International airline bookings to Southeast Asia reached 38 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by late March, according to travel firm ForwardKeys. They were at less than 10 per cent of 2019 levels at the start of the year."We are the first to cut all the red tape," said Philippines tourism minister Bernadette Romulo-Puyat."Tourists are quite happy because upon arrival, they are free to go.
"The on-arrivals PCR can cost 2,000 to 2,500 baht and can cost a lot especially for groups, people hesitant to travel," said Ms Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association.Bookings are a forward-looking indicator, and arrival figures also include returning locals. Domestic and international traffic within the Asia Pacific this year will only reach 68 per cent of 2019 levels and hit pre-pandemic traffic by 2025, a year behind the rest of the world, the International Air Transport Association said.
Travel and tourism in Southeast Asia — known for its white sand beaches, historical architecture and warm climate — contributed US$380.6 billion to the region's GDP in 2019, or 11.8 per cent of the total, according to World Travel & Tourism Council.The profile of international travellers to Southeast Asia also has shifted. Once making up Asia's largest group of travellers, Chinese tourists are stuck at home due to strict lockdowns.
A third of the travellers to Southeast Asia so far this year were from Europe, up from 22 per cent in 2019, while those from North America have more than doubled to 21 per cent from 9 per cent in 2019, according to ForwardKeys. Travellers from Asia made up just 24 per cent so far this year, versus 57 per cent in 2019."Things changed a lot for the better over the last month.