THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN WEEKLY SUMMARY TOURISM 20 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 20th December 2020 INBOUND TRAVEL OUTBOUND TRAVEL COUNTRY LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS RESTRICTIONS CASES DEATHS Cambodia Partial Visa restrictions Discouraged 362 0 Indonesia Partial Visa restrictions Permitted 664,930 19,880 Laos None Visa restrictions Discouraged 41 0 Malaysia Partial Visa restrictions Restricted 91,969 437 Myanmar Partial Visa restrictions Discouraged 115,187 2,424 Philippines Partial Visa restrictions Permitted 459,789 8,947 Singapore Partial Visa restrictions Restricted 58,422 29 Thailand Partial Quarantine Flight restriction 4,907 60 Vietnam None Visa restrictions Flight restriction 1,411 35 Data accurate as of 20:32 (UTC+8) on 20 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 20th December 2020 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, Indonesia Sinovac, Merah Putih; Pfizer, ~ 360 mil ~ 67% Jan 2021 1, 2 Sputnik V Laos China, Sputnik V - - 2021 1, 2, 3 Malaysia Pfizer, China, AstraZeneca 12.8 mil 20% Feb 2021 1, 2, 3 Myanmar COVAX, China Not Available 20% Apr 2021 1, 2 AstraZeneca; China, Sputnik Philippines 2.6 mil 0.9% Q1 2021 1, 2, 3, 4 V, Pfizer, Moderna, Covovax Moderna, Pfizer, SinoVac, Singapore Not Available 100% End 2020 1, 2 locally developed AstraZeneca, locally Thailand 26 mil 19% Mid-2021 1 developed Sputnik V, locally Vietnam 50-150 mil 26-78% May 2021 1, 2 developed; China Data accurate as of 20:33 (UTC+8) on 20 Dec 2020. Sources: Various Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 20 Dec 2020 Update https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY COVID outbreak under control with no transmitted cases CAMBODIA for 4 consecutive days. On Page 4 • Cambodia to obtain 20% of its vaccine through • Angkor Wat celebrates 28th year of UNESCO COVAX World Heritage Bali’s gov. triggers 317 billion IDR of cancellations with INDONESIA last-minute, new RT-PCR requirements. On Page 14 • Jakarta imposes stricter regulations over year- • Tourism businesses feel optimistic that a vaccine end period will revive the industry Gov. concerned over possible outbreak, cancels Luang LAOS Prabang New Year festivities. On Page 39 • Vang Vieng Music Fest cancelled • Expects to receive and distribute vaccine in 2021 Domestic tourism picking up for year-end; reopening of MALAYSIA tourism attractions in CMCO areas permitted. On Page 43 • 1 million doses of Pfizer vaccine should arrive in • Malaysia Airlines’ future still in doubt Feb MYANMAR Domestic flights reopen 16 Dec after 3-month hiatus. On Page 73 • Doses for 3% of population due to arrive in Apr • Plans to resume international commercial flights 2021 via COVAX as soon as possible DOT calling for standardised domestic tourism protocols PHILIPPINES as current setup “confusing”. On Page 81 • DOT finalise deal to offer subsidised RT-PCR • Gov. warns of potential spike up to 4,000 cases/ tests for travellers day during the festive season Phase 3 of lockdown easing starts 28 Dec; vaccine SINGAPORE procured for all Singaporeans, first delivery by year-end. On Page 107 • Segregated inbound business traveller program, • Singapore and Vietnam, France to finalise Connect@Singapore, to open mid-Jan Reciprocal Green Lane by early 2021 Spike of 500+ locally transmitted cases in Samut THAILAND Sakhon, provincial lockdown implemented. On Page 136 • We Travel Together domestic stimulus halted as • 56 countries opened up to visa-free, but fraud detected certificate of entry still required before travel Domestic tourism sees highest levels of hotel VIETNAM occupancy in Oct in Hanoi and HCMC since Q2 On Page 171 • Singapore and Vietnam to finalise Reciprocal • Human trials of locally developed vaccine, Green Lane by early 2021 Nanocovax, started Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 20 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 NEW 16 Dec: Tourists on expired visas have been granted an automatic extension >> NEW 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 >> Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 20 Dec 2020 Update https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY 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 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 19 Dec: Cambodia has clarified that it has not shunned any vaccines, after media reported that it had shunned Chinese vaccines >> Pear Anderson Sign up for weekly updates 20 Dec 2020 Update https://www.pearanderson.com/coronavirus/ THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY NEW 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 >> 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.