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Smart Tourism Ecosystem Development Readiness in Southeast Asia

Smart Tourism Ecosystem Development Readiness in Southeast Asia DOWNLOAD (195.7 KB)

Publication Type:

Report

Publisher:

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Publication:

April 2024


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This brief tracks how Southeast Asian countries are using smart technologies to make their tourism sectors more competitive, inclusive, and sustainable.

Despite national tourism policies prioritizing digitalization backed by strong tourist and industry demand, smart tourism ecosystem development in Southeast Asia is constrained by insufficient finance and limited digital skills, urban–rural digital divides, and an evolving legal and digital policy environment.

The brief shows how integrated technology can be harnessed by the tourism sector for uses from e-visas to smart waste management and cashless payments, benefiting businesses, consumers, and destinations alike. With Thailand topping its smart tourism readiness table, the brief explains how countries should look to narrow the digital divide, tweak policies, and pull in private sector financing to provide tourists the convenient digital solutions they increasingly expect.