Raini Hamdi

The pandemic has brought about a permanent and massive digital adoption in Southeast Asia. This structural change should be good for online travel. But first it has to swallow a great deal of bad.

Desperation is the new mother of invention and all eyes are on Singapore to see if the slew of measures it is taking will go down in history as forerunners of safe travel reopening — or just despairing moves.

Domestic leisure travelers in Asia are booking at vastly shortened lead times and the usual channels to generate demand are no longer enough. Is this the start of a more equal distribution landscape for suppliers?

Covid-19 is the turning point for the hotel industry to unplug, simplify structures, and redesign roles, which can all make it more attractive to future talent.

Saudi Arabia has unwittingly learned that to open its doors to international leisure travelers, a good start is to first open the hearts of its own local population to discover the country's unique destinations.

So what good has come out of the Maldives' reopening since July 15? A lot actually, which other resort destinations may learn from, albeit this paradise has its unique strengths.

It is surprising that hotel awards are still being given out even when travel is in a lockdown. Some are meaningful and relevant, but mostly it's an industry that begs for a reinvention.

Covid-19 unearthed hotel vulnerabilities, but Thai asset owners are not retreating. That means more branding opportunities for chains, but how they handle the pandemic will be closely watched.

Five months without revenue would challenge even the best operations. As travel agencies start closing down in Thailand, calls for clarity on reopening become more desperate.

China has allowed cross-province group tours to resume, with conditions. Sold in a flash is an understatement. But will all go well? This will be the test towards full recovery of its travel market.