Tourism and Irresponsible Leisure: Policing the Vaping Landscape in Southeast Asian Countries

Vaping (also known as electronic cigarettes) has taken the world by storm and is now a multi-million-dollar global industry. Yet, government policies and regulations do not keep pace with the segment’s explosive growth. Some countries have banned the sale of such products outright, though others have enforced rules surrounding its circulation. Nevertheless, vaping products appear easily accessible through online sales channels and often fall into the hands of a younger market segment. Vaping is considered a national issue among many countries, due to rising rates of youth adoption and addiction. The rise of vaping can be explained by its framing as a more desirable alternative to traditional tobacco products, as well as its range of flavours to suit different peer, and subculture groups. Nonetheless, this viewpoint traces the development of vaping in several Southeast Asian countries and the development of several government policies and regulations. Related to responsible tourism, this viewpoint explores the scenarios of vaping-induced tourism and support for or against such a development. Framed through the lens of a narcotics-induced tourism lens, this viewpoint argues how vaping can be classified as a form of irresponsible leisure in tourism, drawing upon its social and environmental negative outcomes. Future strategies and actions are proposed to help countries stem the tide of vaping, especially from an inbound tourism perspective.