3. What are some things you already know about
tourism in Southeast Asia?
What are some things you would like to learn
about tourism in Southeast Asia?
4. Major Geographic Qualities
Fragmented region of numerous island countries and peninsulas
Physical geography - high relief, crustal instability and tropical
climates
Clustered population patterns
Overall low population density
20% of the population is on Java (Indonesia)
Variety of political systems
Some of the wealthiest and poorest countries
Complex ethnic, linguistic and religious patterns
Political instability and conflict
Shatter Belt
A large, strategically located region that is occupied by a
number of conflicting states and is caught between the
conflicting interests of adjoining Great Powers in terms of
culture, economic and political systems.
A region prone to external and internal cultural and ethnic
forces
5. Southeast Asia
A zone of interaction
Multicultural (Malay-
Indonesian dominance)
Several political, economic
and cultural forces:
China
India
Middle East
Europe
Japan
USA (Since 1898)
East Asia
Southeast Asia
China
India
Middle East
Europe
Japan
USA
7. Southeast Asia
External influences
Have been stronger than internal influences
China brought civilization and technology (early history)
Later - immigrants
India brought religion (Hinduism and Buddhism)
Later - more immigrants
Middle Eastern countries brought Islam after the 10th c. and
trade
Europe brought trade and colonialism after the 16th c.
USA and Japan brought imperialism (at different levels):
Recently brought trade and development
Indochina
Often used to define the region
Hints at the strong historical Chinese and Indian influence
Specifically refers to the former French colonies of Vietnam,
Cambodia and Laos
9. Southeast Asia - Problems
Straining resources such as petroleum and lumber:
Destruction of the tropical forest - logging, conversion of land for
development, climate change
Over fishing and coral reefs
Changing political regimes
In particular Thailand
Ethnic problems (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia)
Global (and Asian) recession
Terrorism targeting tourism enterprises especially Indonesia &
Philippines
Civil wars - East Timor
Illegal drug traffic
Disasters - earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, droughts, environmental
disasters
11. Southeast Asia - Organizations
Pursuing economic integration policy (ASEAN):
Founded in 1967
Promote regional security issues; later concerned
economic issues
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand
Laos, Burma (1997) and Cambodia (1999) joined later
Common market by 2012 . . . Still waiting
Tariffs to be cut to 5% or less between members
Tourism is a priority concern
Goals
Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cult.
Development
Promote regional peace and stability
Promote Southeast Asian studies
13. Tourism Statistics
Country Arrivals
Receipts (Billions of $)
Malaysia 24.7 million 18.3
Thailand (+20%) 19.0 million 26.3
Indonesia 7.7 million 7.8
Cambodia (+20%) 2.9 million 1.7
Myanmar (+26%) 391,000 N/R
14. Established Destinations
Singapore
Nation-state, surgical cleanliness, economic
dynamo, political stability = positive tourism growth
Least corrupt government but some freedoms
curtailed
Thailand
Shedding sex tourism image; excellent beaches
and resorts, cultural sites, historical
backpacker/now flashpacker destination
15. Emerging Destinations
Malaysia
Business tourism, holiday destination dominated by
resorts and Penang and Langkawi
Top 10 in global arrivals
Cambodia
Joint development and campaign with Thailand with
“Two Kingdoms, One Destination”
Laos
Luang Prabang world heritage city, Mekong
River, Newly open . .. . Like Thailand 20 years ago
17. Mainland Region
Mainland Region
Vietnam (previously North & South Vietnam)
Cambodia (previously French Indo-China)
Laos (previously French Indo-China)
Thailand
Myanmar (previously Burma)
Buddhism dominates
Multicultural and multi-ethnic region
One of the least urbanized areas in the world
18. Thailand
Leading state of the region
The “Land of the free”:
Never colonized by European power
Economic growth
Relative location
Access to the Indian (Bay of Bengal)
and Pacific (Gulf of Thailand) oceans
Natural environment
Stifled by mismanagement
Bangkok (Venice of Asia)
Problems
Influx of refugees
Drugs
19. Thailand
Population has the slowest growth rate in the region
Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%.
Buddhist 94.4%, Islam 4%, Hindu 1.1%, Christian
0.5%.
Muslim minority in the south (along the Malaysia
border)
Per capita GNI is higher than
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar combined
Bangkok- leading city in the country
20. Tourism in Thailand
Negative image because of prostitution
Backpackers, now Flashpackers
Nature
Shopping
$5/night bungalows to $10,000/night villas
http://www.sixsenses.com/Evason-
Phuket/index.php
21. Tourism in Thailand
Tours to Living Cultures
Hill tribes
http://www.tourismthailand.org/what-to-see-
do/activities/cultural-exploration/hilltribe/
http://www.thailandhilltribeholidays.com/index.html
Long Neck Karen Tribe
Sea Gypsies - developers force people from their
land to build tourism infrastructures (hotels, etc.)
22. Thailand Airport Protest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf5YW7KHP1o
&feature=related
Thai Airport Protest Strands Thousands (video
title to search on youtube)
23.
24.
25.
26.
27. Vietnam
83.5 million people
Geographical setting
Coastal plain along the
South China Sea
The south is more fertile
than the north
Most minerals resources
are in the north
Advantageous relative location
on Pacific Rim
Not a homogenous country
Differences between the north
and the south, as the south was
more exposed to capitalism
Divided into three units
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Hue
28. Vietnam
Economic
development slow
(communist system)
Ho Chi Minh City
(Saigon) has
advantage over
Hanoi (capital) -
accessible by
ocean-going
vessels
Special Economic
Zone downstream
29. Tourism in Vietnam
High tourism potential
Political and social stability
Long coastline; beach resorts
Intact coral reefs
Rainforests
Sub-tropical climate
Original cuisine: often adapting French cuisine
Lack of development has protected Vietnam's numerous natural
resources
Growing flight connections within region and Asia to Ho Chi Minh
United airlines became first US carrier to fly back
Former military personnel
Heritage, cultural and religious sites
Communist Heritage tourism may have potential
30. Issues and Concerns Vietnam
Population (83.5 million) has doubled since
the end of war in 1975 – straining resources
as the population grows
A classic “elongated country”
A bi-polar arrangement exists between Ho Chi Minh
City and Hanoi
New strategy - retain communist political
system but pursue market economics
Country is open to tourism but still communist
Little repeat business - once in a lifetime
destination
Poor word of mouth marketing
32. Cambodia and Laos
2 of the fastest growing destinations in SE Asia
Cheap
Improving infrastructure and accommodations
Cambodia
War - dark tourism
Communist Heritage Tourism
Child prostitution and slavery
WHS Sites - Angkor Wat
Laos
Landlocked
Rural-based population
Undeveloped with no railroads, little industry, and few roads
The region’s poorest country
The “new” Thailand
35. Myanmar (Burma)
A former British colony - Burma, which became
independent in 1948
Population of 55 million, 84% literate
Agricultural potential is good; varied soil and
environmental conditions; self-sufficient in rice
Still one of the poorest countries in the world
Most isolated and least Westernized in the region
36. Tourism in Myanmar
Border tourism
Casinos and other attractions along borders
Living Cultures
Untouched nature
Increase in tourism due to greater political stability in the
last several years
Being promoted as an economic development tool and a
way to improve isolation experienced by country
However . . .
Slaves used in building tourism infrastructure
Forced labor program
Money earned from tourism directly benefits the gov’t
38. Insular Southeast Asia
Comprised of 6 states, all of which have colonial
histories
Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei,
East Timor
Fragmented political entities
A multicultural and multi-ethnic region
Islam prevails
Colonial legacies persist
40. Malaysia
A former British colony
Malaysia came into being in 1963, referring to
the federal organization and expansion of
Malaya (on the Malay peninsula) to include
parts of Borneo
Population of 27 million with strong adherence
to Islam
Rapidly growing economy, with the 3rd
highest GNI in the region
Penang - a future Singapore?
One of the most developed regions of Malaysia and
it is an important tourist destination for domestic
and international tourists
41. Eye on Malaysia
• Malaysians are one of Asia’s largest
travelers, about 26 million
international travelers or 28% of
Asia’s total
42.
43.
44. Singapore
A city-state
Seceded from Malaysia in 1965
Population of 4.3 million (77 % are Chinese, 14%
Malay, 8% south Asian)
Per capita GNI: $24,180
45. Singapore
Here are some examples of laws currently in effect:
The sale of gum was forbidden for 12 years until May 2004
Show your id to buy gum
If the pharmacist does not take the name of the
buyer, they could face a roughly $700 fine
Heavy fines
on people who spit or litter in public areas
Pedestrians crossing on red-light
Eating and drinking on public transit also carry heavy
fines
Sexual offences
49. Indonesia
• More than 17,000 islands
• About 6,000 inhabited, Java is the core with 136 million
• Coastal zones supports approximately 60% of the
population
• Successful family planning strategies (50% decline in
fertility between 1975 and 2000)
• Longest coastline in the world
• Three time zones
• Largest Muslim population in the world
• Controls two strategic straits:
• Through which much of the world’s oil traffic must pass
• Volcanoes - Earthquakes
• Intense volcanic and seismic activity
• 300 volcanoes of which 200 have been historically active
50. Tourism in Indonesia
• One of Fastest growing tourism arrivals in Asia in
2008 9.2% growth rate in 2011 (10.7% in 2010)
• WHS sites - Religious and Cultural sites
• Beaches and resorts
• WHS sites
• Nature
• Orangutans and Tigers
• Komodo dragons
• In the past primarily westerners visit
• Today, greater numbers of regional and domestic
travelers
• money to spend
• Introduction of low cost airlines
51. Tourism in Indonesia - Issues and
Concerns
• Unplanned development and environmental
degradation
• Terror attacks 2002 and 2005 in Bali
• Tourism areas targeted
• Many Indonesians and Foreign tourists killed
• Impacted tourism for several years, perception of threat
remains
• 2004 Tsunami
• Major impact on tourism
• Industry nearly collapsed afterwards