COVID-19 has wrought unprecedented devastation on tourism in Asia and the Pacific. Tourism arrivals fell by 84% in 2020 compared to 2019, making it the worst affected region in the world. Countries heavily dependent on tourism also experienced the largest fall in economic output. This abrupt drop demonstrated the importance of tourism for the region, but also placed a spotlight on its negative impacts.
This report examines trends, dynamics, vulnerabilities and opportunities associated with tourism development and how the sector has been impacted by COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific region. It highlights six pathways for promoting systemic change in the sector: a value-driven approach, decarbonization, tourism-led regeneration, improved governance and sustainable finance.
It also offers concrete recommendations to policymakers and industry stakeholders in developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank. These recommendations look at how governments can initiate the recovery of tourism industries and how to leverage tourism to foster sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.