Can Southeast Asia remain a top draw for visitors from China and elsewhere after Bangkok bombing?
Curtis Chin considers how Southeast Asia can stay a tourist hotspot in the wake of the Bangkok attack
Years since the October 2002 and October 2005 terrorist bombings devastated parts of Bali, killing hundreds of tourists and residents, and sending tourism receipts spiralling downwards, fears have returned about travel to Southeast Asia. Where once it might have been Indonesia, or the Philippines after the killing of Chinese tourists on a bus in Manila, this time it is Thailand.
After the recent bombing of the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok, which killed 20 people, Hong Kong quickly raised its outbound travel alert for Bangkok to red, advising against "non-essential travel", including leisure travel.
Arrests and investigations continue into who was behind the Bangkok attack. Steps will need to be taken on fundamental traveller safety issues, including, for example, addressing broken security cameras and other security shortcomings uncovered so far.
But, what more can Southeast Asian nations do, as a region, to keep travel and tourism a key economic contributor? The need for greater connectivity of Southeast Asia's diversity of destinations will no doubt be underscored in a five-year strategic plan on tourism to be launched at the 2016 Asean Tourism Forum in the Philippines.
Beyond committing member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to a vision of "responsible, sustainable and inclusive tourism development", policymakers should also recommit to three broad steps to ensure Southeast Asia remains competitive, individually and collectively, as a destination.
Steps will need to be taken on fundamental traveller safety issues, including, for example, addressing broken security cameras and other security shortcomings
First, they must work to build greater flexibility and segmentation into their efforts. The ability of hotels and tour operators to adapt is critical, particularly as the visitor mix evolves. Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions may well come to the forefront for some destinations. The growing numbers of Chinese tourists and the need to tailor marketing and outreach efforts to their needs, just as has been done for Japanese visitors in the past, is one clear trend that can be leveraged.