Pandemic-related travel restrictions that began in 2020 obviously affected the entire world, but Southeast Asia was one of the hardest hit regions. International borders closed without much warning, strict quarantine requirements lingered for months longer than other areas of the world, and even when international travel was finally possible, the unpredictability of rules and complicated testing requirements kept many visitors away for even longer.
Now with global tourism essentially back to normal, it’s noticeable how some countries have bounced back faster than others. This imbalance has created a lingering impact on not just the stragglers, but all economies across the region which are heavily dependent on tourism. Here’s a country-by-country breakdown that shows the winners and losers in Southeast Asia’s post-pandemic tourism recovery over the last few years:
Thailand: Winner
After 18 months of total lockdown, in late 2021, Thailand began to cautiously allow international arrivals again — as long as travelers were vaccinated, tested negative for COVID-19, and entered through designated entry points. About a year later, the country fully reopened, as it dropped its quarantine, testing, and vaccine requirements entirely.
This made Thailand one of the first major economies in Southeast Asia to return to “normal” unrestricted travel, and gave the country an early advantage as demand for international travel was at its peak after several months of lockdown. The government also introduced several tourism-friendly measures including temporarily extending visas and helping airlines restore service to popular tourism routes such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
Since then, Thailand has even gone a step further by introducing the Destination Thailand Visa program, with the goal of attracting digital nomads and remote workers looking to stay for several months at a time — basically, those who earn money abroad and want to spend it inside Thai borders. This has not only helped the hotel and airline industries rebound, but it’s also boosted property rentals, the restaurant industry, and retail spending, which has made Thailand the clear leader in the region.
Vietnam: Loser
Vietnam’s tourism industry was expected to bounce back strongly, but constant delays in updating its regulations impacted the country’s recovery. As many of its neighbors began to slowly drop restrictions, Vietnam was several months behind in restoring international travel back to its pre-pandemic state. As a result, in 2023 — which was arguably the first year travel seemed back to “normal” — the country saw about 4 million fewer international arrivals than the government’s official target of 16 million. Vietnam also struggled to restore airline routes quickly, causing many travelers to opt to visit other cities in Southeast Asia instead.
Even with restrictions lifted and plenty of natural appeal, Vietnam is still trailing its peers. Nearly a third of its visitors used to come from China, and that market has only recovered gradually through 2024 and into 2025. Add in Vietnam’s tough visa rules, and it’s easy to see why the country has fallen behind the region’s top performers.
Malaysia: Winner
Thanks to its strategic location and extensive flight connections, Malaysia’s tourism industry has bounced back relatively quickly post-pandemic. Singaporean visitors have returned in large numbers, domestic travel has picked up, and the country has launched new attempts to position itself as a welcoming destination for both budget travelers and higher-spending folks.
One advantage Malaysia has is its mix of international visitors, instead of heavily relying on a single market like some neighboring countries, and increased tourism from the Middle East and South Asia has further boosted the economy. With government efforts to promote Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and George Town on an international scale, the country is well on track to reclaim its pre-2020 standing as one of Southeast Asia’s top destinations.
Cambodia: Loser
Cambodia’s recovery has been hindered by its overreliance on one market: China. Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists made up more than a third of arrivals, but with outbound Chinese travel still below 2019 levels, Cambodia has struggled to attract enough Western or regional visitors to fill the gap. Angkor Wat shows the impact clearly — only about 800,000 foreign visitors came in 2023, compared to almost 2.5 million in 2019.
The country is welcoming more and more international visitors each year, but it remains behind neighbors of similar size. New airports in Siem Reap (opened in 2023) and Phnom Penh (scheduled to open in late 2025) may eventually improve connectivity. But for now, Cambodia is still playing catch-up, since so much of its tourism future depends on the return of Chinese tourism.
Indonesia: Winner
Indonesia’s post-pandemic rebound has been carried mostly by Bali. The island now accounts for nearly half of the country’s international arrivals, and Denpasar was one of the first airports to reopen in 2022. Indonesia also expanded its visa-on-arrival program, which now includes dozens of additional countries, not only making it easier for tourists to take a trip, but to stay long enough for their spending to impact the local economy. Bali has also become a magnet for digital nomads and other long-stay visitors, which helps smooth out demand even when traditional tourist seasons slow down.
However, even with Bali’s international popularity, Jakarta and many smaller islands are still working to rebuild routes and attract consistent traffic. But for now, Bali’s draw has been enough to pull national numbers up, even if the boost in tourism is spread rather unevenly across the country.
Laos: Loser
Often overlooked in favor of its flashier neighbors, Laos has never had visitor numbers quite like Thailand or Vietnam — but its tourism industry is still crucial to the small country’s economy. The pandemic caused most hotels, guesthouses, and tour operators to sit idle for years, and when borders did finally reopen, new hurdles emerged: fewer direct flights and tighter budgets meant it continued to be bypassed by its better-connected and better-marketed neighbors.
The opening of the Laos–China railway has created some momentum as Kunming and Vientiane are now linked by train, yet overall international arrivals remain modest. Laos welcomed nearly 3.5 million visitors in 2023, which was a big jump from the prior year — but still only a small slice of Southeast Asia’s tourism pie. Arrivals reached 4 million in 2024, and early 2025 numbers show the trend continuing upward. But the issue now is that many of these travelers are coming from neighboring countries, rather than long-haul markets — and those types of visitors tend to only stay for a few days, and spend less on hotels, restaurants and activities. So even as Laos tourism crawls back, the economic benefit has been slow to benefit the economy.
Singapore: Winner
Singapore relied on its strong reputation and well-established flight connections as a global transit hub to rebound faster than most of its neighbors in the region. Changi Airport, almost a tourist attraction on its own, was quick to restart international routes, and the city’s ability to be an easy stopover for long-haul visitors meant Singapore climbed back to its pre-pandemic numbers within just a few months of fully reopening.
But more than just air travel is driving this comeback — major events, luxury travel, and conference tourism in Singapore are booming, with per capita visitor spending at the highest in Southeast Asia. That, along with Singapore’s reputation for safety, efficiency, and hassle-free travel, make it easy to see why many international visitors have chosen it as one of their first post-pandemic trips.
Myanmar: Loser
Tourism in Myanmar is in worse shape than ever before, and not just because of the pandemic. A military coup in 2021 caused massive political instability, which only compounded the problems from the pandemic. And even as borders reopened, many Western governments — including the United States, Canada, Australia, and several European countries — issued travel warnings suggesting that their citizens stay away entirely.
The result has been a near-total collapse of international tourism. Flight routes have been cut back, tour companies have stopped operating, and the few international visitors who do arrive often deal with serious safety concerns. Until the political situation improves, Myanmar will remain on the sidelines of Southeast Asia’s tourism map.
Philippines: Winner
The Philippines has always been known for its beaches and dive spots, but in the years since the pandemic, it’s turned into one of the region’s hottest vacation picks — arguably even more so than before the pandemic. Thanks to newfound social media popularity, Boracay and Palawan are drawing international travelers in record numbers, and airlines have added new routes into Manila, Cebu, and Kalibo to keep up with demand.
The biggest remaining obstacle is limited infrastructure, particularly on the country’s remote islands. Basic airport facilities, inconsistent ground transportation, and unreliable utilities like power and WiFi have limited growth compared to Thailand, Indonesia, or Malaysia. But even so, the Philippines is trending in the right direction — and with continued government investment, it has a real chance to break into the region’s top tier of vacation spots in coming years.