Sustainable tourism supports the SDGs, revives the environment, and boosts communities. Photo credit: ADB.
Instead of recapturing the tourism of the pre-pandemic era, countries should strive to create a new kind of tourism that is more closely aligned to the SDGs.
Devices and digitalization are driving the use of big data in Asian tourism.
The pandemic-driven surge in data collection offers major opportunities, and some risks, for the reopening of tourism in the region.
Bangkok is integrating trains, busses and ferries to develop a sustainable citywide transport system. Photo: ADB
Urban areas in Asia need to offer more and better public transport options to cut traffic jams and pollution
To overcome threats to Southeast Asia's recovery from the pandemic, ADB recommends improving productivity and competitiveness by investing in greeen infrastructure development, education, training, health systems, social assistance, and technology. Photo: ADB
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) held its third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) on 16–17 March 2022.
Demonstrations on Digital Agriculture in the GMS
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Sustainable Agriculture Support Program funded under RETA 9916 is spearheading two interconnected pilot demonstrations on digital agriculture on the (i) Traceability of Durian Exports from Thailand to PRC and (ii) Traceability of Dragon Fruit Exports from Viet Nam to PRC.
The crowds are sparse in the ordinarily busy district of Chinatown in SIngapore. Shop owners estimate that business has dropped by 50% due to the COVID-19 crisis. 2020 Lester Ledesma/ADB.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched the Southeast Asia Sustainable Tourism Hub on 17 March 2022 at the third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS).
Southeast Asia’s tourism industry is still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. To accelerate an inclusive and sustainable recovery, ADB is increasing its support for investments, capacity development, and knowledge.
The pandemic has had a deep and profound impact throughout Southeast Asia. Many of the region’s hard-won gains in reducing poverty, creating jobs, and enhancing health and well-being have been reversed, with the poor and vulnerable particularly hard-hit.
Photo by Jacques Beaulieu/Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
The Urban Management Platform of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to tackle urban development policies and issues in Vientiane, such as land administration, investment in urban development, and revision of the transport master plan. The first meeting reviewed current land management practices. Government officials and JICA specialists attended, reported the Vientiane Times on 18 February 2022.
Lao PDR Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn. Photo by Lao PDR Foreign Ministry
Electricity trade between Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic raised the annual value of bilateral trade to more than $100 million in 2020 from a previous value of $10 million-$20 million. This was noted by Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Lao Foreign Affairs Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in their meeting on 16 February. Mr. Kommasith was in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 15-17 February 2022 to attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.
The Asian Development Bank and the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam convened the 4th GMS Health Sector Working Group Meeting on 8 December 2021. The theme was “Solidarity through Information Exchange for COVID-19 Immunization in the GMS”.
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat
Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination Division,
Southeast Asia Department, Asian Development Bank
Address: 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 8632 4444 Fax: +63 2 8636 2226
