Tourism authorities across South-east Asia are intensifying efforts to reposition the May-October Green Season as a commercially viable travel period, citing lower costs and reduced crowd levels.
In Cambodia, Prak Vuthy, director of the Overseas Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department, said the season continues to be widely misunderstood.
“From May to October, Cambodia traditionally experiences the green season, with more rainfall, and this is a period that many travellers tend to misunderstand,” he noted. “Some visitors assume that the green season means travel is not suitable, but in reality, this period offers many advantages.”
To address this, Prak remarked “that’s why we are actively promoting travel during the May to October green season, with incentives across hotels and tourism activities”, adding that “many of our major events are intentionally scheduled during this time to encourage visitation”.
He emphasised that the objective is to spread demand more evenly and “create value for travellers”.
The positioning aligns closely with corporate and incentive travel, where programmes are largely indoor-focused and benefit from higher hotel availability and more competitive rates, even if weather conditions are variable.
In Laos, Phouthone Dalalom, deputy director general at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, highlighted the destination’s natural strengths during this period.
“During the Green Season, Laos offers very high tourism potential, with lush landscapes, waterfalls at their best, and beautiful natural scenery,” he stated, noting that “each province has its own strengths during the Green Season, particularly in terms of nature, views, and outdoor experiences”.
Across South-east Asia, reframing the Green Season from a perceived drawback into a selling point is increasingly seen as a strategic opportunity for both leisure and group travel.
