AST Market Brief | May 2026

Significant developments unfolded across Asian tourism in May 2026. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $50 billion to cross-border power grid infrastructure and renewed its clean energy partnership with Singapore. India published a formal medical value travel framework, supported by digital tools and visa policies. Vietnam advanced its efforts toward sustainable aviation fuel. Thailand confirmed a major increase in airport fees, announced a strategic overhaul of its approach to the short-haul market, and promoted longevity tourism as a high-value product. Cambodia linked tourism investment to resilience standards, Laos required booking documentation for inbound groups, and UN Tourism launched a mobile-first training model that could reach SME operators at scale.