A region of more than 620 million inhabitants and whose economic growth has been constant - apart from during the Covid parenthesis. Growth in 2024 was around 4.7% and, according to official institutions, it should barely weaken by 2025. L'Southeast Asia is proving more than ever to be a land of opportunity for French business and leisure travellers alike. And this despite China's growing presence in the region...
The reopening of the ten countries* making up theASEAN from 2022 has been accompanied by a host of measures to boost tourism. This was demonstrated by the recent ASEAN Tourism Fair (ATF) in Johor Bahru in Malaysia. It attracted nearly 325 buyers from all over the world for more than 220 companies representing the tourism industry. The ATF enabled ministers from the ten ASEAN countries reinforce the message of a region that wants to accelerate its physical integration by promoting new infrastructures.
Preliminary figures show that by the end of 2024, ASEAN welcomed over 123 million international visitorsThis represents growth of 30.6 % compared with 2023. This is certainly a far cry from the 2019the last year before the health crisis. That year, the ten ASEAN countries hosted over 143.5 million tourists international.
While the recovery is strong, there are still a number of obstacles to a more sustained recovery in tourism. It is specific to the ASEAN countries. As in the case of Myanmarwhich is mired in a civil war that goes unnoticed. Last year, the number of international visitors barely reached one million. By 2019, it should be close to 4.5 million. Brunei also seems to have lost interest in developing its tourism. The wealthy sultanate recorded a third of its 2019 arrivals in 2023, the last year for which statistics exist.
The return of Europe-ASEAN flights
However Most ASEAN destinations have become attractive again. the Thailand welcomed nearly 36 million tourists last year, with the Malaysia follows with over 27 million, while Vietnam and Singapore recorded over 16 million international visitors.
Europe has once again become the region's leading long-haul market. In particular with the resumption of flights to South-East Asia. In French-speaking Europe alone, we can cite the following as examples 2024 the opening or return of Air France flights to Manila, Aircalin flights to Bangkok and Thai Airways International flights to Brussels.
2025 will be marked next March by the Malaysia Airlines returns and British Airways, the first from Paris, the second from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur. Singapore Airlines' long-haul low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, has also announced its arrival in Vienna from June. Via the Near or Middle East, 2025 should see the launch of a flight to Vienna. Istanbul-Phnom Penh (Turkish Airlines) or Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Krabi, Medan and Phnom Penh.
More flexible entry conditions
Another attractive factor is simplified formalities for entering the region. For years, ASEAN has talked about introducing a common visa for its ten members - on the model of the Schengen area - but the rules for obtaining a visa make this development less urgent today.
In 2024, Thailand has extended the validity of its free visa on arrival to 60 days and Vietnam at 45 days for the French. Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam (for Belgium and Switzerland) offer online visas, so you can avoid long queues at consulates or on arrival in the country.
This simplification is bearing fruit, particularly in Vietnam. Last year, the country recorded 17.4 million tourists, more than Indonesia (just over 14 million visitors). During the recent ASEAN Tourism Fair (ATF), representatives of the Cambodian and Indonesian tourism ministries said they were considering abolishing visas for certain issuing countries. This would accelerate the growth in arrivals...
ASEAN tourism ministers now want to improve the region's connectivity. Not only to the rest of the world, but also internally. Over the next two years, the region wants to promote air routes to so-called second- and third-tier destinations.
A better regional network
This is already reflected in the launch of new regional lines. Scoot recently began flying to Padang (Indonesia) and Phu Quoc (Vietnam). In April, it will inaugurate a route to Iloilo (Philippines). AirAsia recently opened between Bangkok and Phu Quoc, while Batik Air connects Kuala Lumpur to Batam in Indonesia. New airports are also due to open in Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuching (Malaysia), Manila and Phuket. They will offer greater capacity and the possibility of handling very long-haul flights.
The same goes for rail connectivity. Singapore and Malaysia are relaunching the long-suspended project to create a high-speed line linking the capitals of the two countries. Thailand continues to build a link high-speed rail link between Bangkok and Laos. Whereas Cambodia is working on a new rail link to Vietnam. These initiatives will stimulate both business and leisure tourism over the coming years.
* ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
