm is now making good progress towards producing vaccines and start human testing from Apr-Jun >>

13 Dec: According to a new public opinion survey, 68.9% of Thais want to be vaccinated >>

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10 Dec: Thailand will help Mekong countries to obtain the vaccine once it receives a licence to manufacture it by mid-2021 >>

4 Dec: The Public Health Ministry have said that 13 million Thais will be vaccinated by mid-2021, for free, although private suppliers may charge for it >>

29 Nov: Thailand signed a deal with AstraZeneca for 26 million doses of their vaccine, expected to be delivered mid-2021 >>

28 Nov: The Thai PM expects Thailand to begin producing a vaccine by mid-2021, and Thailand sees it as a priority to be amongst the first countries to have it, to revive the economy >>

19 Nov: Thailand has reserved 26 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine >>

INBOUND

NEW 10 Jan: The Thai Hotels Association Eastern Chapter estimates that 80% of tourism businesses in Pattaya have already closed, and blames the government for the 2nd wave due to “corrupt” officials >>

NEW 10 Jan: Domestic air travel has dropped by 60% since the start of 2021, the Department of Airports has said. Its 20 airports dropped from an average of 30,000 domestic pax/ day to 12,000. In 2021, the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (ART) said that domestic and international flights dropped 55% to 464,944 in 2020 >>

NEW 10 Jan: The Tourism Ministry has said that Thailand should focus on long-stay and wealthy foreign visitors, something which the Tourism Council of Thailand agrees with. The TAT expects just 10 million tourists in 2022, the majority in the last third of the year, and 21 million in 2021 in best-case scenarios. The Airports of Thailand forecast its airports will welcome 446,986 scheduled commercial flights and 47.9 million pax, with air traffic not returning to 2019 levels until 2023 >>

NEW 9 Jan: The TAT expects tourism revenue to increase 44.6% in 2021 to 1.3 trillion THB, with just 500 billion THB coming from international revenue. It forecasts 120 million domestic trips, and in 2022 180 million domestic trips. They have called 2021 a “transitional year” for Thai tourism, and see a late rush in the latter part of the year. It also wants to see the average amount spent by international visitors increase from 47,000 THB in 2019 to 62,000 THB in 2022, and Thai domestic expenditure to increase from 4,700 THB to 4,900 THB >>

NEW 9 Jan: The Thai Hotels Association (THA) are calling for the government to provide a 50% wage subsidy scheme, with payment capped at 7,500 THB >>

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NEW 9 Jan: The We Travel Together scheme has so far generated 5.12 million room nights worth 13.6 billion THB, and 357,752 air tickets worth 952 million THB as of 6 Jan. 5,343 hotels have received bookings >>

NEW 9 Jan: People travelling to and from Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces need to have official documents stating the need for their travel. They will also need the Mor Chana app installed on their phones, and will be checked for fever >>

NEW 9 Jan: The Eastern Hotel Association is asking the Chon Buri government to officially close hotels in the province, to allow the staff to collect government benefits >>

NEW 9 Jan: The Public Health Ministry has said that it is confident that the new outbreak will slow down by the end of Jan, as it has not seen new cases in 7 days in 20 provinces >>

NEW 9 Jan: The Finance Ministry will propose relief measures for borrowers in 33 provinces affected by the restrictions, including a debt holiday, suspension of principal repayment and interest reduction >>

NEW 8 Jan: Thai Vietjet have launched the Thailand Power Pass, an unlimited flight pass for their domestic network, with a validity of 6 or 12 months >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Thailand Hotels Association Southern Chapter has said that hotels are temporarily closing again in Phuket, but does not have an exact number of how many. They warned that the crisis in Phuket “will reach its peak this year […] both small and big businesses are going to die in the same way this year.” Phuket International Airport confirmed that airlines had reduced the number of flights to Phuket for the remainder of Jan, and that from 1-5 Jan, 38,915 pax used the airport, compared to 115,741 in 2020, down 69.4% YoY >>

NEW 8 Jan: Thai AirAsia has said that the 2nd wave has “destroyed the low-cost carrier”, and that travel sentiment has “plunged lower than last year.” Its numbers dropped by more than 50% with the cancellation of many flights and some flights having just 20-30 pax in total on board. They are still waiting to hear from the government on financial aid >>

NEW 8 Jan: People must wear face masks in Phuket in public areas, or face a 20,000 THB fine >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau had 52 sales leads during the IBTM World Virtual 2020, estimating they are worth 743.40 million THB in revenue if they materialised >>

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NEW 8 Jan: The Central Bank forecasts inbound arrivals to be 5.5 million in 2021, down from its initial projection of 9 million. Thailand received 6.7 million tourists from Jan-Nov 2020, down 81.4% YoY >>

NEW 8 Jan: Consumer sentiment dropped for the first time in 3 months to 50.1 in Dec, down from Nov’s 52.4, amid uncertainty with the 2nd wave >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Tourism Council of Thailand have said just 30% of tourism businesses are still operating >>

NEW 8 Jan: Sightseeing trains will be suspended from 9 Jan, and 30 regular passenger trains will be suspended from 13 Jan to help contain the spread >>

NEW 8 Jan: U-Tapao International Airport near Pattaya has cancelled all flights until at least 31 Jan >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Thai Hotels Association northern chapter has said that hotel occupancy in Chiang Mai has fallen to 10%, with some hotels temporarily closing >>

NEW 7 Jan: 4 new electric rail routes will be added in Bangkok in 2021, including the Pink Line, Yellow Line and 2 Red Lines routes >>

NEW 7 Jan: All travellers from any of the 28 red zone provinces will need to undergo swab tests and a 14-day quarantine on arrival to Phuket, pending the release of the official announcement >>

NEW 7 Jan: Travellers who travel from the 28 red zone provinces and conceal their travel timeline could be given a 2-year prison sentence or a 40,000 THB fine >>

NEW 7 Jan: Thai Smile now has 428 bookable flights, down 48% YoY, but still more than Thai Airways, who has just 20 flights >>

NEW 7 Jan: The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce has said that the Thai economy could lose 300 billion THB in Q1 due to the drop in consumer confidence and restrictions >>

NEW 7 Jan: The government has confirmed that people who have cancelled or postponed hotel bookings under the We Travel Together domestic stimulus scheme will not lose their privileges, and they are still working together with OTAs and hotels to find a solution for tourists who have already paid >>

NEW 7 Jan: Spending more time with loved ones is what Thais are most looking forward to for travel in 2021, according to a new survey from Agoda. 14% are also committed to consciously supporting less touristy destinations >>

NEW 6 Jan: Certain national parks will close accommodation and attractions across Thailand >>

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NEW 6 Jan: Bangkok Airways has temporarily reduced some of its routes, as well as postponed the launch of new routes from 8 Jan until further notice, including the new routes Bangkok-Hat Yai, Bangkok-Khon Kaen and Bangkok-Mae Sot >>

NEW 6 Jan: All entertainment, bars and pubs must close for 14 days in Chiang Mai >>

NEW 6 Jan: Nusasiri, a real estate developer, and the World Medical Alliance have partnered with the Thai Elite Privilege Card scheme to increase investment and tourism in Thailand >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Phra That Phanom festival in Nakhon Phanom has been postponed due to the 2nd wave >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Tourism Ministry has said that Thailand will need to rebuild its image as a safe destination once more >>

NEW 5 Jan: Chon Buri have tightened restrictions and people must wear a face mask outside of their home, or face a 20,000 THB fine >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Emergency Decree will be extended until 28 Feb >>

NEW 5 Jan: Over 10,000 schools have been closed across Thailand until 31 Jan >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Thailand Tourism Forum has been postponed from 18 Jan to a later, unspecified date >>

NEW 5 Jan: More than 100,000 workers have lost their jobs or been suspended due to the new lockdown restrictions. Insured workers will now be able to claim under the Social Security Act and will be entitled to 50% of their daily wage for the whole lockdown period for a maximum of 90 days and a maximum ceiling of 500 THB as a daily wage >>

NEW 4 Jan: The TAT organised an Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Virtual Trade Meet 2020, with 49 Thai suppliers and 82 buyers from 27 countries >>

NEW 4 Jan: Bangok’s restaurants will still be allowed to serve dine-in customers between 6am-9pm, after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration overturned a government decision to limit restaurant operating hours >>

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NEW 4 Jan: Thailand’s MICE industry saw a drop of 60% in its fiscal year of 1 Oct 2019- 30 Sep 2020, with 500,090 foreign MICE visitors contributing 29.8 billion THB and 10 million domestic MICE travellers, generating 31.5 billion THB, according to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) >>

NEW 4 Jan: Insurance companies have introduced a seasonal travel insurance package which provides compensation should the holder contract COVID-19 >>

NEW 4 Jan: The Tourism Ministry is considering seeking an extension to the We Travel Together scheme until 31 Oct >>

3 Jan: The majority of Thai respondents in a NIDA poll believe that the economy will get worse in 2021 >>

3 Jan: Thailand’s national parks will still be open for tourists, but visitors should register in advance >>

3 Jan: Stricter measures have been declared for 28 red zone provinces, from 4 Jan to 1 Feb. Provinces will be split under tier 1 and tier 2 restrictions. Tier 1 includes restricting operating hours, restrictions of activities which would generate crowds, interprovincial travel advised against, people being requested to work from home and target school closures. Tier 2 would include more businesses closed, interprovincial travel bans, all residents working from home and curfews >>

3 Jan: Bangkok has announced maximum disease control in 3 districts: Bang Phlat, Nong Khaem, Bang Khun Tien. This will allow districts to close businesses which have high-risks of transmission. It has also closed service venues, pubs, bars, water parks, amusement parks, children’s playgrounds, internet cafes, cockfight pits, daycare centers, boxing stadiums, martial arts schools, gyms, bathhouses, massage parlors, stadia, conference halls and similar venues, pre-schools, school buildings and facilities, tutoring schools and educational institutes until 17 Jan >>

3 Jan: The Deputy Health Minister has unveiled plans for Chonburi, Rayong and Chanthaburi to be sealed off, with no-one able to enter or leave without permission, called Level 2. It is waiting approval >>

3 Jan: Thailand’s second phase of the co-pay scheme opened for use on 1 Jan >>

3 Jan: The Tourism Association of Koh Samui has said that Koh Samui has lost 50 billion THB in revenue in 2020, and of 660 hotels, only 180 are now open >>

2 Jan: The Tourism Council of Thailand has said that some hotels in Pattaya have seen less than 10% occupancy. The Thai Hotels Association eastern chapter has also called for the government to quickly contain the outbreak to create consumer confidence to travel in Feb for Chinese New Year >>

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2 Jan: The government will compensate employees who lose work due to COVID- 19 by paying 50% of their salary for up to 90 days >>

2 Jan: The local ferry operator in Koh Samui had to add more services to meet demand due to queues to enter the island >>

2 Jan: The Social Security Office will reduce the contribution required from employers and employees to the worker welfare fund for 3 months, from Jan-Mar 2021 >>

1 Jan: The additional long holidays the government has announced will boost domestic tourism, the Thai Chamber of Commerce has said >>

31 Dec: The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) is working to promote the Chiang Khan model for sustainable tourism development. It plans to encourage expats to visit 15 community-based tourism destinations in Loei province >>

31 Dec: 6 airlines (Thai Smiles Airway, Nok Air, Viet Jet Air, Thai Lion Air, Bangkok Airway and Thai AirAsia) have agreed to waive destination change or date change fees for bookings made under the We Travel Together domestic tourism stimulus program >>

30 Dec: The We Travel Together scheme has now been amended so that tourists who make hotel bookings can cancel or postpone >>

30 Dec: The Thai Hotels Association (THA) will ask the Thai government for more support, including suspending their outstanding debt, soft loans and 50% wage subsidies >>

30 Dec: The Tourism Minister has said “domestic tourism has frozen completely” >>

30 Dec: Pattaya and Banglamung district ordered all non-essential shops to close on 30 Dec, and restaurants only to serve takeaway food. Schools are closed, after a cluster was discovered linked to an illegal gambling den >>

30 Dec: Thailand has banned large gathering and events across the country’s red and orange zones >>

30 Dec: From 31 Dec, all domestic flights will not be permitted to serve food and drinks, and newspapers, magazine and brochures are prohibited. Face masks must be worn at all times on board >>

30 Dec: Undocumented workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia have been instructed to record their details at the Foreign Workers Employment Agency (FWEA), and make their registration possible without fear of prosecution or deportation >>

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30 Dec: Pattaya has seen its hotel room bookings drop by 30% since the cancellation of the Pattaya Countdown, whereas before they had been almost fully booked. The Chamber of Commerce of Lower Central Region 1 estimate that the cancellation of holiday events will cost the region 1 billion THB >>

30 Dec: Koh Chang has seen hotel bookings drop by 15% since the new outbreak in Dec >>

29 Dec: The hotel subsidy scheme for We Travel Together has resumed, with more than 200,000 bookings in the first 12 hours. The TAT believe these bookings are from demand as the booking period has been extended until Apr >>

29 Dec: Chiang Mai will require travellers to register the details of their accommodation and where they plan to visit in the CM Chana app – visitors from high-risk areas in Samut Sakhon and Rayong must undertake RT-PCR tests and a 14-day quarantine >>

29 Dec: Domestic tourism from Jan-Nov generated 78.3 million trips, a 49.2% decrease YoY, contributing 428 billion THB, a drop of 56.3% YoY. Its Nov international arrivals totalled 3,065 tourists >>

29 Dec: The PM has said that there will not be any travel restrictions imposed over the New Year holidays, but that he would prefer it if people only travelled if necessary >>

29 Dec: Thailand have added 4 new public holidays in 2021, creating extra long weekends, with a public holiday for Chinese New Year and an additional one for Songkran, creating a 6-day weekend >>

29 Dec: Krabi has closed spas, pubs and bars until 30 Dec, whilst local schools are closed until 3 Jan >>

28 Dec: The TAT have announced that as of 26 Dec, total tourism revenue was 830 billion THB in 2020, with 330 billion from foreigners, 500 billion from domestic tourists >>

28 Dec: Jan-Nov tourism arrivals dropped to 6.7 million in 2020, down 81% YoY – 6.69 million of those arrived in Q1 >>

28 Dec: The government has warned that new cases could rise to thousands by mid-Jan, if nothing is done >>

28 Dec: More than 20% of hotel bookings in Chiang Mai’s Mon Jam area have been cancelled, accounting for around 1 million THB in lost revenue >>

28 Dec: The Bank of Thailand has relaxed its rules for the 500 billion THB of soft loans, to allow smaller companies to benefit >>

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27 Dec: Chiang Mai tourism groups will work together to develop tourism in Mae Rim >>

27 Dec: Arrivals to Chiang Mai from Samut Sakhon now have to report to public health officers, undertake a 14-day quarantine and an RT-PCR test >>

26 Dec: The government is looking at allocating long holidays every month in 2021 to stimulate domestic tourism. They are set to proposed a 5 billion THB campaign for senior travellers on 29 Dec, and if there is any budget left after the stimulus programs expire, the Tourism Ministry will work with the private sector >>

26 Dec: Spending during the New Year holiday is estimated to stay below 100 billion THB for the first time in 10 years, at 91.5 billion THB >>

26 Dec: No refunds will be available for those who have booked New Year vacations under the “We travel together” program, but they are able to postpone it for up to 12 months. The government is still looking at ways to launch the 2nd phase of the scheme, which was put on hold after detecting fraud >>

26 Dec: A new directive from the government to limit COVID-19 spread has banned gatherings and limited the movement of migrant workers until 15 Jan >>

26 Dec: Electric ferries have been launched on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. In phase 1, services will be free until 14 Feb >>

26 Dec: The PM has warned that if prevention guidelines are not followed then there will be a national lockdown by Mar >>

25 Dec: Thailand’s new cases appear to have eased off, with the majority of cases migrant workers >>

25 Dec: Chonburi’s governor has invited tourists to visit, despite cancelling the New Year and Children’s Day events >>

25 Dec: Whilst a physical New Year’s Eve countdown has been cancelled in Bangkok, organisers are still proceeding with the fireworks display, which will be live-streamed and televised >>

25 Dec: Bangkok and many provinces have cancelled their New Year celebrations, as it is in an orange zone. Orange zone restrictions include banning public activities >>

25 Dec: ASQ bookings have slowed down, but the situation is “not serious”, according to the ASQ-ALQ Club Thailand >>

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25 Dec: The TAT is estimating that only 2.75 million domestic trips will take place over the New Year holiday from 31 Dec to 3 Jan. Thai Lion Air have seen demand slow down significantly due to the new outbreak, with load factors around 70%, down from its forecast 80-85%. Average hotel occupancy is forecast to be at 37% >>

24 Dec: Thailand will not be placed under a national lockdown, but 4 zones will be imposed, depending on the severity: red (maximum control), orange (more than 10 cases), yellow (no more than 10 cases and control still possible), green (no cases). Just Samut Sakhon is under a red zone, with at-risk premises closed, operating hours limited, transport restricted and work from home maximised. Schools are closed, crowds are banned and maximum prevention measures are in force in workplaces and factories. Bangkok, Samut Songkram, Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom are in orange zones >>

24 Dec: The Bank of Thailand has cut the 2021 GDP forecast to 3.2% from 3.6%, as the new outbreak if likely to delay tourism’s recovery >>

24 Dec: The TAT has launched a new smart map app called the “Thailand Smart Tourism Platform” which will allow tourists to access information about new normal travel. It is currently only in Thai, and it has plans to launch it in English and Chinese >>

24 Dec: Chiang Mai will stage its New Year celebration >>

24 Dec: Private hospitals will provide free COVID-19 tests for at-risk groups >>

23 Dec: All municipal schools and nurseries operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will close for 11 days >>

23 Dec: Lockdown measures have now been put in place in Samut Songkram until 4 Jan, with the closure of public venues and events, Samut Prakan until 4 Jan and 3 sub-districts of Chiang Mai, Tha Ton, Malika and Mae Ai >>

23 Dec: Seminars with limited attendees will be permitted in Phuket, but Phuket Walking Street will be closed for 2 weeks >>

23 Dec: The Foreign Ministry has said that from 9 Jul – 13 Dec, only 50,625 Certificates of Entry had been granted, with just 7,000 to genuine tourists. The rest were business travellers, students, returning expats or medical patients >>

23 Dec: The Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) has urged the government to implement strict measures on those bringing in illegal migrants. The Thai Hotels Association western chapter has seen Hua Hin occupancy levels drop to 30% from the expected 50-60% >>

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23 Dec: The senior citizen travel subsidy scheme would include 5,000 THB for 1 million senior tourists, and the TAT forecast that this could generate 18.8 billion THB in revenues, employing 50,000-100,000 tour guides >>

22 Dec: Pattaya’s New Year Countdown Music Festival has been cancelled >>

22 Dec: The TAT forecast that domestic trips will reach just 95 million in 2020, losing 5 million due to the latest outbreak, and generating around 500 billion THB >>

22 Dec: The tourism industry is set to lose 17 billion THB in lost revenues due to cancellations or postponements of trips over the New Year >>

22 Dec: The Phuket Hotels Association has called another potential lockdown disastrous, and we will see “hotel, restaurant and boat owners mothball their businesses” >>

21 Dec: The TAT are offering a “Happy DIY Set” to foreign visitors staying in ASQ accommodation. The set showcases Thai handicrafts and teaches visitors how to recreate them >>

21 Dec: Thai Airways have cancelled their New Year’s Day 3-hour, non-landing flight due to concerns over the spike in cases >>

21 Dec: The lockdown in Samut Sakhon will cost the economy 1 billion THB per day >>

20 Dec: Workers in Bangkok are being encouraged to work from home for the next 14 days >>

20 Dec: The number of local infections has grown to 576, with 19 locally transmitted in Bangkok, all linked to a shrimp market in Samut Sakhon >>

20 Dec: 10,300 people will be tested by Wednesday in Samut Sakhon >>

20 Dec: Khon Kaen requires all travellers returning to the province from Samut Sakhon to report to local authorities and undergo screening >>

19 Dec: The We Travel Together subsidy for domestic tourism is expected to continue before the year end, with an extension set to be announced next week for 40% subsidy on 1 million room nights. The delay is faster than expected, due to the massive decline in bookings over the year-end holidays. The Thai Hotels' Association hopes that the rule allowing guests to stay in areas where they live is not revoked, as they had started to see a return of staycation packages. Hotel occupancy in Nov grew to 40% from 30% in Oct, and was set to hit 50% in Dec >>

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19 Dec: Samut Sakhon province has been put under a lockdown until 3 Jan, with movements in and out of the province banned and a curfew in place from 10pm – 5am, after 12 local infections grew to 548 following the testing of 1,192 people in the province. The majority are workers from Myanmar. All entertainment, schools, shopping malls, cinemas and spas will be closed, and restaurants can sell takeaway only >>

19 Dec: The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has condemned Thailand’s use of the lèse majesté laws to charge 35 protestors, including one minor >>

19 Dec: No Pattaya hotels are suspected of fraud in the We Travel Together scheme >>

19 Dec: The Airports of Thailand predict that international air travel will come back strong in Q4 2021, and are currently drawing up 2021-2022 plans >>

18 Dec: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organised an Amazing Thailand Health and Wellness Virtual Trade Meet, with 51 Thai suppliers and 86 buyers from 27 countries >>

18 Dec: 515 hotels and restaurants are being investigated for fraudulent claims from the government’s We Travel Together domestic tourism stimulus scheme. Frauds include fake check-ins, or setting room rates at a higher price than usual >>

18 Dec: The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) is asking for a central fund to subsidise tourism businesses, offer low-interest loans, extend loan repayment and pay half of tourism workers’ salaries >>

17 Dec: The Public Health Ministry is looking at ways to cut the fees for COVID-19 tests at private hospitals. Mandarin will also be added as a language to the Thailand Plus application from Jan onwards >>

17 Dec: The TAT has said that the delay in the 1 million room nights through the We Travel Together scheme has slowed tourism sentiment, with tourists who planned to use the scheme for travel over the year-end unable to. TAT are unsure of the outlook for the holidays, as sentiment has also been impacted by the new cases in the north of Thailand. However, 3 million room nights have still been booked, and they are confident that 15 million trips will be reached in Nov and Dec, resulting in 100 million trips in 2020 >>

17 Dec: The TAT is organising a Living Art Festival from 17-19 Dec in Phuket >>

17 Dec: The 2nd phase of Thailand’s co-payment scheme was fully booked by 5 million people within 2 hours >>

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16 Dec: Thai Smile is increasing the number of flights to Phuket in 2021. The Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) have also called for international flights to be reinstated to the island to serve increased demand. They have seen just 20 rooms being used for the Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) scheme, but have 2,554 available. An estimated 200,000 Thai tourists arrived into Phuket in Nov, keeping the local industry afloat, but more could come if airfares were cheaper >>

16 Dec: TAT, Thai Smile, Drive Digital and Tinder have launched ‘Single Journey’ tours for single travellers around Thailand. They are preparing 9 routes, and will organise 3 pilot tours. The first is on 20 Dec and is free for up to 100 Thai travellers with a cruise along the Chao Phraya River. The 2nd is on 9 Jan, with 50 seats and a beachside party in Phuket, whilst the 3rd is on 23 Jan, with a train tour to Lop Buri >>

16 Dec: A Phuket restaurant, Pru, has been given Thailand’s first “Green Star” by Michelin for its eco-friendliness >>

15 Dec: Chiang Rai officials assured Thais that the situation in the province was under control, and has seen no local infections since early Dec >>

15 Dec: After unusual redemptions, the We Travel Together domestic tourism stimulus scheme has been halted. On 9 Dec, there were 225,922 room nights still left, whilst on 11 Dec, this had changed to zero >>

15 Dec: The government has announced that all provinces are safe for tourists, and celebrations can go ahead >>

14 Dec: Thonburi Healthcare Group are looking to partner with hotels to offer healthcare and wellness packages. The TAT is also planning to promote health and wellness tourism with 5 campaigns, including telemedicine services for overseas Thai and working with health insurance companies to include Thailand as a destination in their insurance packages >>

14 Dec: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) have launched specialised training for DMCs to design health-compliant itineraries for the entry of quarantine-free overseas investors. MICE workers can be specially appointed as International Visitor Assistants (IVAs), who will accompany investors throughout the trips >>

14 Dec: Trang Airport’s runway is being extended, whilst Surat Thani is having its runway reinforced and an apron expanded. Betong Airport will also open in the next few months >>

14 Dec: Thai Smile launched its inaugural flight between Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Loei >>

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14 Dec: Thai protesters are taking a break after months of protests, and will return next year “with more intensity and bigger turnout” >>

14 Dec: The proposed transfer of 4 airports from the Department of Airports to the Airports of Thailand has run into difficulties with the legal regulations >>

14 Dec: Bangkok has reported PM2.5 levels above the safe levels in all but one district of the capital, with haze covering the city for most of the weekend >>

14 Dec: Concerts and festivals for the New Year will be permitted, but organisers must strictly follow rules to stop the spread of COVID-19 >>

13 Dec: An economist has estimated that the second wave of COVID-19 will cost the tourism industry 14.1 to 16.9 billion THB over the New Year, as people are discouraged from travelling >>

13 Dec: Bus passengers from Bangkok are being reminded to check in using the Thai Chana app for contact tracing purposes over the 4-day long weekend. The Transport Company is expecting to serve 100,000 daily pax from Bangok’s 3 bus stations >>

12 Dec: The government has clarified that tourists will not have to undergo a 14- day quarantine upon returning from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, after companies stated that tourists would have to do so >>

12 Dec: The BMA Gold Line, a driverless mass transit line in Bangkok, will start operations on 15 Dec. The last section of the Green line will also be operational >>

12 Dec: Hotels and resorts in Sangkhla Buri district were fully booked until the New Year, with 3,000 visitors entering the district daily over the 4-day long weekend, generating 10 million THB in business >>

12 Dec: Thailand’s event marketing is expected to lose 5.6 billion THB in revenue in 2020 >>

12 Dec: The governor of Phuket has encouraged domestic airlines to increase their flights to the island, as there are only 60-70 daily >>

11 Dec: The Thai Hotels Association’s Upper Northern Chapter have called on the TAT to boost domestic tourism and reassure Thai travellers that there were no lockdown measures imposed on the provinces. Hotels have seen their occupancy rates drop to 50% already, from the 70-80% anticipate >>

11 Dec: Thai Airways will delay the resumption of domestic flights between Chiang Mai and Phuket from 25 Dec to 1 Jan, due to the cases detected in Chiang Mai >>

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11 Dec: The government has said that there are no unaccounted COVID-19 cases in the 7 provinces where infected persons have travelled, with more than 6,000 people traced and tested >>

11 Dec: A poll by Bangkok University has shown that 54% of respondents have no plans to travel during the long weekends of Dec. For those who are, Chiang Mai is a popular destination (25%), followed by Chiang Rai (9%), Nan (6.6%), Phetchabun (6.4%) and Loei (5.1%). 61.4% of respondents had chosen not to register under the We Travel Together campaign >>

10 Dec: The governor of Chiang Rai has led a clean up operation to disinfect tourist attractions and crowded areas such as shopping malls and the airport, to reassure travellers of the province’s safety >>

10 Dec: The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts have signed a new resort in Krabi, the Pavilions Anana Krabi to join in Feb 2021 >>

10 Dec: Phuket officials have organised several events to attract tourists over the long weekend, as well as more sports events in 2021 >>

9 Dec: The Thai tourism stimulus packages led to an increase of air traffic of 56% between June and July 2020, in a case study presented at an IATA press conference >>

9 Dec: Thai AirAsia have said that they are approaching pre-COVID-19 capacity levels, and are confident of “exceeding 85% load factors for December” >>

9 Dec: The Thai Federation Northern region wants to take legal action against the illegal returnees who spread COVID-19 in the country, for damaging tourism >>

9 Dec: The TAT Intelligence Centre’s most recent survey has shown that domestic tourist confidence is climbing, with confidence up to 89% from Sep’s 85.5%. Top destinations for Dec include Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Bangkok, Phetchabun and Krabi, whilst travel by private vehicle was preferred (56%). The top reason for travel was relaxation (72.5%) >>

9 Dec: Revenues in Phuket from tourism are likely to fall by 200 billion to 320 billion THB in 2020, the Phuket Tourism Association has said >>

9 Dec: The TAT expects 3.11 million Thais to travel over the 4-day long weekend, spending more than 12.6 billion THB, with a boost to hotel occupancy of up to 40%. However, this is slower than compared to vacations in Nov, with more sensitive groups such as senior travellers choosing to switch destinations to nearby provinces. The Northeast is seeing hotel occupancy levels of 59% >>

9 Dec: The TAT and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) have signed an MoU to create star gazing domestic tourism packages for 7

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routes: Chiang Mai, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla (Hat Yai), Phatthalung, Sa Kaeo, Kanchanaburi, and Sukhothai >>

9 Dec: A YouGov survey has shown that 8/10 Thais are in debt, with 2/5 saying they have more debt now than pre-pandemic >>

9 Dec: Pattaya will spend 775 million THB in 2 development projects to boost tourism: Neo Koh Lan and Old Town Na Klua over the next 3 years >>

8 Dec: The Department of Airports has been ordered to accelerate its investments, in particular to increase runway lengths at Trang, Buriram and Khon Khaen >>

8 Dec: Airbnb has launched a new domestic Thailand campaign, “Stay Thai, Your Style”, highlighting the diversity of Thailand and encouraging residents to explore. They are also promoting Airbnb Experiences >>

8 Dec: The Tourism and Sports Ministry in partnership with the Public Health Ministry are preparing to launch a medical marijuana tour in SE Asia for 2021, and are identifying plantations which could be part of the tour. They aim to showcase all processes, including growing, regulations and how to earn from farming >>

7 Dec: Udon Thani TAT office is planning to promote tourism in the 3 Northeastern provinces during the cold season, called “More Cool Isaan”. They will also promote weekday trips by offering special packages and complementary meals to avoid overcrowding of tourist sites >>

7 Dec: A committee will be set up to decide the fate of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s North Expansion, and if it requires a new passenger terminal >>

6 Dec: Chiang Rai will not cancel tourism-related events, despite an outbreak of cases >>

6 Dec: The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Chiang Mai Office estimate that the number of cancellations to the province are less than 10%. The Northern Thai Hotels Association have also said that hotel reservations are higher than 80% >>

6 Dec: State land in Phuket has now been allocated to the Ministry of Public Health to develop it into a health tourism centre >>

5 Dec: 15 locally transmitted cases have now been detected so far, all linked to the Myanmar border town of Tachilek >>

5 Dec: The Thai Hotels Association of Northern Upper region has recorded 1,700 hotel room nights cancelled, with groups such as local administrative organisations, cancelling more reservations. They had expected the hotel occupancy rate to increase, as in Nov it was 60-70% >>

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5 Dec: The President of Skål International Bangkok has said that the damage to Thailand’s tourism industry will cause “deep long lasting structural economic damage that is set to worsen rather than improve” and that the industry is being “left to fend for itself and potentially fail” >>

5 Dec: All provinces must open emergency health centres as a precautionary measure in case of COVID-19 spreading following an outbreak in Chiang Rai >>

5 Dec: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has warned hotel operators not to raise rates to take advantage of the government’s domestic subsidy, and if they are found to be doing so, they will be banned from future schemes >>

5 Dec: Thailand’s Health Ministry has reassured the public that the northern region of the country is still safe and under control. Chiang Rai is still open to tourists, but the numbers have been subdued >>

5 Dec: Pattaya businesses want the government to organise weekly events to attract domestic tourists, as during the fireworks festival and other events, hotels were nearly booked out. However, weekday hotel occupancy remains weak >>

5 Dec: Thailand has been voted the top destination in Asia and the 4th worldwide, according to German online travel agent Tourlane >>

4 Dec: The government has approved changes to the domestic tourism stimulus, We Travel Together, including:

• Airline ticket rebates of 3,000 THB (up from 2,000 THB) for selected destinations (Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai) • Daily vouchers of up to 900 THB (up from 600 THB) which can be used for entrance fees, F&B, massage or even car rentals • 15 nights of hotel bookings can be subsidised at a 40% rate, capped at 3,000 THB/ night • Civil servants get an additional 2 days leave if they use the campaign • Tourism packages sold via tour operators for those over 55 years old on working days to be subsidised at 5,000 THB per pax with a minimum package price of 12,500 THB • Extended until 30 April >>

4 Dec: A locally transmitted case in Chiang Rai was confirmed after coming into contact with 10 Thai women who crossed the border from Myanmar into Thailand illegally, skipping screening and 14-day quarantine. 3 more locally transmitted cases have been detected >>

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4 Dec: A second phase of the co-payment scheme for 5 million people has been approved, giving 3,500 THB subsidies. It will run from 1 Jan-31 Mar. The 10 million people who have already registered will receive an additional 500 THB >>

4 Dec: The consumer confidence index rose to 52.4 in Nov, thanks to the economic stimulus measures from the government, an increase from 50.9 in Oct, and is now at the highest since Mar >>

4 Dec: The TAT has said that the resurgence of COVID-19 is likely to hamper international travel, and a survey by their offices has shown that tourists are unlikely to take overseas trips before next summer, and even China’s rebound may be slower than expected. They want to aim for 170 million domestic trips and 1.2 trillion THB in 2022, and that mid-2021 to mid-2022 could see 8 million international visitors >>

4 Dec: Tourism businesses in Chiang Rai have called on the governor to make assurances to the public that the area is safe to travel to after locally transmitted cases were detected there >>

4 Dec: Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit will cooperate with 5 partners to launch the “One Million Baht Club”, a privilege package, for guests who are looking for a semi-permanent stay in Bangkok >>

3 Dec: Private sector representatives in Chiang Mai have offered tourists to the region payouts of 100,000 THB for each COVID-19 infection and 1 million THB for each COVID-related death, to encourage confidence to travel >>

3 Dec: The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) is concerned that a second wave of cases would hamper domestic tourism recovery, and that containing any spread is a priority for the government >>

3 Dec: Montara Hospitality Group have revealed their plans for a health and wellness residential community on Phuket, the Tri Vananda. Healthcare will include consultation, physiotherapy, cognitive health care and health diagnostics, as well as traditional medicine >>

3 Dec: Chiang Rai’s ‘Colours of Doi Tung’ festival will take place every weekend and public holiday in Dec and Jan >>

3 Dec: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) are raising the idea of creating a multi-country alliance in the events industry, under a branding theme “Asia Convention for Asia”. They propose the other members should be China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan >>

3 Dec: The TAT, Thai Airways, Thai Hotels Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) are partnering to launch the “Amazing Thailand Plus” offer

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for foreigners who want to enter Thailand. It offers 400 packages, which include special fares for flights, their Alternative State Quarantine hotels and post- quarantine tours and transfers. The offers are for booking from Dec 202 until Mar 2021 >>

3 Dec: The TAT estimate that they need to accelerate spending per international pax of 30% to offset the only estimated 8 million tourist arrivals in 2021, saying “no mass tourism”. They also want to increase the amount of domestic spending to 5,000 THB per trip from 4,700 THB, with the hope of earning 700 billion THB in 2021. Thailand’s Jan-Oct domestic trips numbered 65 million, 15 million of which were in Oct >>

3 Dec: The Finance Ministry estimates it will take Thailand 4 years to recover to pre-pandemic levels >>

2 Dec: The Business Traveller has named Bangkok the top leisure city in APAC >>

2 Dec: The Thai Hotels Association has given the government a 9-point list of measures it wants support with, including: removing the 14-day quarantine from low-risk countries, reducing the quarantine period from 14 to 10 days, allow guests staying at ASQ hotels to roam the resorts fee instead of confining them to their rooms, increase the number of government seminars and events, extend the “We Travel Together subsidy”, offer 1,000 THB travel vouchers to expats, reduce bills for hotels, reduce construction and property tax for hotels and extend the 2% reduction in Social Security contributions for a year >>

2 Dec: The Thai PM won a legal challenge which could have seen him forced from his post after a court found him not guilty of a conflict of interest by living in an army residence after leaving the military >>

2 Dec: Siteminder have said that Thailand’s recent 4-day long weekends are having a positive impact on domestic hotel bookings. Since 14 Oct, hotel reservation volumes have improved by 77%, with Phuket’s hotel booking momentum the strongest seen in 8 months >>

1 Dec: Thai Airways will resume its domestic services between Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Bangkok-Phuket from 25 Dec >>

1 Dec: Pattaya have said that their fireworks festival attracted 100,000-200,000 visitors a day, generating more than 400 million THB in revenue >>

1 Dec: The Airports of Thailand are reviewing Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport’s northern expansion plans >>

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1 Dec: Thai AirAsia forecasts it will earn only 40% of last year’s revenue in 2020, and will end the year with 9.3 million pax, down from 22.2 million in 2019. They are aiming to fill 3.94 million seats in Dec, as demand is high >>

1 Dec: Thai Vietjet have launched their new service from Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport >>

30 Nov: The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) is calling for the government to reopen to mass tourism, suggesting that they should choose ‘low-risk’ countries including China (22 provinces only), Vietnam, Laos, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Dubai and Macau >>

30 Nov: 5 key leaders of the Thai protest movement have been charged under the royal defamation laws >>

29 Nov: The Dhara Dhevi hotel in Chiang Mai is closing operations >>

29 Nov: New phase of the co-pay scheme will open on 2 Jan 2021 after good feedback and 28 billion transactions taking place >>

29 Nov: Security officials expect the anti-government protests to carry on into December >>

28 Nov: The extension of the emergency decree has been officially extended until 15 Jan 2021 >>

28 Nov: Pattaya’s spa and massage industry has seen employment drop by 96% due to the lack of tourists >>

28 Nov: The head of TAT Pattaya’s office believes that high season, from Nov-Apr, still provides opportunities for the local tourism trade to earn revenue, thanks to the many events organised >>

28 Nov: The Tourism Council of Thailand have said Thailand will finish 2020 with tourism revenue of 900 billion THB, two-thirds of which was generated in Q1, and the rest from domestic tourism. They also believe that the We Travel Together campaign has not achieved its aim, as domestic tourism has historically accounted for 30% of Thailand’s tourism revenue, and this year it will fall around 33%. They urged government organisations to integrate and communicate better, and the National Tourism Policy Commission should play a larger role >>

27 Nov: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has said that “normal” tourism revenue, 80% of pre-pandemic (2.5 trillion THB), may only return in 2022. 2021 remains opaque, as there are many unpredictable factors. They said that after a meeting with the Chinese embassy, it seems unlikely that Chinese tourists will travel en-masse to Thailand unless there is a track record of vaccines. Thailand may see a moderate number of international tourists in Q2 or Q3 2021 from long-

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haul markets. They expect that the redemption of its We Travel Together campaign will be full used by the end of this year >>

27 Nov: Thai Airways is organising a new spiritual flight which will depart on 1 Jan, flying in a heart-shaped flight route with a famous astrologer, who will bless them with positive energy to start the year >>

27 Nov: Thai protestors called for an end to coups in Thailand >>

27 Nov: TAT are organising a “Village Tourism Festival” in Bangkok from 27-29 Nov to promote community-based tourism >>

27 Nov: A clouded leopard was spotted near the Thai-Cambodia border in Isaan, for the first time in 20 years >>

26 Nov: October saw 1,201 foreign tourists, with 471 arriving from China, 231 Cambodia, 178 from the Middle East and 116 from Europe. All travelled under the STV program. Its Jan-Oct international pax numbers have dropped 79.5% YoY to 6.69 million. Thailand’s state planning agency now predicts 6.7 million tourists for 2020, and 5 million in 2021 >>

26 Nov: The Thai PM has said that martial law will not be used against protesters >>

26 Nov: Pattaya’s beachfront hotels are booked up for the Pattaya fireworks festival on 27-28 Nov, with hotels away from the beach seeing 80% occupancy levels >>

26 Nov: Khao Lak is becoming more popular as a destination for Thai travellers, with 2,283 keys being planned for opening in 2022-2023 >>

26 Nov: A Booking.com survey has shown that Thai travellers:

• Have the strongest intent to take trips to destinations accessible by cars (73%) • Look for free cancellation policies (85%) • Look for off-the-beaten track journeys (80%) • Want to make responsible travel choices which will support local recovery efforts (84%) • Look at potential travel destinations as often as once a week (68%) >>

26 Nov: Thai Smile are planning to open up more flights between Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and seven more provinces >>

26 Nov: Thailand’s GDP for 2020 is forecast to contract by 6.4%, an improvement from earlier forecasts of a 10.3% decline according to Krungsri Research >>

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25 Nov: Thailand’s leading virologist has said that it could be a challenge to get 60% of the Thai population vaccinated next year >>

25 Nov: The Pattaya tourism industry is hoping that the new Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) will boost arrivals to the country, despite requiring a 14-day quarantine. Some hotel owners have said that their regular customers have already applied for the visa, and although are not keen on the idea of a quarantine, are willing to go through it to enter the country >>

25 Nov: 10.69 million Thais used public transport and 14.05 million vehicles over the long weekend >>

25 Nov: Thai Lion Air expects 2021 to be a tough one, and are planning to expand domestic networks and strengthen local demand in H1. They have resumed flights at 60% of the frequency to pre-pandemic. They plan to bring 3-5 aircraft back into their fleet for domestic routes in 2021 >>

24 Nov: Expedia Thailand’s new 2021 Travel Trends Report has seen:

• Thai travellers falling into either a short-haul destination traveller, or an island escapist • Top 10 trending destinations for 2020 include: Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin, Rayong, Chonburi, Khao Yai, Chiang Rai and Songkla • Flexibility will be most important for Thai travellers • The average booking window for a flight is now 14 days prior, the shortest booking window in years >>

24 Nov: AirAsia Group expect AirAsia Thailand to exceed its pre-COVID capacity in Q4 >>

23 Nov: Chiang Mai’s Royal Park Rajapreuk saw 1,500 tourists per day visiting over the 4-day long weekend >>

23 Nov: The TAT Phuket Office has announced that 53,970 tourists visited Phuket over the long weekend 19-22 Nov, generating 300 million THB in revenue. Checks with hotels showed an occupancy was around 35%, with most guests staying at least 2 nights. They also said that hotel bookings in Phuket had been increasing >>

23 Nov: Agoda have said that the best pockets of recovery they have seen are in Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam >>

23 Nov: The Phuket Tourism Association has launched packages aimed at attracting 14,000 foreign diplomats and international organisations’ staff to visit Phuket >>

23 Nov: Thailand is no longer the top destination for Chinese outbound travellers, as Japan and South Korea have moved up the preference list instead >>

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21 Nov: Chiang Mai’s tourism is improving due to the cooler weather, with hotels reporting 40% occupancy in Nov compared to 15% in Oct. Chiang Mai International Airport is seeing 22,000 pax/ day on average, and they estimate that on long weekends it could reach 25,000. Before, it would receive 40,000/ day >>

21 Nov: The Thai hotel industry has called for debt relief, tax changes, wage subsidies and reopening the borders to support them >>

20 Nov: Taxis in Bangkok travelling to and from the airports will be able to charge a special fee for luggage >>

20 Nov: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident that the number of domestic tourists over the next 2 months will bring the total domestic tourists to 70 million in 2020, and that the recent local cases will not put tourists off. Jan-Sep domestic trips were 52.7 million, down 54.1%, whilst average spending dropped 14.4% per trip. Oct’s hotel occupancy rates were 34.4%. The TAT also plan to introduce the “Best Selfie in Thailand” competition with an airline-blogger partnership from mid-Dec, and will also launch a campaign focusing on caravans for cross-regional trips >>

20 Nov: 3 million Thais are expected to travel domestically for the 19-22 Nov holiday weekend, generating 12.6 billion THB in revenue. The TAT predict a hotel occupancy of only 37%, citing the fact that hotel bookings in Krabi have been cancelled after one lone case of COVID was detected and that another long weekend was approaching >>

20 Nov: Villagers on Phuket have now modified their motorbikes with sidecars to allow tourists to stop at Mai Khao Beach, where tourists can watch planes landing, as part of a community tourism project >>

20 Nov: 5.29 million Thai people set out on trips on 18 Nov according to the Ministry of Transport >>

20 Nov: Nakhon Si Thammarat could see 800 million THB in tourism spend over the long weekend as tourists come to pay respects to a popular child spirit, Ai Khai, at Wat Chedi. Local hotel occupancy has been around 80% >>

19 Nov: Diethelm Travel has released all non-core staff indefinitely from Jan 2021, to allow staff to find other opportunities. The company said that the STV was “completely useless” >>

19 Nov: The Thai PM has said that all laws would be used against protestors, after paint was thrown at the Thai police HQ in response to the police use of water cannon and tear gas on the 17 Nov protest >>

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19 Nov: The 3rd round of registration for the government’s co-payment stimulus program saw 700,000 people claiming their spot within an hour. As of 19 Nov, it had generated 18.79 billion THB in revenues >>

19 Nov: Minor International have said that they have lost more than 2 billion THB in Thailand from Jan-Sep, whilst the Erawan group have said that hotel occupancy has been at 20% for more than 5 months >>

19 Nov: Thai Smile Airways launched a new direct route from Chiang Mai to Nakhon Si Thammarat >>

19 Nov: Thailand will hold the BWF Para Badminton World Championships in 2023 >>

18 Nov: Thai Vietjet has received 2 new aircraft, bringing its total number to 13. T expects to receive 2 more in Dec >>

18 Nov: Academics have called for the government to speed up aid for the tourism industry with customised aid packages >>

18 Nov: The TAT, hotels and airlines have created an “Expat Travel Bonus” with a discount of 1,000 THB per night at over 300 participating hotels, and up to 50% off airfares >>

18 Nov: Pattaya has reported that 300,000 foreign and local residents have left the town >>

18 Nov: The TAT and ICONSIAM are organising a big ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021’ event on 31 Dec, which will take place in Krabi, Sukhothai, RoiEt, Ratchaburi and Phetchabun, as well as at several attractions in Bangkok. It will culminate in eco-friendly fireworks, made of Thai sticky rice >>

18 Nov: The State Railway of Thailand has launched an online ticketing service called D-Ticket >>

18 Nov: Nok Air has reported losses of 3,936 million THB in Q3, with revenue down 47.7% YoY >>

18 Nov: The Thai government’s COVID-19 task force has approve the extension of the state of emergency until 15 Jan >>

18 Nov: The PATA Thailand chapter is calling for a new, strong leader for the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) in the upcoming elections >>

18 Nov: The TAT has redesigned its Thailand Muslim Friend app, adding 110 new restaurants, 70 new mosques and 75 new hotels >>

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17 Nov: At least 18 people were hurt in protests in Bangkok, as police fired tear gas and water cannons at protestors >>

17 Nov: AirAsia has said that its domestic sales in Thailand has reached 93% of pre-pandemic levels >>

17 Nov: The Kasikorn Research Center projects that 77.3% of Thai tourists will make domestic trips in Q4, whilst the TAT’s social listening report for 1-10 Nov has found that Chiang Mai and Phuket are the most mentioned destinations on social media >>

17 Nov: The TAT are calling to improve the domestic tourism stimulus program, extending it from 10 nights’ subsidy to 15, and that the 40% discount on flights be applied at the point of sale, rather than having to be claimed back >>

17 Nov: The Southeast Asia Hotel Investors’ Summit will take place in Bangkok on 1-2 Dec in a physical event >>

17 Nov: The Thai economy shrunk by 6.4% in Q3 YoY, with full-year contraction forecast at 6%, an improvement vs the -7.5% original prediction >>

16 Nov: Bangkok Airways have cut their fares from Bangkok – Samui to just 2,000 THB one-way in the hope to revive bookings to the island – last year, fares were averaging 4,500 THB >>

16 Nov: The Tourism and Sports Ministry held a brainstorming session with hoteliers to get updates from the tourism industry as well as plan recovery solutions for a 2-year revival plan, “Thailand Tourism Year”, or as the TAT has dubbed it, the “Phoenix Initative”. The Thai Transportation Operations Association has also called for the government to speed up its process to allow tour operators to take part in the domestic stimulus program, as fixed costs mean that they do not have sufficient income, and only 3-5% of tour bus operators can access soft loans >>

16 Nov: The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) believe that 2 million tourism workers could be unemployed if foreign tourists do not return in high numbers to Thailand. They stated that 150,000 workers in tour businesses have already been laid off, but just 10% of those is permanent so far >>

16 Nov: The TAT is looking for more niche markets for Thai tourists, after seeing the success of the Thai Airways’ spiritual-themed flight, including pilgrimage tours around the country for singles who want to pray for marriage. They are also looking to pilot river cruises for single tourists with recreational activities to Ayutthaya in the build up to Valentine’s Day. They are also looking at wellness, and have confirmed their Amazing Thailand Marathon for Mar, and stargazing tours during the cool season to Khao Yai and Chiang Mai >>

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14 Nov: There are now at least 10 hotels up for sale in Ao Nang, Krabi, including 3- 5* hotels. A report by Sanook News estimates that just 10% of businesses are open still >>

14 Nov: Thai protestors climbed the Democracy Monument in Thailand and hung up a giant banner with anti-government slogans written on it. Several thousand attended the demonstrations on Saturday >>

14 Nov: Singha Park is partnering with the TAT and Chiang Rai Province to organise 4 events to help domestic tourism, including a Farm Festival, Northern Lights Countdown Festival, Village of Illumination Festival and the Singha Park Chiangrai Valentine’s Balloon Fiesta 2021 >>

13 Nov: 235 people have been placed under quarantine after having contact with a Korean soldier who tested positive for COVID-19 on his return home >>

13 Nov: Bangkok Airways will open 3 new routes: Bangkok – Mae Sot, Bangkok – Hat Yai and Bangkok – Khon Kaen >>

13 Nov: Investments into Thai sovereign debt have increased to the highest in 17 months in Nov, after positive news about the Pfizer vaccine >>

12 Nov: The Tourism Minister has warned of a slowdown in local demand with a struggling economy if a plan to reopen to tourists in 2021 isn’t put into place. Demand from locals is at just 40% of 2019 levels, despite an increase. "We have a precarious year for domestic tourism waiting for us in 2021, with the number of trips and receipts possibly going down to 15% of 2019." He also said that “big things” shouldn’t be expected from the STV, but that it can help to prepare locals for international arrivals. He noted that 50% of tourism-related businesses will “permanently close if they cannot receive any effective measures from the government until the middle of next year” >>

12 Nov: The Thai economy has passed its lowest point and is expected to contract less than expected, the National Economic and Social Development Council have said >>

11 Nov: Road toll fees will be waived over the long weekend holidays from 19-22 Nov and 10-13 Dec >>

11 Nov: The first e-ferry was officially launched in Phuket. They will eventually run 10 routes >>

11 Nov: TripAdvisor has now put a special notice on the Koh Chang Sea View’s page: “This hotel or individuals associated with this hotel filed criminal charges against a Tripadvisor user in relation to the traveler writing and posting online reviews. The reviewer spent time in jail as a result.” >>

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5 Nov: The Thai government has approved the expansion and extension of loan plans for SMEs, raising the credit limit to 100 million THB from 20 million THB. Qualification requirements will also be eased, to make it easier for tourism SMEs to access funding >>

3 Nov: The Thai government has approved a tax cut on jet fuel from 4.726 THB to 0.20 THB, effective 3 Nov until 30 Apr 2021 , to help airlines reduce costs >>

30 Oct: The TAT will allow unlicensed hotels which have taxpayer identification to be part of the We Travel Together domestic stimulus, as only 1.9 million out of 5 million room nights have been booked, and 100,000 air tickets out of 2 million. The TAT is also talking to OTAs such as Agoda, Traveloka and Ascend Travel to sell tour packages on their sites without charging tour operators a commission fee. They would also be able to buy air tickets with instant discounts >>

29 Oct: The cabinet has approved a 66.68 million THB project by the Tourism and Sports Ministry to organise training for 12,000 tourism workers, a 19.12 million THB project to upgrade sand dunes in Chumphon to become an ecotourism destination and a 4 million THB project to upgrade the service quality of tourism entrepreneurs in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Ranong >>

8 Oct: The government’s We Travel Together program and the Encouragement domestic tourism stimulus program has been extended to 31 Jan 2021 >>

8 Oct: The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (Cesa) approved the proposal to give taxpayers income tax deductions of up to 30,000 THB for products and services with 7% VAT, to boost consumption. This will run from 23 Oct – 31 Dec. Accommodation and air tickets will be excluded from the program. They also approved a change to the domestic tourism stimulus package, which will allow them to use e-vouchers to pay for food, entrance fees at tourist attractions. More health workers will also be included in the health workers tourism program >>

3 Sep: More economic stimulus measures have been approved, with a 50% subsidy for products purchased from street vendors and retailers of 3,000 THB per person. Food coupons used for travel between Mon-Thu worth 900 THB and on Fri-Sun worth 600 THB have also been approved. Graduates will also have 50% of their salaries covered by the government, at a maximum of 7,500 THB/ month from 1 Oct to 30 Sep 2021 >>

1 Sep: Expats will be given a 500 THB discount for domestic travel in Thailand, with a budget of 2 million THB in total, to be registered for at the Expat Travel Deal 2020 fair in Bangkok >>

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28 Aug: The PM has agreed to give 24 billion THB in soft loans to Thai airlines, which will be available from Oct and keep the airlines afloat for another year. This was after a meeting with Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Smile, Thai Lion Air, Thai Viet Jet, Bangkok Airways and Nok Air. The government asked them to maintain staff and have also confirmed that the waivers and reductions of surcharges and aviation fees has been extended until Mar 2022 >>

20 Aug: The new National Economic and Social Development Council announced subsidies for local tourists, and plan to make jobs for 400,000 new graduates. They will extend their 40% subsidy from five to 10 nights, as only 660,000 of 5 million nights have been booked already. Air ticket subsidies will also be extended to 2,000 THB, and corporate companies will also be able to register to use them as incentives for employees or other business purposes >>

17 Jun: The domestic tourism stimulus packages worth 22.4 billion THB has been approved, including:

1. 2.4 billion THB fund for 1.2 million health volunteers and hospital officials which will subsidise 2,000 THB for a trip of at least 2D1N and must be booked via tour firms, expected to help 13,000 tour firms 2. 18 billion THB fund for 5 million nights at hotel accommodation at 40% of normal room rates (subsidy limited to 3,000 THB/ night up to 5 nights). Other services, such as food, are capped at 600 THB/ room/ night, and must be outside of the traveller’s home province 3. 2 billion THB fund to subsidise domestic flight fares, inter-provincial bus fares and car rental fees for 2 million people. It will pay up to 40% of expenses, limited to 1,000 THB/ tourist >>

31 May: Parliament approved a close to $60 billion USD stimulus package, some of which will be used to boost purchasing power, healthcare readiness and aid to farmers and informal workers >>

27 May: Parliament was urged to approve the biggest stimulus package yet, worth $59.6 billion USD >>

12 May: A plan to spend $12.45 billion USD to create jobs and stimulate the economy has been approved by Thailand’s cabinet >>

07 Apr: A 3rd phase of economic stimulus has been approved, valued at 1.9 trillion THB, including cash handouts and economic recovery measures. The Bank of Thailand will also allocate 500 billion THB in soft loans to SMEs, and allow interest payments to be postponed for 6 months >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/thailand/

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OUTBOUND

NEW 8 Jan: Thai Airways are reducing their international network to 10 cities until 27 Mar, including Hong Kong, Manila, Osaka, Seoul, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo Narita, Copenhagen, Frankfurt and London >>

NEW 5 Jan: Thai Airways’ debt rehabilitation submission deadline has been extended until 4 Feb >>

29 Dec: Semi-commercial flights from Bangkok to HCMC are scheduled to launch on 8 Jan by Thai Vietjet once per week >>

28 Dec: Thai Airways will ask for an extension to its deadline to submit its business rehabilitation plan, to 2 Feb >>

25 Dec: Thai Airways estimates that its turnaround plan will receive court approval by mid-2021 >>

17 Dec: British Airways is pausing its flights to Bangkok until at least Nov 2021 >>

9 Dec: Thai Airways has withdrawn its flights to Brisbane and Perth until 27 Mar 2021, and will close its Brisbane office from 18 Dec >>

6 Dec: More information about Thai Airways’ alleged corruption will be given on 14 Dec to the National Anti-Corruption Commission >>

27 Nov: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects outbound Thai travel will take at least 2 years to recover >>

24 Nov: Thai Airways expects that its debt rehabilitation plan will be approved by the courts end-March to Apr 2021 >>

20 Nov: Thai Airways have confirmed that between 1 Jan – 27 Mar, they will be flying internationally to London, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Sydney, Osaka, Manila, Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul >>

13 Nov: Qatar Airways are planning to resume twice weekly flights to Phuket from 4 Dec >>

12 Nov: Thai Airways International’s Q3 results showed a net loss of 21.5 billion THB ($709 million USD), whilst its Jan-Sep net loss was 49.5 billion THB >>

11 Nov: Thai Airways is auctioning off many in-flight items, as well as planning to lease 3 of its office buildings to generate more cash >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/thailand/

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VIETNAM Could lose $23 billion USD in tourism revenue in 2020

TRAVEL Tourists will not be permitted to enter Vietnam. International commercial flights RESTRICTIONS temporarily stopped. Experts, business managers or highly skilled workers can enter with relevant permissions. Domestic flights permitted.

LOCKDOWN Businesses, including non-essential ones, reopened. Schools are opened. Face STATUS masks should be worn in public places.

Consumer sentiment Vietnam tourism arrivals

% change YoY

32.80%

21.80%

68.10%

98%

94.80%

99.30% 98.90% 98.90% 99.00%

- - - - Source: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Source: YouGOV Flight searches and booking volume for Future flight search for travel to Vietnam travel to Vietnam

Source: Sojern COVID-19 dashboard

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Total number of daily departures

Source: The Airline Flight Demand Tracker, Lufthansa Innovation Hub

TRAVEL BUBBLES & INTERNATIONAL BORDERS

NEW 10 Jan: Vietnam will limit repatriation flights bringing back Vietnamese citizens from now until after Tet in mid-Feb, to reduce COVID-19 risks >>

NEW 7 Jan: The PM has ordered suspending inbound flights carrying Vietnamese citizens from countries or territories which have reported the new COVID-19 variant, including the UK and South Africa >>

NEW 7 Jan: Hanoi has ordered its localities to tighten up supervision of arrivals from overseas, and ensure quarantines are safe, to avoid community transmission >>

NEW 6 Jan: Japan is likely to cut business lane travel arrangements with Vietnam, due to the state of emergency in Japan. Vietnamese arrivals have counted for one of the highest inbound traffic into Japan under the agreement >>

NEW 5 Jan: The Minister of Health has proposed that inbound flights be suspended or limited from countries which have detected the new variant of COVID-19 >>

NEW 4 Jan: The government has said that Vietnam is not considering restarting international commercial flights as the COVID-19 situation is intense, and vaccine distribution uncertain >>

22 Dec: Vietnam and Israel have signed a protocol to amend the air transport agreement between the 2 countries, eventually allowing them to operate direct flights between one another >>

9 Dec: Japan may permit small groups of foreigner tourists to enter the country, including from Vietnam, China and Taiwan >>

8 Dec: Home quarantine measures for diplomats entering Vietnam need to be tightened, some members of the government have suggested >>

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4 Dec: Vietnam and the Republic of Korea have agreed to waive quarantine requirements for short-term visits between the 2 states for those travelling for investment, trade, or as highly skilled workers for less than 14 days. They will need to obtain negative tests for entry, and will be tested upon arrival and have to follow a pre-registered agenda, with frequent health checks. The agreement will start on 1 Jan 2021 >>

4 Dec: Repatriation flights will continue to operate into Vietnam, whilst commercial flights are on hold due to the quarantine breach >>

3 Dec: The US Embassy in Vietnam has reopened for short-term business or leisure travel visa appointments >>

2 Dec: The government has warned that domestic carriers will have to suspend international flights if their crew violate quarantine protocols >>

1 Dec: Vietnam has suspended international commercial flights >>

1 Dec: Laos and Vietnam resumed international commercial flights, with Vietnam Airlines operating the flights between Hanoi-Vientiane >>

30 Nov: The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has defended the cost of repatriation flights and quarantine hotel stays, calling them “reasonable” and saying that ticket prices “are no higher than pre-COVID-19” >>

26 Nov: Vietnam received its first Taiwanese flight, China Airlines, since late March, with 280 pax aboard, including experts, skilled workers and their families. The airline plans to operate 2-3 flights/ week between Hanoi and Taoyuan . EVA Air will also operate one Taoyuan – Hanoi flight/ week from 23 Dec >>

12 Nov: Taiwan has said that it is in travel bubble discussions with Vietnam >>

31 Oct: The visa waiver program for those foreigners who entered from 1 March will be extended until 30 Nov >>

30 Oct: Japan will lift its entry ban on travellers from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam from 1 Nov, but will continue to suspend its visa waiver agreements, meaning that tourists would still not be allowed to travel. Japan has also lowered its travel advisories from Level 2 (advises against all travel) to Level 3 (advises against nonessential travel) >>

29 Oct: Passengers arriving into Vietnam will now be divided into 3 groups, each with different quarantine requirements:

1. Vietnamese citizens or family members of Vietnamese citizens – will undergo centralised quarantine for 14 days

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2. Foreigners who are experts, investors, business managers, skilled workers and their family or international students and staying in Vietnam for more than 14 days – quarantined at registered hotels for 7 days, then if test negative on day 6, permitted to quarantine at their residential area for another 7 days 3. Foreign diplomats – quarantined at their houses or residential areas for 14 days. Foreign experts entering for less than 14 days – tested on first day of arrival, and once every 3 days after >>

21 Oct: An agreement between Vietnam and Japan for short-term travel (less than 14 days) between the 2 countries will be applicable from 1 Nov, with priority cases exempted from quarantine, provided that they are tested prior to departure, on arrival, provide their itinerary and only travel to work-related locations >>

7 Oct: Japan will lift its travel advisories for citizens to travel to Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan >>

2 Oct: Singapore has removed quarantine restrictions on travellers arriving from Vietnam, allowing them to make short-term visits. The Singapore Transport Minister has said that their counterparts in Vietnam are considering reciprocating the restrictions for Singaporeans arriving into their countries, but currently they would face quarantine on arrival >>

1 Oct: Foreigners who entered Vietnam from 1 Mar will have their temporary stay permits renewed automatically until 31 Oct >>

28 Sep: Foreigners who are entering HCMC for less than 14 days and are not quarantined are being tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, and then every 2 days after. They are only permitted out from their accommodation to attend meetings and field trips >>

22 Sep: The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has submitted its plans for airlines to bring international pax into the country. There will be 9 inbound flights a week landing at Hanoi and HCMC airports, split between Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air. International carriers allowed to return include Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, China Airline and EVA Air. Airlines must only process bookings for customers who have the details of their quarantine facility, and the host organisation who will receive them. On check-in, they will need to show a negative test result within 3 days of boarding, which must be certified by the local embassy. They must wear face masks, install the contact tracing app Bluezone, and fill out health forms. Entrants are still limited to foreign investors, business executives, experts, highly skilled workers, diplomats, international students – and their family – along with returning Vietnamese and their relatives >>

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19 Sep: The Vietnamese PM has approved the recommendation to reopen commercial flights to Thailand >>

18 Sep: Foreigners and Vietnamese returning to Vietnam who want to stay in government quarantine facilities would need to pay a minimum of $5.16 USD per day >>

15 Sep: The government has permitted the Transport Ministry to restart commercial international flights to mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan from September 15, followed by Laos, Cambodia from September 22. They have also extended the categories of foreigners allowed entry to include international students and family of Vietnamese citizens >>

11 Sep: Foreigners entering Vietnam on commercial flights will need to undergo centralised quarantine from 5-7 days, and then self-isolate for another 14 days should they test negative. The country expects to reopen commercial flights to Guangzhou, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan from 15 Sep, and Laos and Cambodia from 22 Sep. 20,000 passengers are expected to arrive on these flights each month, including Vietnamese citizens, foreign experts, and investors. Tourists will not be permitted yet. They will need to have a negative certificate prior to departure, and will be tested on arrival twice. Foreign passengers will need to pay for all quarantine and testing, as well as install the app Bluezone >>

3 Sep: The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has submitted plans for international flights to be reinstated to Guangzhou, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Cambodia and Laos on 15 Sep. All pax would be quarantined on arrival (at their own cost), with around 5,000 expected to enter a week. Transit passengers would not be allowed into the country. Pax would also need to provide a negative test prior to departure, and be tested on arrival. The CAAV has also asked the Ministry of Health to publish a place of real-time PCR labs, as travellers may also need tests to be able to leave Vietnam >>

VACCINE

NEW 8 Jan: The first stage human trials of Vietnam’s 2nd vaccine candidate will start trial on 21 Jan >>

NEW 5 Jan: Vietnam may produce the Sputnik V vaccine under a technology transfer agreement >>

NEW 4 Jan: Vietnam has agreed to buy 30 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, and are also looking at Pfizer, Sputnik V and Chinese manufacturers. It would be eligible to obtain vaccines for 16% of its population via COVAX >>

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2 Jan: The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) has sought approval to begin human trials of Vietnam’s 2nd potential vaccine in Jan, 2 months ahead of schedule >>

22 Dec: The PM has urged vaccine research units to speed up testing and employ creative methods >>

17 Dec: Vietnam has started its human trials for its home-developed Nanocovax vaccine >>

11 Nov: Vietnamese Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology will be allowed to proceed with its clinic trials of Nanocovax on 17 Dec. The Ministry of Health plans to roll out a vaccination program in H2 2021 if the vaccine is successful. It is also in talks with the UK, USA, Russia and China to import vaccines >>

9 Nov: The Ministry of Health has said that a mass rollout of vaccines is at least 2 years away, in Q2 2022 >>

6 Dec: Vietnam will start human trials of its locally produced vaccine on 10 Dec from Nanogen >>

6 Nov: Vietnam plans to continue its containment strategy for COVID-19, rather than rush into procuring vaccines which could be financially risky. The deputy PM also said that they have to accept the pandemic will last until the end of 2021, and their homegrown vaccine would likely not be available until end 2021 >>

INBOUND

NEW 9 Jan: The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will use flexible measures to stimulate domestic tourism, basing it on the “Vietnamese going on tours in Vietnam” and the “Vietnam, safe and attractive tourism” campaigns. Regional cooperation should also be a focus >>

NEW 9 Jan: Vietnam’s Yoko Onsen, a Japanese-style onsen in Quang Ninh province, has started to gain interest from locals after a TV broadcast on its popularity >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been urged to speed up the digitisation of the sector and provide a better visitor experience. It hopes to serve 80 million domestic tourists in 2021, with $14.57 billion USD in revenue >>

NEW 8 Jan: The Con Dao islands have been listed in The New York Times’ “52 places to love in 2021” list >>

NEW 8 Jan: HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat Airport runway will be inaugurated on 10 Jan after upgrading works for 6 months >>

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NEW 8 Jan: New World Hotels & Resorts will manage the New World Nha Trang Hotel, expected to open in 2023 >>

NEW 7 Jan: Doing things that matter or make a difference is what Vietnamese are most looking forward to for travel in 2021, according to a new survey from Agoda. They are also more likely to commit to travelling sustainably >>

NEW 7 Jan: Hanoi’s Department of Culture and Sports has said that unnecessary festivals may be cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic – they will establish a group to inspect festivals accordingly >>

NEW 7 Jan: A new tourism campaign, Discover Vietnam, to promote domestic tourism, was launched on YouTube in Jan by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), VinPearl and Google. They will feature clips from YouTube creators who will be a virtual tour guide and promote their experience of Vietnam >>

NEW 7 Jan: The PM has recognised 7 new monuments as special national sites, as well as 24 artifacts as national treasures >>

NEW 7 Jan: VietJet have been recognised as one of the world’s top 10 low-cost airlines for airline safety and product rating by AirlineRatings >>

NEW 7 Jan: Son La is developing its agrotourism products as part of their strategy to change its agricultural sector to develop the economy >>

NEW 7 Jan: A rural market was organised at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi, highlighting the cultural diversity of Vietnam >>

NEW 6 Jan: HSBC sees Vietnam’s GDP growing in 2021 at 7.8%, down from its previous forecast of 8.1%, but it would remain a “shining star” in 2021 >>

NEW 6 Jan: The Deputy PM has asked the National Council for Cultural Heritage to focus on the preservation and promotion of relics >>

NEW 6 Jan: Passengers on Vietnam Airlines will need to complete a compulsory health declaration form within 24 hours of domestic departures >>

NEW 6 Jan: Students in Hanoi will have 9 days off over Tet, from 8-16 Feb, 2 additional days compared to the standard period approved by the PM >>

NEW 6 Jan: Phu Quoc is estimated to have received more than 3 million arrivals in 2020, with numbers increasing by around 50% in Nov and Dec 2020 >>

NEW 5 Jan: Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai (40km east of HCMC) started construction on 5 Jan, and is expected to eventually become the country’s largest airport >>

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NEW 5 Jan: Quang Nam will establish the Song Thanh National Park, to conserve the biodiversity of the province >>

NEW 5 Jan: Sapa authorities are reminding tourists not to buy goods from local children out of concerns for child labour >>

NEW 5 Jan: Sapa’s airport project will start to be assessed by the government >>

NEW 5 Jan: Quang Ninh saw 140,000 tourists over 1-2 Jan, with 110,000 staying overnight. The province is implementing a tourism stimulus package worth $21.4 million USD in 2021, with free tickets to Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Museum and Yen Tu on 1 Jan, and 50% discount on other days. Its target is 10 million tourists for 2021, and 20 trillion VND >>

NEW 5 Jan: An exhibition in Phuoc Long town will showcase the potential of Binh Phuoc province and Phuoc Long town for tourism >>

NEW 5 Jan: HCMC is developing plans for riverside tourism activities along the Saigon River from 2020-2045. The area would be developed into a public area, with infrastructure such as river embankments, wharves, pedestrian routes, rental bicycles, and a metro transit station >>

NEW 4 Jan: A reef along Ke Ga Beach in Binh Thuan province has been destroyed by a private tourism project, with an inspection by the authorities now underway >>

NEW 4 Jan: Hanoi welcomed 120,000 visitors from 1-3 Jan, earning $13 million USD. 114,000 of these were domestic visitors. This number is down 89% YoY >>

NEW 4 Jan: An extended HCMC-Mekong Delta expressway will shorten the journey to just 2 hours. The extended works began on 4 Jan >>

NEW 4 Jan: HCMC will target 33 million tourists in 2021, generating revenue of $4.33 billion USD. 2020’s revenue was estimated at $3.66 billion USD, down 39.6% YoY and 1.3 million international visitors (-84.8% YoY) and 15.8 million domestic visitors (-48.4% YoY) >>

NEW 4 Jan: Sapa received 65,000 arrivals over the New Year Holiday, 95% of last year’s figure, with some local hotels seeing 100% occupancy rates. It is targeting 3 million visitors in 2021 >>

NEW 4 Jan: Ninh Binh province will aim for 7 million visitors in 2021, as it is hosting the National Tourism Year. It is undertaking improvements such as adding trilingual options to its tourism portal, assessing service development projects and online promotional activities. Over the 3-day New Year holiday, it received 32,000 visitors. In 2020 in total, it had 2.8 million visitors, just 37% of 2019’s number >>

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NEW 4 Jan: Vietravel Airlines started selling tickets on 1 Jan, and plans to operate flights mid-Jan >>

NEW 4 Jan: Vietnam’s Nov domestic flights were just 23% down YoY, with the busiest route between Hanoi-HCMC, with 540 flights per week and load factor of 90% >>

NEW 4 Jan: Vietnam’s Hanoi-HCMC route is the 2nd busiest domestic route in the world in Jan, with 1,020,790 seats available >>

NEW 3 Jan: Dalat city saw 37,000 tourists on 1 Jan, an increase of 27,000 YoY >>

1 Jan: The HCMC Department of Tourism together with the HCMC Tourism Association and Vietnam Airlines held a ceremony to welcome its first visitors to the city for 2021 >>

1 Jan: Hanoi’s Department of Tourism held a ceremony to welcome the first visitors to the city in 2021 >>

1 Jan: Hanoi received 8.65 million visitors in 2020 >>

31 Dec: Kien Giang’s total revenue from tourism in 2020 is estimated at 7.8 trillion VND, down 57.7% YoY, whilst it welcomed 5.2 million tourists, down 40% YoY >>

30 Dec: The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will focus on domestic tourism in 2021, with the tag: “Connection, action and development”. Domestic tourism numbers totalled 56 million, down 34.1% YoY >>

30 Dec: Vietravel Airlines has now been granted its aircraft operator certificate >>

30 Dec: Vietnam is seeing more tourists visiting filming locations, and Hue is now planning to incorporate it into its tourism plans >>

30 Dec: Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport runway 1B will reopen on 31 Dec after upgrades have been completed >>

29 Dec: Booking.com have revealed that Da Lat, Phu Quoc and Sapa are the most searched for Vietnamese domestic travel destinations for the New Year Holiday. 44% of searches are for nature getaways, whilst urban tours are just 22% >>

29 Dec: Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa has received the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) by the Airports Council International (ACI), the 4th to achieve the status in Vietnam >>

29 Dec: A ferry service between HCMC’s Can Gio district and Vung Tau city will begin operation in Jan >>

29 Dec: A pilot scheme extending the pedestrian-free streets around Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi is set to officially start on 1 Jan, with 8 additional streets >>

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28 Dec: Vietnam’s international visitors by air reached 3.8 million in 2020, down 78.6% YoY. 2.8 million were from Asia. In Dec 2020, international visitor numbers were 16,300, down 99% YoY and 8.1% down MoM >>

28 Dec: Danang expects to see a significant increase in domestic tourists over the year-end holidays >>

28 Dec: Halong city is holding a winter carnival on 1 Jan, the first to be held in the province. Quang Ninh’s estimated visitor for 2020 are 8.8 million, down 37% YoY, with foreign arrivals declining 90.7% YoY. It aims to attract 10 million visitors in 2021 >>

28 Dec: Vietnam’s GDP growth was 2.91% in 2020, the lowest rate from 2011- 2020, but one of the world’s highest, the General Statistics Office has said >>

28 Dec: Vietnam has been listed one of the top 10 destinations for solo travel by Lonely Planet >>

28 Dec: Hoi An has launched a new campaign, Wake-Up Hoi An, to revive lantern decorations and tourism in the Old Quarter for Tet. The first 1,000 tourists to visit on 12-14 Feb will be entitled to a promotional package, which allows them to stay a night in a luxury resort >>

27 Dec: HCMC’s Department of Tourism has launched the “Tourism – giving wings to dreams” scheme, which offers 5,000 free one-day tours to disadvantaged children, poor households and families who have provided meritorious service to Vietnam >>

26 Dec: Vietnam Airlines will add premium economy to its A321 aircraft, to upgrade services between HCMC and Hanoi from Jan >>

26 Dec: Quang Ninh held an Ao Dai festival on 26 Dec >>

25 Dec: Hanoi will set off high altitude fireworks on New Year, the first time since 2016 >>

25 Dec: Hanoi expects to welcome 13.16-19.04 million tourists in 2021, up 45- 65.5% YoY. 10.96-15.34 million of these are expected to be domestic tourists, up 50-70% YoY >>

24 Dec: The runway upgrade at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport is expected to be completed by the end of the month >>

24 Dec: An agreement promoting tourism cooperation between Ba Ria–Vung Tau and other localities such as Hanoi, HCMC, Tay Ninh and Can Tho was signed >>

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23 Dec: Domestic tour demand is expected to increase over the next few weeks ahead of Tet. Vietravel expect 35,000 domestic customers over the holiday, an increase of 135% YoY. They are currently receiving 500-600 customer bookings per day >>

23 Dec: Ha Giang province expects 1.4 million tourists by the end of 2020, and revenue of 2 trillion VND >>

22 Dec: 6 travel agents in Hanoi, VietSense Travel, MyTravel, Ascend Travel, AZA Travel, Anh Duong Tour and Asia Land Travel, have formed the Practical Travel Training Center together, with training courses for tourism students or people looking to move into the sector >>

22 Dec: 66 million passengers travelled through Vietnamese airports in 2020, down 43.5% YoY >>

22 Dec: Vietravel Airlines welcomed its first plane, an A321 on 21 Dec >>

22 Dec: Cam Ranh International Airport has been awarded the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) by the Airports Council International (ACI) >>

22 Dec: Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines are increasing the number of flights by 28% between Hanoi and HCMC in Jan. The current number of flights between the 2 cities has increased 2.5X from Aug, with 92,000 pax per week, just 2% down YoY >>

22 Dec: The Quang Nam Tourism Association has called for the government to introduce a stimulus package ASAP, assisting tourism businesses with loans extensions >>

21 Dec: Vietnam Airlines will hold a meeting with its shareholders to source low- interest loans >>

21 Dec: Danang’s tourism department, investment and operation joint-stock company and Airports Corporation of Vietnam have agreed to promote Danang as a safe destination from 2021-2025 >>

21 Dec: Tay Ninh province is aiming to develop tourism revenue from 2021-2025 to 25.4 trillion VND, a 5X increase. It aims to link tourism products in the Ba Den Mountain tourist area, and other local attractions to be an desirable destination >>

21 Dec: Danang will host a Danang New Year Festival from 30 Dec to 3 Jan, with a pedicab parade. Locals and tourists will receive free tickets for a night cruise on the Han River >>

21 Dec: HCMC’s annual countdown music party for New Year’s will be held virtually on 31 Dec >>

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21 Dec: The government is hoping that cultural tourism will account for 20-25% of Vietnam’s total tourism revenue by 2030. It will focus on culinary and heritage values >>

19 Dec: Savills Vietnam has started to see recovery in Vietnam’s tourism, with the highest levels of hotel occupancy in Oct in Hanoi and HCMC since Q2. Hanoi had occupancies up almost 35% with corporate business, and coastal destinations have also increased thanks to MICE. Resorts located in drive-to destinations are seeing a 10-15 percentage points advantage over other resorts, with weekday demand low still. They forecast a positive 2021, but in Q3/ Q4 >>

19 Dec: 3 Vietnamese passengers have been banned from flights for 9 months after disruptive behaviour >>

19 Dec: Vietravel Airlines have revealed their company’s uniforms and its IATA symbol, VU. It hopes to start ticket sales once it has been granted it Aircraft Operator Certificate and will start its first commercial flight in Dec >>

18 Dec: As of 15 Dec, HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport has welcomed 21 million travellers, falling nearly 50% YoY for flights and pax >>

18 Dec: 30 travel businesses and conservation organisations have signed a commitment to support sustainable tourism, and the necessity of a code of conduct on environmentally responsible tourism >>

18 Dec: Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province has seen 10 major storms hit this year. It has welcomed just 65,000 visitors in 2020, far from its original target of 290,000 >>

18 Dec: HCMC will establish paid quarantine wards in hotels within the city >>

17 Dec: HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport has now completed its runway upgrade, and should be put into service on 31 Dec >>

17 Dec: HCMC’s agency, department and organisation employees will be given Jan 1-3 as a public holiday >>

17 Dec: 92 old factories in Hanoi are on a potential list for transformation into creative spaces >>

17 Dec: Pandaw Cruises will restart river cruises and Halong Bay cruises by Jul 2021 >>

16 Dec: HCMC has eased the ban on several areas which were linked to the recent COVID-19 cases, confirming that no locally transmitted cases had been detected since 2 Dec >>

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16 Dec: The HCMC department of Tourism will continue to support tourism businesses, and it is aiming to receive 7 million arrivals in 2021, under a scenario where the pandemic is well controlled >>

16 Dec: 80% of hotels are closed in Thua-Thien Hue province, and 8,000 tourism workers have lost jobs >>

16 Dec: IHG Hotels & Resorts will open its ‘voco’ brand in Danang in 2021 >>

15 Dec: The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) is proposing a second airport for Hanoi in its vision for 2050. The 2nd airport would be operational by 2040 >>

15 Dec: Vietnam Airlines will offer 414,000 extra seats over Tet from 27 Jan to 28 Feb, meaning a total of 2.4 million seats will be operated over the holiday period. Flights are 50-90% booked already >>

14 Dec: The National Assembly has approved the upgrade of Phu Quoc to city status >>

14 Dec: The number of visitors to Hanoi in November increased by 29% MoM >>

14 Dec: HCMC authorities want to the Cu Chi Tunnels to be recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site >>

14 Dec: Passengers without face masks on planes could have to pay a $130 USD fine >>

12 Dec: The upgraded runway at HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport is now 90% complete, and is undergoing a test run before planning to open on 31 Dec >>

11 Dec: The Asian Development Bank has revised its forecast for Vietnam’s GDP growth to 2.3% for 2020, from its previous forecast of 1.8% >>

12 Dec: The Ministry of Information and Communications has launched ezCloud, a new tourism business and management platform. It can be used by hoteliers to manage the business, as well as tools for businesses to sell accommodation and entertainment tickets online >>

11 Dec: The 30% cut in environmental tax on jet fuel will remain until the end of 2021, the government has approved. The aviation industry has flown 29.4 million pax from Jan-Nov, down 41.7% YoY >>

10 Dec: Google has revealed that Cat Ba was the most searched for destination by Vietnamese searchers in 2020. Other top destinations included Da Lat, Sapa, Danang, Nha Trang, Thai Son Island, Ta Dung, Moc Chau, Sam Son and Co To >>

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9 Dec: A survey has shown that Vietnamese strongly support the government’s COVID-19 social distancing order in April >>

8 Dec: Thua Thien-Hue are putting together different scenarios for tourism in 2021, estimating that if the pandemic is not controlled domestically and internationally, they might welcome 2-2.2 million visitors, mostly domestic, if the pandemic is controlled domestically but not internationally they could see 3-3.5 million visitors, and if vaccines are successful and the pandemic is controlled, it could welcome 4-4.5 million tourists, with 8 trillion VND in revenue. Thua Thien- Hue will start organising sports and cultural events from this month to promote tourism >>

8 Dec: Students who were told to stay at home after an outbreak in HCMC, returned to school >>

8 Dec: Danang is developing 2 scenarios for tourism from 2021-2025: 1. Should the vaccine be rolled out in Q3 2021, they will launch a domestic tourism stimulus program with other localities, estimating 60-70% of 2019 visitor levels, with domestic tourists at 90% and foreigners 30%. They hope by 2022 to see 2019 levels of tourism, and by 2025 receive 12.3 million visitors. 2. If the vaccine is rolled out in late 2021, they see only 55-65% of 2019 domestic visitor levels, and 5% of foreigners. 2022 would see 65-70% of 2019, and 2025 levels would reach 11.6 million >>

7 Dec: 1.1 million domestic tourists visited Quang Ninh in Nov 2020, doubling October’s visitors. It generated 73.2 million USD in Nov, and from JanNov has seen 646.7 million USD. Its total Jan-Nov visitor numbers are 8.8 million, down 37% from 2019, with just 536,000 foreigners, -90.7% YoY. The locality aims to welcome 3 million domestic tourists in Q4, and 10 million in 2021 >>

7 Dec: The Deputy PM has said that HCMC’s COVID-19 situation was “basically under control”, and has gone 5 days with no local transmission recorded >>

7 Dec: Water puppet performances will be performed at the HCMC Museum of History this week >>

7 Dec: The exhibition industry is only expected to start recovering mid 2021, and rebound in 2022. Businesses have seen revenue losses of 80-90%, with major shows cancelled >>

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6 Dec: HCMC appears to have controlled the latest outbreak in the city, going 3 days with no more locally transmitted cases reported. The decisive factor was being able to identify the source of transmission, which made contact tracing faster >>

5 Dec: The Transport Ministry will inspect Vietnam Airlines’ anti-pandemic protocols by 10 Dec, checking employee supervision in its quarantine facilities, amongst other procedures >>

5 Dec: Danang Airport has been awarded the Airports Council International’s health accreditation for its COVID-19 prevention measures, the second in the country after Hanoi’s Noi Bai to receive it >>

4 Dec: Quang Nam’s People’s Committee have held a symposium to identify solutions and challenges to conserve and develop heritage tourism >>

4 Dec: Vietravel Airlines will receive its first plane at HCMC airport on 5 Dec, an A321. It plans to operate 80 domestic flights per week in its initial period >>

4 Dec: Kien Giang’s 323 tourism projects have received $15.38 billion USD in funding as of Nov 2020, with Phu Quoc attracting 279 of those projects >>

4 Dec: A workshop was held in Danang to look at waste-free tourism >>

4 Dec: HCMC inspectors will continue to make surprise inspections of quarantine facilities, after the latest outbreak >>

4 Dec: Hanoi has received 715,000 tourists in Nov, an increase of 29.1% vs Oct, with revenue reaching 1.7 trillion VND, down 80.6% YoY but up 40.9% vs Oct. Jan- Nov tourists are now 8 million, with 26.62 trillion VND generated >>

4 Dec: Vietjet will receive $86.6 million USD via sale and leaseback deals on some of its aircraft >>

3 Dec: The PM has ordered that lockdowns should not be implemented in COVID- free areas, as well as calling for a ban on non-essential events which gather crowds >>

3 Dec: Phu Bai International Airport will start an expansion project worth $21.48 million USD, which will allow its apron capacity to grow from 8 planes to 13 in phase 1. The first phase is expected to be complete by year-end 2021, and by 2030, the airport is expected to welcome 9 million passengers/ year >>

3 Dec: The government is drafting stimulus packages and support for priority industries, including tourism, hospitality, catering and transportation >>

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3 Dec: Vietnam Airlines has issued an apology after one of its flight attendants violated quarantine protocols, leading to local transmission >>

3 Dec: All direct contacts (852) of the recent locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 have come back negative >>

3 Dec: The flight attendant who violated quarantine protocols which resulted in a locally transmitted case could face criminal charges >>

3 Dec: Dalat Opera House will open next week, the first in the city. Dalat is working to market itself as one of the country’s most attractive tourist cities, and they hope that the Opera House will play a role in this >>

3 Dec: 61 employees of Vietnam Airlines have been quarantined at 2 hotels in HCMC >>

2 Dec: Ken Giang province saw 400,000 tourists in Nov, a 26% increase vs Oct >>

2 Dec: O Long tea hills, a newly popular tourism spot famous for its cherry blossom trees, in Sapa have stopped receiving visitors due to the fear of new locally transmitted cases >>

2 Dec: 100,000 students have been asked to stay at home after it was discovered a locally transmitted case studied at a campus >>

2 Dec: The typhoons in the last 2 months in Vietnam have caused $1.3 billion USD of damage and killed 192 people >>

1 Dec: Vietnam confirmed its first locally transmitted case after 88 days, a man who had contact with a Vietnamese Airlines flight attendant who violated quarantine protocols >>

1 Dec: Azerai Ke Ga Bay has been launched as the 3rd Azerai Resorts property in Vietnam >>

1 Dec: Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Danang will develop a joint tourism promotion program to boost travel to the central region. Destinations, museums and attractions are offering discounts from 50-100% on entrance tickets from Dec to Jun 2021, whilst 200 tourism companies are offering promotions of 20-40% on tours in December >>

1 Dec: Pepper farmers in Kien Giang province are developing pepper orchards in conjunction with tourism services to improve their revenues >>

1 Dec: Hoi An’s ancient town will offer free entrance from 1-4 Dec to mark its 21st anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old town will hold performances, art exhibitions and a race >>

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1 Dec: Khanh Hoa province has seen a 15% increase in its luxury hotels occupancy levels in Nov compared to Oct, after stimulus measures such as price reductions have had a positive response. The Tourism Department is aiming to attract over 350,000 visitors in 2020, and hopes that the tourist numbers to Nha Trang will increase over the Christmas and New Year holidays >>

30 Nov: The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has held a conference on restructuring the tourist market in Vietnam, reducing dependence on certain markets. They want to focus on high-spending tourists and long-stays, increase the number of tourists from ASEAN, Western Europe, North America, India and the Middle East. They also want to look at more open visa mechanisms, build a digital database of the market, and develop high-quality personnel >>

30 Nov: Vietnam’s international visitors in Nov were 17,700, down 99% YoY, but up 19.6% vs Oct. Visitors were mainly from China, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Laos. Jan-Nov tourist arrivals are 3.8 million, down 76.6%, whilst revenue was 16.6 trillion VND, down 58.6% >>

30 Nov: Danang will launch a year-end promotional campaign to attract visitors over Christmas and New Year’s Eve >>

30 Nov: The government aims to develop Quang Ninh and Phu Quoc into world- class marine tourism destinations >>

29 Nov: Quang Ninh province is aiming to attract 10 million domestic visitors in 2021, focusing on the development of night tourism. It will also try to attract strategic investment in coastal areas, and promote sustainability for Halong Bay. They are also extending the tourism stimulus package until the end of 2021 >>

29 Nov: The Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board has said that tourism would recover 55-75% of domestic revenue if the government would defer debt payments for airlines and travel agents until the end of 2021. Vietravel has asked for a cut in corporate tax from 10 to 6%, as well as offer stimulus packages for Vietnamese travellers to encourage travel. Hanoi and HCMC have also pledged to increase tourism to the central region by 20-25% >>

29 Nov: Dalattourism company has now been inscribed in Vietnam’s National Brands product list for the first time >>

28 Nov: A National Conference on Tourism, “Linking, Action and Development” took place in Quang Nam, with a focus on solutions for tourism recovery, including digital transformation and cooperation models for investors >>

28 Nov: Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport in Vietnam is the first airport in Vietnam to receive the Airports Council International health accreditation for its health protocols >>

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27 Nov: Sapa’s ‘love market’ event will take place from 28 Nov – 5 Dec, highlighting indigenous cultural values and educating tourists about the traditional ‘love market’. Sapa is expected to welcome just 1.2 million local and foreign visitors in 2020, a decline vs 2019’s 3.5 million >>

27 Nov: Vietjet foresee recovery only in 2023, with the government’s help required to help airlines – it has requested a refinancing package of 4 trillion VVN. Bamboo Airways has also requested a refinancing package, and the Deputy Minister of Transport is set to review the requests >>

27 Nov: Tet 2021 will be 7 days, from 10-16 Feb. There will also be a 4-day break for National Day in 2021, from 2-5 Sep >>

27 Nov: New World Hotel & Resorts will rebrand a new all-villa resort on Phu Quoc which is set to open in 2021 >>

26 Nov: A 740km coastal road which will run the length of the Mekong Delta, connecting to HCMC has been approved. Construction would likely start in 2021 and be complete by 2025 >>

26 Nov: The Dak Nong geopark in the Central Highlands has been recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, the 3rd such one in Vietnam >>

26 Nov: 80 paragliders will perform over An Giang province, in an attempt to diversify tourism products and introduce the new paragliding spot at Can Tho mountain >>

25 Nov: HCMC’s Jan-Oct visitors were 14.6 million, down 36% YoY. Their local tourism recovery has been boosted through its cooperation with other provinces, such as the Northeast province. Bamboo Airways has said that these linkages will help to improve the tourism products of the Northeast region. The Deputy PM has said that more should be done to develop sustainable tourism >>

25 Nov: The PM has approved a national conference on tourism, held at Hoiana resort, Quang Nam province, with around 359 delegates >>

25 Nov: A Nor and Ta Lang have been named Vietnam’s top community-based tourism villages >>

24 Nov: Phu Quoc in Kien Giang province held a tourism promotion program, with travel firms introducing the potential of the destination. From Jan-Oct, the province welcomed 5.2 million visitors, -40.7% YoY >>

24 Nov: The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) saw tens of thousands of people buying air tickets and tours >>

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24 Nov: Vietnam will extend a 30% reduction in environment tax on jet fuel until the end of 2021 to aid airlines >>

24 Nov: A forum will be held to promote tourism development between Hanoi, HCMC and the Central Key Economic Region (Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh) >>

23 Nov: Can Tho in the Mekong Delta will hold a tourism festival on 27 Nov, including cultural and arts events, a light festival and traditional foods. Local tourism agencies are offering eco-tours, as part of the city’s strategy for tourism development. 10,000 people are expected to visit >>

23 Nov: The HCMC Dancers Association will hold the 2020 HCMC City Dance Arts Festival from 24-26 Nov >>

23 Nov: Agoda have said that the best pockets of recovery they have seen are in Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam >>

20 Nov: The Vietnam International Travel Mart is underway in Hanoi, with over 10,000 packages on sale >>

20 Nov: Hanoi has signed 9 cooperation agreements in 40 cities and provinces nationwide, created new routings, organised fam trips and attended promotional fairs nationwide to boost its tourism. Its visitor numbers were 7.27 million from Jan-Oct, down 68.9% >>

20 Nov: A tourism exhibition which is promoting cultural heritage from across Vietnam was launched in Hanoi >>

20 Nov: Ben Tre and Tra Vinh provinces will combine their offerings to create new tours and products, including traditional cultural aspects from the 2 locations. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reminded the 2 provinces to focus on tourism products for shopping, resorts, healthcare and MICE to increase visitor spending >>

19 Nov: More than 162 businesses and 120 individuals who contributed to tourism in 2019 were awarded at the Vietnam International Travel Mart >>

19 Nov: A new report by HP has shown that Vietnam’s SMEs are optimistic that their business will rebound, with 65% believing that they will thrive, and 41% still anticipate growth >>

19 Nov: 100+ tourism companies have joined Hanoi’s domestic tourism stimulus program, with 346 tours in total. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways are also supporting the program. It is working towards a goal of a 45% YoY increase in domestic visitors of more than 11 million >>

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19 Nov: Hoi An reopened its pedestrian zone after a month of being closed due to flooding. Tickets to the ancient town will also be reduced by 50% from 18 Nov to year-end >>

19 Nov: Hanoi – HCMC was the world’s 2nd busiest air route >>

19 Nov: New river tours will begin in Can Tho City, to boost tourism >>

19 Nov: New World Phu Quoc Resort will open on Phu Quoc Island in 2021 >>

19 Nov: The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) proposes that Vietnam’s tourism should be restructured in a way to ensure sustainable growth of international tourist, as well as diversifying its source markets and stabilising the growth of domestic tourists >>

19 Nov: The IMF sees Vietnam’s nominal GDP rising to 4th in ASEAN, surpassing Singapore and Malaysia in 2020, with a forecast 1.6% increase >>

18 Nov: The Mekong Delta provinces have seen a drop in tourists, with Can Tho City down 53% YoY, and Ken Giang down 52% YoY. An Giang has seen a slight increase in numbers recently after the introduction of stimulus programs, and Dong Thap is offering special promotions on handicrafts and specialities for tourists. Can Tho is aiming to achieve 60% of this year’s target >>

18 Nov: HCMC will hold a street arts festival next year from Apr-Nov, and will be sponsored by the French government. It will include mural painting, a street arts exhibition and international seminars >>

18 Nov: The HCMC authorities will pay out unemployment benefits of $1.16 million USD to 27,000 workers in “non-essential” sectors, including museums and historical relics >>

18 Nov: The first private museum in Ha Tinh province has opened, showcasing 4,000 artifacts and rare books >>

16 Nov: Vietjet will partner with HCMC and the northwest, northeast and central regions to promote tourism development >>

16 Nov: Long Thanh International Airport is planned to start construction in Dec and be completed by 2025. It is just 40km east of HCMC and expected to take up overflow from HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport >>

16 Nov: CNBC in the USA is now airing a new advert promoting golf tourism in Vietnam >>

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15 Nov: Storm Vamco hit Vietnam on 15 Nov, injuring at least 5 people and causing infrastructure damage with winds up to 90kmh. 650,000 people have been evacuated before the storm hit to higher ground to minimise the impact >>

13 Nov: More tourism and cultural festivals will take place over the next few weeks, including the Bac Ha Winter Festival in Sapa from 20-22 Nov and a week- long event to allow tourists to admire the wild sunflowers in Chu Dang Ya Commune in the Central Highlands >>

13 Nov: The National Assembly of Vietnam will decide next week whether to approve a $520 million USD rescue package for Vietnam Airlines, with the government underwriting the majority of a capital increase, and soft loans from state lenders. The National Assembly will also decide whether to reduce domestic airlines’ environmental tax by up to 70% for 2021 >>

13 Nov: The Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) has said that Vietnam’s economy could be bigger than Singapore’s by 2029 >>

13 Nov: Vietjet and UPS have created a joint operations venture between Asia and the USA for cargo >>

12 Nov: New rules mean that people without masks will be unable to enter public places in Hanoi, as authorities tighten up rules ahead of its winter >>

12 Nov: Storm Etau claimed the lives of 2 Central Region residents >>

12 Nov: 3 new tourism destinations in Ha Giang, Lung Khuy Cave, the H’mong Village Resort and the Mong ethnic community tourism village have been recognised >>

12 Nov: The Imperial International Hotel College have signed an agreement with the University of Finance and Marketing in HCMC to improve the quality of tourism training >>

12 Nov: A brocade culture festival will be held in Dak Nong Province from 24-29 Nov, along with a convention which will call for more investment in Dak Nong’s tourism >>

11 Nov: Hoi An was submerged under more than a metre of floodwaters from Storm Etau >>

4 Nov: A second economic stimulus package from the government will focus on the hardest hit industries, including aviation, tourism and consumption. It would potentially remove difficulties for aviation companies, with the government providing guarantees for loans, estimated at around $474 million USD. It has also proposed a 70% reduction on environmental protection tax on jet fuel in 2021. Tourism companies would also see an 80% reduction in deposits for 2 years,

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allowing them to have more working capital. There would also be a 5 month extension in tax and land fee payments. VAT may also be reduced on consumer goods >>

2 Oct: A 30% corporate income tax cut for selected businesses for the 2020 financial year has been approved >>

2 Oct: HCMC has launched a 2nd stimulus worth $517 million USD for SMEs. It includes preferential loans to allow workers to retain workers and maintain production. Around 100,000-120,000 tourism workers have lost their jobs, with 4,400 tourism businesses affected >>

15 Jun: The Tourism Minister has encouraged Vietnamese people to travel within the country after 60 days of no community transmission. Four phases of Vietnam’s reopening will be:

1. Domestic tourism available and encouraged – current position 2. Cautious “tourism exchanges” with safe countries 3. Expanding the list of regional tourists who can visit Vietnam 4. International arrivals returning to the “pre-COVID-19 normal” >>

30 May: New economic measures have been taken by the government, including:

• Reduction of 15% on rental fees for state-owned land and properties for businesses forced to stop operation by COVID-19 • Waiving fees for local airlines, reducing landing and take-off charges and air navigation services fees by 50% for domestic flights from Mar-Sep. • Airlines are also allowed to offer zero air fares for certain services • Mobile money scheme will also be allowed to pilot for low value transactions • MSMEs could also benefit from a proposed 30% cut in corporate tax this year >>

14 May: License fees for international and domestic tourism firms has been reduced by 50% from 6 May until 2020 year end. Fees for a tour guide card have also been reduced from $14 USD to $4 USD >>

29 Apr: The Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board has asked for a government guaranteed credit package of $6.4 billion to help tourism businesses with loans, valued at around 25% of total tourism revenue in 2019, provided they meet certain conditions >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/vietnam/

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OUTBOUND

NEW 8 Jan: Vietnam Airlines expects its domestic pax traffic to grow in 2021 vs 2020, approaching a recovery threshold. An optimistic scenario would see its operations returning to the same scale as 2019 by 2022, whilst a conservative scenario would be by 2023 >>

31 Dec: Vietnam Airlines will issue $346 million USD in new shares, to be completed by Jun 2021 >>

30 Dec: Vietnam Airlines now expects losses of $521.11 million USD for 2020, 17% lower than its August forecast, in an improvement. In 2020, it operated 96,500 flights, down 48% YoY, with 14.23 million pax, down 51% YoY. The airline’s plan for the next 5 years is to restore production and business activities, undertake restructuring, ensure lean production and improve business efficacy >>

30 Dec: Vietnam Airlines has a new CEO from 1 Jan, Le Hong Ha >>

29 Dec: Semi-commercial flights from Bangkok to HCMC are scheduled to launch on 8 Jan by Thai Vietjet once per week >>

18 Dec: The Taiwan Tourism Bureau will offer free virtual tours of Taiwan in Dec, with tour guides livestreaming attractions >>

26 Nov: The government expects Vietnam Airlines to make a loss of $604 million to 647 million USD this year, taking up to 3 years to fully recover >>

25 Nov: The Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) organised a programme, “Korea Night 2020” for Vietnamese outbound travel companies in Hanoi and HCMC. It aimed to introduce MICE tourism spaces, new destinations and the KTO’s marketing recovery activities >>

20 Nov: Vietnam Airlines won the top spot for YouGov Best Brands study. The airline scored slightly lower than last year, 61.5 down from 63.7 >>

20 Nov: Vietnam Airlines has spent more on disinfection equipment, spraying disinfectant after each landing on certain domestic and all international routes >>

17 Nov: The $520 million USD rescue plan for Vietnam Airlines has been unanimously approved by the National Assembly. It includes refinancing and extending credit deadlines for the airline >>

View older updates from February onwards on our dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/vietnam/

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ABOUT PEAR ANDERSON

Pear Anderson is a boutique travel-industry consultancy firm, experts in Southeast Asian outbound tourism. They partner across the spectrum of tourism-related organisations to build a lasting foundation in the region.

The global Muslim travel segment is an additional specialisation. Pear Anderson specialises in the Muslim market, providing unique insights, research and training on this lucrative segment.

For more information on how we can help you to understand the Southeast Asian tourism market, contact us at: [email protected] http://www.pearanderson.com

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