Asian businesses suffer Lunar New Year blues over travel curbs
From a skyway operator in Australia to a tourist guide on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali and a lion dance troupe in Malaysia, Asia’s travel industry is hurting as coronavirus curbs keep most people home for the Lunar New Year.
The celebration, which begins on Friday, usually triggers the largest annual migration as people reunite with loved ones or go on holiday, but this year government curbs are spoiling plans, even as many nations roll out vaccines.
“In the last 10 months, there’s been no income, because there are no visitors,” said Bali tour guide Effendy, wearing traditional red headgear and batik-print sarong, as he stood in a deserted 60-hectare (148-acre) park.
Asian businesses suffer Lunar New Year blues over travel curbs
02/11/2021 6:39
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - From a skyway operator in Australia to a tourist guide on Indonesia s resort island of Bali and a lion dance troupe in Malaysia, Asia s travel industry is hurting as coronavirus curbs keep most people home for the Lunar New Year.
The celebration, which begins on Friday, usually triggers the largest annual migration as people reunite with loved ones or go on holiday, but this year government curbs are spoiling plans, even as many nations roll out vaccines. In the last 10 months, there s been no income, because there are no visitors, said Bali tour guide Effendy, wearing traditional red headgear and batik-print sarong, as he stood in a deserted 60-hectare (148-acre) park.
From a skyway operator in Australia to a tourist guide on Indonesia's resort island of Bali and a lion dance troupe in Malaysia, Asia's travel industry is hurting as coronavirus curbs keep most people home for the Lunar New Year.
February 09, 2021
Chinese New Year holidays are one of Malaysia s biggest holidays.
Reuters
MUAR, JOHOR - During normal Chinese New Year celebrations, one of Malaysia s leading lion dance troupes puts on gravity-defying performances by leaping in full costume between poles, to the beat of drums and crashing of cymbals and gongs.
The traditional Chinese lion dance has long been part of the festivities in the South-east Asian nation, but this year the Kun Seng Keng Lion & Dragon Dance Association has been brought down to earth with such public spectacles halted by the Covid-19 pandemic. We are badly affected because, as a lion dance troupe, our main income comes from Chinese New Year, which helps to cover our expenses for the year, the group s deputy, Mr Lim Wei Khang, told Reuters.