THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN WEEKLY SUMMARY TOURISM 13 DEC 2020 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. View this information online and more on our frequently updated dashboard at: https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ Sign up to be added to our weekly mailing list, with this report sent out every Sunday: https://insights.pearanderson.com/sea-covid-summary THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY IMPACT SUMMARY Week ending Sunday 13th December 2020 INBOUND TRAVEL OUTBOUND TRAVEL COUNTRY LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS RESTRICTIONS CASES DEATHS Cambodia Partial Visa restrictions Discouraged 359 0 Indonesia Partial Visa restrictions Permitted 617,820 18,819 Laos None Visa restrictions Discouraged 41 0 Malaysia Partial Visa restrictions Restricted 83,475 415 Myanmar Partial Visa restrictions Discouraged 107,215 2,245 Philippines Partial Visa restrictions Permitted 449,400 8,733 Singapore Partial Visa restrictions Restricted 58,320 29 Thailand None Visa restrictions Flight restriction 4,209 60 Vietnam None Visa restrictions Flight restriction 1,397 35 Data accurate as of 20:49 (UTC+8) on 13 Dec 2020 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 13th December 2020 TYPE OF VACCINE DOSES % OF POP ESTIMATED COUNTRY Secured or In Talks SECURED COVERED ROLL-OUT SOURCES Cambodia China, Sputnik V - - - 1, 2 AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Indonesia Sinovac, Merah Putih; Pfizer, ~ 360 mil ~ 67% Jan 2021 1, 2 Sputnik V Laos China, Sputnik V - - - 1, 2 Malaysia Pfizer, China 12.8 mil 20% Q1 2021 1, 2 Myanmar China - - - 1 AstraZeneca; China, Sputnik Philippines 2.6 mil 0.9% Q2 2021 1, 2 V, Pfizer Not released, locally Not Not Singapore - 1 developed Available Available AstraZeneca, locally Thailand 26 mil 19% Mid-2021 1 developed Sputnik V, locally Vietnam 50-150 mil 26-78% Unknown 1 developed; China Data accurate as of 20:46 (UTC+8) on 13 Dec 2020. Sources: Various Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 13 Dec 2020 Update https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY Licence fee exemption extended for tourism businesses CAMBODIA until 31 Dec 2021, but more needs to be done. On Page 4 • Gov. to procure 1 million doses of vaccine • Koh Rong road development now at 30% Bali Airport’s domestic pax numbers jump by 50+% from INDONESIA Oct to Nov, expects 387k domestic pax over year-end. On Page 13 • Jakarta extends its transitional PSBB until 21 Dec • UNWTO estimates Bali would be ready to reopen • to int’l tourists before Christmas Laos focusing on ecotourism and agritourism in 2021 to LAOS attract more foreign visitors. On Page 38 • Skills for Tourism Project continues to be • Vang Vieng-Vientiane highway opening successful scheduled for 20 Dec Quarantine period for those entering Malaysia MALAYSIA shortened from 14 to 10 days. On Page 43 • International arrivals from Jan-Sep -78.6% YoY, • Ministry of Tourism looking at creating travel welcoming just 4.29 million bubbles with green zone countries MYANMAR Cases cross the 100,000 mark, with 74% from Yangon. On Page 74 • Agritourism to be used in 5 states and regions to • Community based tourism planned around Nay support tourism Pyi Taw Government’s tourism financial aid sees just 281 loan PHILIPPINES applications, 175 mil PHP paid out from 6 bil PHP fund. On Page 82 • Cebu province may reopen its borders to Central • 5 tourists on Boracay Island found to have Visayas residents in next 2 weeks submitted false COVID-19 test results World Economic Forum (WEF), usually held in Davos, SINGAPORE will be held in Singapore in May 2021. On Page 109 • False positive case on cruise to nowhere • Singapore opens up unilaterally to arrivals from highlights stringent protocols in place Taiwan with no quarantine required Special Tourist Visa applications now permitted from THAILAND any country; only 825 tourists entered on STV so far. On Page 138 • TAT expects 3.11 million Thais to travel over the • Northern Thailand hotels have seen occupancy long weekend with 12.6 billion THB spend rates drop to 50% due to new fear of COVID-19 Deputy PM says HCMC’s COVID-19 situation is “basically VIETNAM under control”. On Page 172 • Cat Ba most searched for destination on Google • 30% cut in environmental tax on jet fuel by Vietnamese in 2020 extended until end of 2021 Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 13 Dec 2020 Update https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY 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 Schools, entertainment venues, museums, cinemas are closed. Gatherings limited STATUS to 20 pax. 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 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 >> 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 Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 13 Dec 2020 Update https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY 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 >> 7 Nov: Cambodia is set to reform its immigration and visa policies next year, making them more bureaucratic and expensive. They may introduce a longer stay visa >> 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 >> 30 Oct: The Ministry of Tourism has drafted a special tourism policy which is being discussed with the private sector – it aims to bring tourists in from low-risk countries to certain tourism zones in the country. Their special tourist categories include those who will do business, invest, have accommodation in Cambodia and retirees. The special tourists should be of high quality and good resources >> 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 NEW 12 Dec: The WHO has said that vaccines could be available in Cambodia in mid- 2021 or earlier >> NEW 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 Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 13 Dec 2020 Update https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY will be sourced from. Its community cases have risen to 39 from the Zando cluster >> NEW 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 13 Dec: Cambodia’s local transmission from the 29 Nov incident has remained at 40 >> NEW 10 Dec: Some hotels in Mondulkiri and Kratie provinces have been closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 >> NEW 10 Dec: The Ministry of Tourism will extend the licence fee exemption for all tourism businesses until 31 Dec 2021.