Showing 1 - 10 of 47
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
China's rising wealth and market power
Asia focus, Thaweelap Rittapirom, Published on 26/07/2021
» China has massive household wealth, but its people currently face many restrictions on how they can invest it. There are currently more than 2 million high-net-worth individuals in the country -- those with more than US$1 million in investable assets -- and this number is expected to rise sharply over the next few years. China already has the world's largest wealth management sector, with more than $15 trillion in assets under management.
All eyes on the Sandbox
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 28/06/2021
» While most Japanese people are anxiously awaiting the start of the Tokyo Olympics on July 23, here in Thailand we're holding our breath as the country counts down to reopening Phuket.
Vaccine confusion must end
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 10/05/2021
» As a new wave of the global pandemic creates growing urgency in many parts of the world, Covid-19 vaccines have been in short supply. Only a handful of rich economies, among them the US and European countries, along with China, have secured sufficient supplies for their domestic vaccination programmes.
Vietnam reimagines tourism
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 10/05/2021
» Rich in history, vibrant in culture and cuisine, with striking landscapes from mountains in the North to beaches along the coast, Vietnam has become one of the favourite destinations in Southeast Asia.
Can we keep Covid in check?
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 11/01/2021
» I have always been proud of my hometown, Samut Songkhram. The smallest province in Thailand, known by some as "Maeklong", it is just 64 kilometres from the centre of Bangkok, with Samut Sakhon sitting between my province and the capital.
Making travel safe again
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 14/09/2020
» After seven months of being stuck on the ground, I took a flight recently from Bangkok to Khon Kaen, confident that Thailand had Covid-19 well under control, having gone 100 days without a locally transmitted case. During my stay in the Northeast, that streak was broken. But life goes on, I told myself. I had already embarked on a trip so I should make the most of it.
View from Taipei
Asia focus, Narumon Kasemsuk, Published on 31/08/2020
» A pro-democracy alliance is gaining momentum in Asia, notably among younger activists. When more than 10,000 youth-led protesters converged on Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Aug 16, at about the same time in a city 2,400 kilometres away, a group of like-minded people gathered at the main transport hub in Taipei.
Permanent shift
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 10/08/2020
» Indonesia's culinary and tourism sectors are changing the way they do business as they cope with the ways in which the Covid-19 pandemic has has drastically transformed customer behaviour and battered the economy.
Change on the itinerary
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 18/05/2020
» Indonesia is bracing for a new normal in the tourism industry as it lays the groundwork for a post-Covid revival by next year.