The new dynamics of tourism in South East Asia: Economic development, political change and destination competitiveness

The paper is concerned with tourism in South East Asia and the forces which are shaping its evolution by consolidating established trends and introducing new directions. The important role of Asia's rising middle class in driving demand is acknowledged, alongside general economic growth and political developments which are creating a more favourable business climate. Diversity and difference are also noted in terms of the competitiveness of the member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as destinations. Myanmar serves as an illustration of the key influences on the ability to compete and how these are affected by politics and economics. It was chosen as a case study because it is one of the later ASEAN members in which there is growing interest from an industry and tourist perspective, spurred on by wider changes, and its emergence is an expression of and contributor to the reshaping of the region's tourism dynamics.