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.

Published April 2024. 
Source: Asian Development Bank.

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