Southeast Asia Sustainable
Tourism Hub

With Southeast Asia’s tourism industry still reeling from the impact of COVID-19, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is increasing its support for investments, capacity development, and knowledge to accelerate an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

Rawai Naiharn Beach Phuket Thailand turquoise waters by iStock/Elias
Reviving Travel, Sustainably

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic reversed decades of robust tourism growth in Southeast Asia, causing widespread business closures and millions of job losses. While the pause in travel and tourism has brought economic hardship and isolation to many communities, it also offers a unique opportunity for industry stakeholders to address the structural issues undermining sustainability in the region.

What We Do

The Southeast Asia Sustainable Tourism Hub is anchored in ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, Urban Development and Water Division. It brings together diverse expertise from within and outside of ADB to help clients develop and finance innovative tourism projects, build destination management capacity, and provide knowledge solutions that align with ADB Strategy 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Our regional perspective, strong country presence, and partnerships enable us to deliver quality development solutions for Southeast Asia’s tourism industry. 

what we do

Operations

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The technical assistance facility will help countries in Southeast Asia prepare sustainable tourism projects and catalyze financing to support them. It supports regional priorities to revive tourism, develop green and resilient urban and transport infrastructure in secondary cities, accelerate inclusive digital transformations, and mobilize domestic resources.

A tourist inside the Tien Son cave, Son Trach commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh province in Viet Nam.

The project is financing climate-resilient roads, water transport infrastructure, urban infrastructure, and capacity development needed to boost and better manage tourism in Cambodia’s coastal areas, Lao PDR’s Champasak, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane Provinces, and several secondary towns in Viet Nam.

Preah Vhear temple

The Community-Based Tourism COVID-19 Recovery Project will help communities in Preah Vihear and Takeo provinces generate local jobs and income by improving tourism services infrastructure, enhancing visitor experiences, and strengthening tourism supply chain linkages.

News and Events

Participants of a seminar that explored the use of smart technologies to better manage tourism on Samal Island.

Digitizing visitor registration data and tracking the collection of environmental user fees in real-time using smart technologies could help the Island Garden City of Samal better manage tourism.

A boat operator stands on the deck of a tourist boat in Viet Nam.

New opportunities are emerging for net-zero tourism as travelers in Asia and the Pacific now demand sustainable options and are willing to spend more to shrink their carbon footprint as well as support local communities.

A man taking a photo with his mobile phone while two women ride a bicycle in a tourist spot in Jakarta.

Tourism officials from Southeast Asia learn about smart tourism technologies in the Republic of Korea.

Publications

Alternative Accommodations in Southeast Asia cover.

This brief shows how bookings for non-hotel rooms via platforms such as Airbnb have soared in Southeast Asia and why stronger regulation can help maintain quality standards, increase tax revenue, and maximize local economic benefits.

Landscape Study on Southeast Asia’s Aviation Industry: COVID-19 Impact and Post-Pandemic Strategy

This publication follows heavy losses of passenger traffic due to COVID-19, the resurgence of Southeast Asia's aviation market is vital to regional recovery, so this report reveals strategies to help ADB members rebuild a greener, more resilient aviation industry.

Sustainable Tourism After COVID-19: Insights and Recommendations for Asia and the Pacific cover

This publication examines tourism in Asia and the Pacific and how to reset the sector to contribute more effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals.