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Prior to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the country's economic growth averaged 5.9% during 2017–2020, boosted by stronger external demand and a recovery in foreign direct investment. COVID-19 has put the economy under deep pressure, despite resolute action taken by the Government of Mongolia to contain the virus. Gross domestic product contracted by 5.3% in 2020. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been Mongolia's largest multilateral development partner since 1991, supporting the country's transformation to a middle-income, market-based economy.

Prior to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Philippines' economic growth had averaged 6.4% annually from 2010 to 2019, with private consumption, investment, and services as major growth drivers. In 2020, however, gross domestic product fell by 9.5% and the country registered its first recession since the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is headquartered in the Philippines, is one of the country's largest sources of official development assistance, with average annual lending of $1.9 billion over the 5 years to 2020. The bank's support is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2017–2022 and the Government of the Philippines' Long-Term Vision for the Philippines (AmBisyon Natin 2040). Since 1966, ADB has committed public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $26.4 billion to the Philippines. Cumulative loan and grant disbursements to the Philippines amount to $20.12 billion. These were financed by regular and concessional ordinary capital resources, and other special funds.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) comprises more than 1,000 islets and atolls spread across just 181 square kilometers in the North Pacific. Its economy relies on fisheries and development assistance, including grants under its Compact of Free Association with the United States (the Compact). Compact grants have been decreasing since 2003, and the RMI is in negotiations to extend the free association beyond 2023. In 2020, border closures associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted fishery supply chains, which proved highly detrimental to the economy. The country is also tasked with balancing resources for its urban and rural populations, and enhancing resilience to climate change.

The study examined the operational and economic impact of Timor-Leste's Covid-19 State of Emergency on MSMEs, in general, and on tourism MSMEs, in particular. It was conducted by the Foundation and the Mata Dalan Institute, and utilized a mixed-method approach to data collection that comprised face-to-face surveys, telephone interviews, and online data collection. Between May and August 2020, the Foundation's Tourism Development Program surveyed the owners or managers of 342 businesses regarding how their business operations had been affected by Covid-19. Of these businesses, 59 percent were operating in the tourism sector.

Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific, with tourism as the main driver of economic activity and foreign direct investment. In 2020, international travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused a collapse in tourism arrivals and contributed to an estimated 19% contraction in Fiji's gross domestic product. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been supporting Fiji since 1970 and is currently working with the national government based on the country partnership strategy, 2019–2023. Over the strategy period, ADB anticipates an allocation of $600 million in sovereign and nonsovereign resources to help Fiji overcome its key development challenges, including pandemic recovery.

Indonesia was a founding member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1966. Today, the country is ADB's sixth largest shareholder and one of its largest sovereign borrowers. Indonesia has made remarkable development strides in the 21st century, including sustained economic growth and significant reductions in poverty. An upper middle-income country, Indonesia aspires to be a high-income country by 2045, while avoiding the middle-income trap. The country's progress is, however, at risk of reversal because of the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on lives and livelihoods. Public health measures and expanded social and economic assistance are among the near-term priorities. Then, as part of a sustainable economic recovery, Indonesia must overcome its longstanding development challenges, including developing human capital, boosting competitiveness, managing climate change and disaster risks, and achieving environmental sustainability.

Rapid growth since independence has enabled Malaysia to become an upper middle-income country. It boasts a gross national income per capita of close to $11,000, with the share of households living below the national poverty line at less than 1%. From an economy dominated by the international trade of raw natural resources, Malaysia has diversified its exports to include electrical appliances, electronic parts and components, palm oil, and natural gas. More recent efforts have focused on improving competitiveness. The country ranked 27th in the Global Competitiveness Index for 2019. In the same report for 2020, Malaysia was among the top 10 advanced countries on digital transformation.

Following steady growth over recent years, Myanmar's economy decelerated in the 2020 financial year due to containment measures related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that disrupted business operations, constrained production, reduced consumption, slowed investment, and deterred trade. The pandemic caused loss of income, particularly among the poor and vulnerable groups of the population, and weighed heavily on the country's poverty reduction efforts. Achieving political stability, maintaining fiscal sustainability, and controlling the pandemic will be critical for getting Myanmar's economy back on track. Since reengaging with Myanmar in 2012, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported the country's national strategies and priority programs in collaboration with other development partners.

Niue is one of the world's smallest countries, with a land area of 259 square kilometers and an estimated population of 1,862 in 2019. Tourism development has been the country's main driver of economic growth, with improved flight connectivity, accommodation facilities, and destination marketing contributing to an increase in visitor arrivals from about 2,000 in 2005 to 11,000 in 2019. At more than six visitors for every resident, Niue has one of the highest tourist–to–population ratios globally. Meanwhile, fiscal discipline, paired with large and predictable inflows of overseas development assistance, have helped provide macroeconomic stability for the Government of Niue. The country does, however, face significant challenges in achieving sustained socioeconomic development. In proportionate terms, Niue has experienced the largest population decline of any country in recent history—the resident population was 5,194 people in 1966—and travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are having profound impacts on the country's tourism-dependent economy.

Thailand's economic progress has centered largely around international trade and tourism. As such, the country's economy has been severely impacted by restrictions to movement brought on by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Thailand's efforts to manage the pandemic and its impacts have been highly commendable. The Government of Thailand has launched several stimulus packages in a phased manner to cushion the effects of the pandemic on the country's prosperity and its people. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) stands ready to extend the necessary support and collaboration with Thailand in responding to health, social and economic impacts due to the COVID-19. In June 2020, ADB approved a $1.5 billion loan to Thailand under the Countercyclical Support Facility COVID-19 Pandemic Response Option (CPRO) for the COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program.

Indonesia was a founding member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1966. Today, the country is ADB's sixth largest shareholder and one of its largest sovereign borrowers. Indonesia has made remarkable development strides in the 21st century, including sustained economic growth and significant reductions in poverty. An upper middle-income country, Indonesia aspires to be a high-income country by 2045, while avoiding the middle-income trap. The country's progress is, however, at risk of reversal because of the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on lives and livelihoods. Public health measures and expanded social and economic assistance are among the near-term priorities. Then, as part of a sustainable economic recovery, Indonesia must overcome its longstanding development challenges, including developing human capital, boosting competitiveness, managing climate change and disaster risks, and achieving environmental sustainability.

The travel and tourism sectors have become the most vulnerable sectors to the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have shown that most tourist-destination countries will experience economic shocks due to the pandemic. This study analyses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic shock and the implications of policies taken by the government to strengthen the travel and tourism sectors. As the largest travel and tourism economy in ASEAN, this study uses Indonesia as a case study. It uses a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model using a detailed national input–output table for the creative sectors. The study develops baseline scenarios (low and lower-middle recovery), general policy scenarios (moderate and highly effective support) and specific policy scenarios for the travel and tourism sectors. Through changes in export demand, the impact of the pandemic depends on the existing conditions and policy interventions. The pandemic causes the nominal gross domestic product at the national level to decline by an interval of [–1.99%, –2.97%] and for tourism and travel sectors by [–6.81%, –10.38%] depending on the recovery period. If the recovery is low (all annual inbound tourism expenditure is removed), the Indonesian macroeconomy will be worse than under the lower-middle recovery, given the same government intervention. Thus, effectiveness becomes an important factor for creating a better impact. Adding capital stimulus into the tourism sector helps to further reduce output decline in the travel and tourism sectors, but it is not enough to help the economy recover from the pandemic. The best policy strategy is to make sure that the mitigation plan will be implemented effectively.

This report summarizes the last round of the surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs in the tourism sector in Cambodia, which were conducted in April 2021, and it provides an update on the situation described in the July 2020, and November 2020 reports. In all three rounds, the surveys focused on the following issues: • MSME operations, and the impact on revenues since July 2020; • Changing perceptions about whether businesses will survive; • Trends that MSMEs have observed in both international and domestic tourists/travelers; • MSMEs' staffing situation and layoffs; • MSMEs' perceptions of government interventions; and • MSMEs' adaptation to the "New Normal." Since this is a wrap-up report on MSMEs in the tourism sector, it reflects the situation since July 2020, and provides recommendations for government policy. The report compares the results across the three survey rounds, and draws conclusions regarding how COVID-19 has affected tourism sector MSMEs in different regions of Cambodia. It also analyzes trends in the broader context of Cambodia's public health and economic situation. Based on its analyses, this report offers specific recommendations regarding how the government could explore ways to respond in the short and long term, specific groups requiring greater attention/targeting, and how the governance arrangements of the state's responses could be improved.

The number of international travelers1 increased by 538.3% in August 2021, compared to the same period of 2020, and declined by 77.3% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors2 increased by 510.5% (2021/2020) and declined by 75.5% (2021/2019), and the number of international tourists3 increased by 615.2% (2021/2020) and declined by 67.2% (2021/2019).

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SPDI) provides the global sustainable development community with representation from Pakistan as well as South Asia as a whole. This quarterly publication provides Research and News bulletins on current events affecting Pakistan and surrounding South Asian countries.