We undertook research to aid the post-COVID tourism recovery by providing policymakers and donors innovative and best practice examples of policy responses in the South and East Asia regions.
We conducted a practical policy review of the Covid response in five major Asian tourism destinations (Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Nepal and Vietnam). The review focused on critical dimensions including early response and public health management; support for economic resilience and SMEs; enhanced support to the tourism sector and its revitalization policies and plans; green growth, and sustainability measures.
We reviewed fiscal and monetary measures in support of the travel and tourism sector and our study identified destinations’ policy responses and opportunities for new investments, including donor support and assistance.
As some of the countries under review utilized the crisis as an opportunity to build back better and more sustainably, we concluded five lessons from the study: support for early market recovery, capacity development, strengthening institutional mechanisms, green growth and sustainable development.