Southeast Asia courts local tourists as coronavirus shuts Chinese out

MANILA: Southeast Asia’s holiday hotspots, hit by billions in lost business from Chinese tourists, are turning to markets closer to home to soften the blow from travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus epidemic.

In the Philippines, the government and tourism players last week launched a travel campaign led by President Rodrigo Duterte. Manila’s Golden Phoenix Hotel has slashed its rates by two-thirds, its marketing director Christine Ann Ibarreta said.China’s health authorities are reporting thousands of new cases daily of the coronavirus infection, which has killed 1,868 people, mostly in China.

Southeast Asian airlines are making fares attractive for cost-sensitive locals. Indonesia’s biggest budget carrier, Lion Air, is reducing fares by up to 60% on select flights. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has also pledged to boost spending and incentives to soften the virus’s business impact.

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