1. TDM 458
Spring 2013
Tourism in Southeast Asia

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

6. COLONIAL SPHERES
IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA

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

8. Indochina
Philippines
Indonesia
Malaysia
Burma
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Thailand
Indochina
South China
Sea
Singapore

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

10. December 2004 Tsunami
India
Thailand
Myanmar
Laos
Indonesia
Vietnam
China
Cambodia
Malaysia
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
Singapore
British Indian Ocean Territory
Maldives
Paracel Is.
Epicenter

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

12. Tourism in Southeast Asia

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

16. Regions of Southeast Asia
 Mainland Region
 Insular Region

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)

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

31. Cambodia and Laos

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

34. Myanmar

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

37. Regions of Southeast Asia
 Mainland Region
 Insular Region

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

39. Malaysia

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

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

46. Drug trafficking Singapore

47. Tourism in Singapore
 Gateway and airport hub for SE Asia
 Shopping
 Business tourism
 Gambling

48. Indonesia

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

52. December 2004 Tsunami
India
Thailand
Myanmar
Laos
Indonesia
Vietnam
China
Cambodia
Malaysia
Bangladesh
Sri Lanka
Singapore
British Indian Ocean Territory
Maldives
Paracel Is.
Epicenter