Tourism Policy Management Concepts: A Case Study of the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by World Economic Forum (WEF)

Abstract

This academic article presents concepts for tourism policy management through an examination of the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The index assesses travel and tourism development across five dimensions: Enabling Environment, Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions, Infrastructure and Services, Travel and Tourism Resources, and Travel and Tourism Sustainability. A comparative analysis of the 2024 TTDI report across eight Southeast Asian countries ranked them from highest to lowest as follows: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Laos. However, when changes in TTDI scores from 2021 to 2024 were considered, the Philippines and Indonesia recorded increases, whereas Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand recorded decreases. Among these countries, Thailand experienced the largest decline, with its score decreasing by 0.16 points. Based on these findings, this article proposes recommendations for Thailand’s tourism policy management to enhance the country’s competitiveness at both the Southeast Asian regional and global levels. Priority should be given to the two dimensions in which Thailand experienced the greatest declines: Travel and Tourism Sustainability and Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions.