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The report examines six case study destinations—Khao Lak, Patong, and Phi Phi Don in Thailand; and Hikkaduwa, Anuradhapura, and Kataragama in Sri Lanka—to identify drivers of tourism system vulnerability. It introduces a Destination Sustainability Framework (DSF) to analyze how exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive responses interact with socio-political contexts. Findings indicate that established destinations with diversified markets and strong institutional networks, such as Patong, recovered more quickly than newer or more isolated sites like Khao Lak and Phi Phi Don. In Sri Lanka, recovery was hampered by the civil conflict and weak local governance. The report concludes that resilience is strengthened by diversified livelihoods, robust social networks, and strong public-private collaboration, while it is undermined by corruption, poor infrastructure, and social exclusion of minority groups.

The report analyzes the 2004 tsunami's impact on Khao Lak, Thailand, using a Destination Sustainability Framework. It finds that vulnerability was driven by geophysical exposure (flat terrain, shallow offshore shelf), destination-specific sensitivities (high tourism dependency, seasonality), and governance failures (corruption, lack of capacity). While recovery was aided by loyal repeat clients and strong family networks, it was hindered by uneven aid distribution, limited access to credit for small businesses, and the marginalization of Burmese migrant workers. The document concludes with ten recommendations to improve governance, financial accessibility, and disaster preparedness.

The report assesses the differential vulnerability and recovery of Khao Lak, Patong Beach, and Phi Phi Don after the 2004 tsunami. It finds that Patong's established history and strong business associations led to the swiftest recovery, while Khao Lak's status as a new destination and Phi Phi Don's governance and infrastructure challenges slowed their progress. The study highlights that reinforced concrete structures and diversified livelihoods increased resilience, whereas poor local governance, limited credit access for small businesses, and inadequate waste management increased vulnerability. It recommends improving micro-credit access, strengthening public-private coordination, and enhancing disaster preparedness training.