As most of my readers will have read in the international media in recent weeks, countries in South-East Asia have either scrapped or reduced restrictions as they seek to get full and unrestricted travel and tourism back on track.

Singapore’s vaccinated travel lanes are gone; Malaysia has re-opened to immunized travellers; and Vietnam has ended self-isolation. Of note, Cambodia was the first regional country to open its doors without the need to take a COVID-19 test – leading the way for other nations to take a more progressive approach and give their tourism sectors a shot in the arm!

At the time of writing, Thailand and Indonesia still have some regulations in place; with arrival tests and a wait of up to eight hours in a pre-booked hotel for the results. Some pre-arrival paperwork is still necessary, but we believe that by June, at the latest, these requirements will end and all outstanding conditions will be lifted. The good times are back and it is now time to start planning summer holidays.

This is a huge leap from where we were just a few months ago. Our teams have the latest information about updated border entry and the different visa options in their respective countries of operation, so please contact us if you have any queries.

Safety is our first priority and we have inspected transport and boat suppliers to ensure they have stringent safeguard measures in place and drivers, operators and support staff are properly trained.

We have also been busy conducting extensive quality control checks to determine that hotels previously closed – or operating with reduced capacity over the last two years – will provide (y)our customers with the highest possible service standards as they resume mainstream activities.

As restaurants reopen, we are recommending a reduced number of establishments Asia-wide until all protocols are in place. However, we have retained a wealth of dining options to suit all palates and budgets in the countries we operate in. Of note, as part of our ESTEEM principles, we favour restaurants operated by locals so we can help stimulate their economies and create jobs.

Our guides have also undergone refresher training programmes so they are primed to deliver fun, educational and entertaining experiences.

Most of our tours and excursions are operating at all of our destinations, but some seat-in-coach excursions such as boat trips might have minimum pax number requirements to guarantee operations. Our offices can provide the very latest information.

Across Asia, domestic travel has picked up as residents embark on long-awaited journeys of discovery. Similarly, as we embark on a new dawn of travel after the lockdown, our design specialists have been busy creating new and exciting bespoke itineraries to enhance our diverse portfolio.

Regarding the aviation sector, regional carriers are not yet back to full schedules, so we are monitoring the latest daily updates and informing our guests so they can fly stress-free.

I hope this brief update has given you an overview of the present situation across South-East Asia. Now is the best time to visit this spectacular region as the crowds have not yet returned. Your clients will get a once-in-a lifetime chance to enjoy iconic sites and amazing attractions with exclusivity.

Be it the spectacular Borobudur Temple in Indonesia; the historical UNESCO-listed destinations of George Town in Malaysia and Hoi An in Vietnam; the pristine beaches of Thailand and Cambodia; or the unique culture in Bali, a tour during contemporary times is a privileged opportunity not to be missed. Both leisure and incentive travellers will feel like pioneers as they encounter less populated domains.

To reiterate, Asia is back and we are delighted to advance the return to normality with seamless travel and inspirational excursions.