Constraints remain for business travellers in South-East Asia

Known for her efficiency, Singapore is Southeast Asia's business hubThis is particularly true of finance and international trade. The city, which has no territory other than its metropolis, is more dependent than its neighbours in the region on its relations with the outside world. With the COVID-19 crisis, it is now living in quasi-autarchyThis situation is likely to last longer than expected. Beijing's sudden confinement with the resurgence of cases in China has cast a shadow over the prospects for opening a "travel corridor" between the two countries as a prelude to normalisation...

Yet Singapore has just entered a second deconfinement phase This has been a gradual process, with the reopening of shopping centres, sports centres and the popular 'Food Courts'. On the tourism front, since 17 JuneA handful of countries where the pandemic is under control are authorised to enter Singapore, without undergoing compulsory quarantine. These include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Macao, and Vietnam. If citizens of other countries wish to visit Singapore for reasons other than tourism, they must systematically undergo compulsory quarantine at government-designated centres and pass a COVID-19 test. The bad news is that they now have to pay for this compulsory quarantine. The cost is S$2,200, or 1,400 euros on average. The measure is likely to be a deterrent... However, the government is examining what flexible measures could be introduced in order to enable a resumption of business travel. The measure will initially apply to Singaporeans and permanent residents of the island state.

This situation therefore remains a handicap for air transport to and from Singapore - except for transfer traffic. The national airline Singapore Airlines has resumed flights to only a handful of destinations in South East Asia - notably Indonesia, Australia and Japan. In total, SIA and its subsidiary Silk Air have reopened 12 additional destinations for June and July. On theEuropeAmsterdam and Copenhagen are once again served, but the Paris-Singapore has not yet resumed. " We have no information about a resumption dateThis is the first time that Singapore Airlines has been able to offer this service," explains Franklin Auber, Marketing and Communications Director for Singapore Airlines in France. However, he confirms thatopening of a Singapore-Brussels flight remains valid for the end of October, but may change depending on the situation. Singapore Airlines offers an average of three frequencies a week to the European cities it serves (including Frankfurt, London and Zurich).

Making potential visitors pay for quarantine and testing seems to be the new rule for governments in South-East Asia. It's an idea that should dissuade travellers from coming in the first place. The Cambodiawhich was the first country to lift the ban on visitors from half a dozen countries - including France - entering its territory at the beginning of June, has since taken extremely restrictive financial measures. Last week, the government announced that all international travellers would be required to pay a deposit of $3,000 in cash or by credit card to cover the cost of testing for the coronavirus. Of this amount, 165 dollars will be used to pay for a COVID-19 test at a facility near the airport, as well as an overnight stay while waiting for the results. If one of the passengers arriving in the country tests positive, all the passengers on the flight will be quarantined for 14 days, at a cost of up to 1,300 dollars.

Visit Vietnam As a neighbouring country, the government seems to have no intention of reopening its borders to international tourists before the last quarter of the year. And this reopening could be gradual, with a test phase for the island of Phu Quoc, off the Cambodian and Vietnamese coasts in the south. This is not an attractive destination for businessmen, who go to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City instead. However, special authorisations are granted on a case-by-case basis for international investors, but these include a compulsory quarantine.

L'Indonesia is also considering setting up "travel corridors" on the basis of bilateral agreements. These corridors would apply to other countries in the region, with the possibility of reopening the country to the rest of the world in the final quarter.

Finally, there is the ThailandThis is not only a tourist destination, but also a very important one for business in the Mekong region. The Kingdom continues to ban all foreign visitors, but is also considering creating "travel corridors" with a list of countries where the pandemic seems to be well under control. These corridors would first have to be validated for business travellers or official meetings. A more precise timetable is expected to be announced before the end of the month, as dissension within the Thai government remains high between those who want to see a resumption of tourism - a very important part of the local economy, which is in sharp recession - and those in favour of very strict health controls. The opening of Thailand's borders also faces another major problem: the technical failure of Thai Airways International. Thailand's national airline is due to enter into " financial rehabilitation "The company is in debt - around eight billion euros - and has suspended payments to its creditors. The company has debts - around eight billion euros - and has suspended payments to its creditors. The carrier has already postponed the resumption of its international flights four times, this time until 1 August.
Thai civil aviation authorities would therefore not be opposed to extension of the closure of Thai airspace to all international airlines, until the resumption of operations. This measure means that Bangkok airport is losing its role as an intercontinental hub between Europe and Asia/Pacific, while Hong Kong and Singapore are once again allowing transfer flights on their respective hubs...