What Recovery?

Abstract

Although according to some the recovery from the December 2004 Asian tsunami is just about as complete as it can be, issues concerning what kind of recovery are by and large ignored, save for the plethora of information about the economic recovery. This commentary asks the reader to think beyond the economic recovery and consider what the recovery might mean in human terms. It also steers the reader toward an issue of greater concern: in Thailand and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, tourism business considerations often override safety requirements, and in 2004 this had devastating results.