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Mekong Tourism News 2009
August 2009
'Responsible' Site Wins 'Gold Award'
The 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong' at www.ExploreMekong.org/responsible has won the 2009 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in the website category.
This year's PATA Gold Awards program attracted 236 entries from 120 organisations worldwide. Each PATA Gold Award is judged by a panel of industry experts.
"This Award sends a message of support, encouragement, and inspiration to responsible tourism operators in the Mekong," said Mekong Tourism Executive Director Mason Florence. "They now have an opportunity to be featured in a website that has been branded "Gold-class" by industry peers."
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s ASEAN Competitiveness Enhancement (ACE) Project developed the site as part of its technical assistance to ASEAN- and Mekong-region tourism cooperation and integration.
ACE Project Director RJ Gurley said: "We wished to demonstrate that with sound advice and the right mix of user-friendly open-source technologies, small tourism operators can achieve competitive web standards with relatively low budgets."
The 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong' site cost little more than US$1,000 to design and build. It was based on a responsible tourism guidebook published by the Mekong Tourism Development Project in 2008.
www.ExploreMekong.org/responsible
… And is Eligible for the 'Spotlight Award'. Vote Now!
Voting is open for the 2009 Ecotourism Spotlight Award. Government websites that educate visitors about ecotourism and responsible travel options are eligible. Vote 'Mekong' now.
Nominees include the 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong' (Mekong Tourism's PATA Gold Award-winning website), plus websites from Ireland, Laos, and Mexico.
Unlike the PATA Gold Award, which was determined by a panel of expert judges, the Ecotourism Spotlight Award is based on a popular vote. Make your voice count: Vote 'Mekong' now.
The winner will be announced in celebration of World Tourism Day (September 27) as way of spotlighting best practice in responsible travel and ecotourism.
Vote 'Mekong' now.
Responsible Tourism: Off the Beaten Path in Northeast Thailand
Gecko Villa offers guests the chance to experience traditional rural life in the rice-farming heartlands of Northeast Thailand, yet in comfort and without the normal language barriers encountered in the area. The villages of Isan are rarely visited by tourists and offer a marked contrast to developed tourism destinations.
As a standalone property, Gecko Villa offers visitors the possibility of integrating themselves into the local community via a Thai host family. The impact of tourism is minimized by the deliberately small size of the property and a policy of only accommodating one group of visitors at a time.
All Gecko Villa's revenues are distributed within the local community. All its employees are local. And the majority of produce and services at the property are sourced locally. For those who would like to assist the community, visits to village schools may be arranged. Donations of educational equipment, sporting goods or clothing are always gratefully accepted.
Gecko Villa would also welcome your help in undertaking its reforestation projects in disused rice paddies.
Full entry on the PATA Gold Award-winning 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong'.
July 2009
Mr Florence outlined some of Mekong Tourism's plans for the coming year, including a public relations campaign to raise awareness for Mekong as a single destination, the Mekong Photo Contest, and reviving the Mekong Tourism Forum. Mekong Tourism also took out booth space at the public exhibition that ran in parallel with WEC2009.
"It was an enjoyable and productive four days," said Mr Florence. "We were able to raise awareness of Mekong Tourism activities among ecotourism stakeholders who play an important role in showcasing our region's unique natural and cultural assets to responsible travelers."
WEC2009 brought global ecotourism players together to network, collaborate and share their experiences, best practices, and technology for the advancement of ecotourism around the world. This year's Conference focused on "developing regions". In the final session, delegates agreed in principle with a "Vientiane Declaration" that seeks to promote the use of proven ecotourism practices within the wider travel and tourism industry.
The Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA), which teamed up with Malaysian event organizer DISCOVERYMICE to stage WEC2009, planned a series of local events including the Lao International Tourism Exhibition and Food Festival that added value to the program and attracted public participation on the last day.
WEC2009.
Sustainable Best Practices Handbook for SMEs
The English PDF version of a full-colour illustrated handbook of good practices for tourism operators is available for download. 'Sustainable Tourism Management in Thailand: A Good Practices Guide for SMEs' was first published in 2007 to help hotels, restaurants, and nature and culture-based activity operators in Thailand take easy steps towards sustainable management.
The handbook comprises tips on how to lower electricity and water consumption, manage waste in an eco-friendly way, and interact positively with local communities. These tips are illustrated by case studies of more than 40 SMEs throughout Thailand. The best practices described apply just as well in other destinations. Technical advice and contacts are also provided.
The handbook was published by the Environmental Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and Bumi Kita Foundation, with financial support from the European Union's EU-Thailand Small Project Facility and the French Embassy in Thailand.
Download handbook. (PDF 3.5 MB)
Responsible Travel: Informed Passengers Will Pay a Carbon Premium
Flight search data reveals 57% of airline travellers are prepared to pay a premium for flights with lower carbon emissions. The use of the Carbon Friendly Flight Search tool demonstrates that travellers will choose carbon-efficient flight options, with 57% of users selecting the lowest cost /lowest carbon option, even if it is up to 19% more expensive than the lowest cost/higher carbon option.
The flight search tool developed by Global Travel Market (GTM) and The Carbon Consultancy in association with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, provides travellers with ratings on the efficiency of the long and short haul fleets used by major airlines and highlights lower carbon emitting direct flights vs indirect flights.
The free online tool has been piloted on selected websites, which have generated in excess of 10,000 flight searches and the results are compared against GTM's normal flight search tools where no carbon ratings or direct flight options are present.
Read more.
Responsible Tourism: They See a Future When You Come to Stay
Contribute directly to youths' vocational training by enjoying the warmth of their hospitality at Tonle Guesthouse (pictured). The Tonle Tourism Training Center opened in early 2007 with the backing of Tourism for Help (Switzerland) and more recently from Tourism for Help (France).
By providing short vocational training courses, the Center offers disadvantaged youth employable skills for their futures. The Center functions as a guesthouse, restaurant, and training center for students to practice in a true-to-life environment. They perform as service providers, cooks, clerks and front office staff.
The guesthouse accommodation comprises four rooms equipped with fans in a traditional Khmer house. There is a book shelf upstairs packed with information about local attractions. A large sitting room and a terrace offering a splendid view of the Sekong River allow guests to feel at home.
Full entry on the 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong'.
June 2009
Opinion: How Technology and the Social Conscience Will Rescue Tourism
By Shane K Beary
There was a time when I subscribed to the concept of 'responsible tourism' as the best model to ensure a sustainable future for the industry, yet resigned myself to the fact that in our consumer-driven society where money alone is king, and where we place a financial value on our ideals, most people give the idea little more than lip service.
That of course was before circumstances and events conspired to create a situation in which responsible tourism appears to be the only viable solution to the tourism industry's woes. The have's will have to help the have not's in order to ensure their own survival.
Mr Beary (pictured) argues his case in the full article. Read it.
MTCO Connecting People, Coordinating Projects in Vietnam
MTCO Project Coordinator Christine Jacquemin (pictured) gathered tourism development partners together at the ADB office in Hanoi, Vietnam on May 25. The gathering gave donors and development agencies the opportunity to discuss their respective projects. Representatives of the European Commission, AFD, SNV, GTZ, FPSC, among others, attended.
Ms Jacquemin presented four project proposals developed by the MTCO, which were based on the findings of appropriately themed MTCO workshops. ADB and German development bank KfW are funding one such pilot project in central Vietnam's UNESCO Natural World Heritage area of Phong Nha-Ke Bang. Designed by the MTCO to strengthen the management of tourism within and around bio-diverse areas, the project was based on findings from the September 2008 workshop on tourism and biodiversity in Bangkok.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang, a 85,754-hectare park in Quang Binh Province, is one of two Natural World Heritage sites in Vietnam (along with Halong Bay). It is famous for its caves and karst landscape. A good destination for biking and hiking, Phong Nha Ke Bang's mountains are home to the richest variety of primates Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh highway passes along the park's east side. The west borders Laos.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang's UNESCO listing.
MTCO Contributes to GMS Environment Projects
MTCO Project Coordinator Christine Jacquemin discussed the implementation of the 2009-2011 Core Environment Program Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI) projects by the GMS Environment Operation Center at a workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 27. The projects have been endorsed by the GMS Working Group on the environment and include five concept clusters to be implemented thanks to US$4 million funding from Finland. MTCO has been invited to be the coordinating organization on the two clusters that contain tourism components:-
Responsible Tourism: Life's an Andaman Beach
Just a few hours from the tourist hub of Phuket, Thailand villagers invite you into their lives to experience their traditional culture and diverse eco-systems in an authentic and non-intrusive way. Andaman Discoveries (AD) offers experiences of traditional culture and ecology of rural, coastal Thailand.
Several village tours are available, including cultural tours, family tours and hands-on tours. Each of the tours contains a diverse mix of cultural exchange, ecological and handicraft-making activities. The tours are designed for everybody, regardless of age or ability, including mature and single travelers. In addition to village tours and homestays, AD also can arrange long-term volunteering placements and study tours, and can book tours to Koh Surin and the Koh Ra Ecolodge.
Full entry on the 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong'.
New STDP Focus in Lao to 2014
The new GMS Sustainable Tourism Development Project (2009-2014) aims to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Lao, focusing especially on poverty reduction, sustainable development, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage and vulnerable groups.
The Project is financed by a US$10 million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with additional resources by the Government of Lao PDR. The Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) is the executing agency responsible for the coordination and implementation of the project in the nine target provinces of Champasak, Salavanh, Savannakhet, Vientiane, Houaphanh, Oudomxay, Sayabouli, Bokeo and Luang Namtha.
For more information, visit Ecotourism Laos.
March 2009
Consumer Site to Focus on Responsible Tourism
BY: MTCO COMMUNICATIONS
A new extension to MekongTourism.org and ExploreMekong.org, inspired by 'The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam' will be launched into cyberspace by the end of March.
In order to expand the potential readership of the book and the geographical coverage of its valuable content, the ‘Mekong Responsible Tourism Guide’ web section will be developed for the MTCO by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s ASEAN Competitiveness Enhancement Project (ACE).
MTCO Executive Director Mason Florence welcomed ACE Project's initiative. "This is a terrific way for global citizens to learn about and comment on responsible tourism activities in the Greater Mekong Sub-region," Mr Florence said. "We're hopeful that this will help build the foundation for a new print edition of the guidebook, which will contain information about responsible tourism activities in all six countries of destination Mekong."
All content pages and posts based on the content of the original book, which was written by Guy Marris, Nick Ray, and Bernie Rosenbloom, and edited by Ken Scott, will be tagged "bookcontent". As the site develops further, anyone will be able submit comments, testimonials, and fair criticism on its content, and also make specific recommendations regarding responsible tourism activities in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Guangxi and Yunnan provinces of China for the website's free publication. Email content(at)mekongtourism.org.
A publication of the Mekong Tourism Development Project (MTDP), ‘The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam’ was funded by the Ministry of Tourism Cambodia, the Lao National Tourism Administration and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism with loans from the Asian Development Bank.
To submit content, please email content(at)mekongtourism.org.
January 2009
Mekong's Priority Projects Progress Apace
BY: MTCO COMMUNICATIONS
There are risks in the current development pattern of GMS tourism that need to be carefully managed, according to MTCO project coordinator Christine Jacquemin.
Presenting the results and action items concerning the MTCO's development program during the GMS Tourism Ministers' meeting in Hanoi on January 9, Ms Jacquemin (pictured) added that the MTCO welcomed the proactive participation of all stakeholders.
Of the 29 Mekong tourism development projects overseen by Ms Jacquemin, four have been identified as priorities: Tourism and biodiversity; Pro-poor tourism (poverty alleviation); GMS tourism corridors; and vocational training courses for SMEs.
In 2008, MTCO organized the first three in a series of workshops dedicated to each of the priority sectors. A February 12-13 workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia will be the fourth.
The French government's regional cooperation department initiated the development program, which is co-funded by the Asian Development Bank, France, and the host countries.
Download Ms Jacquemin's presentation. (PDF 805 KB)
'Responsible' Site Wins 'Gold Award'
The 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong' at www.ExploreMekong.org/responsible has won the 2009 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in the website category.
 |
"This Award sends a message of support, encouragement, and inspiration to responsible tourism operators in the Mekong," said Mekong Tourism Executive Director Mason Florence. "They now have an opportunity to be featured in a website that has been branded "Gold-class" by industry peers."
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s ASEAN Competitiveness Enhancement (ACE) Project developed the site as part of its technical assistance to ASEAN- and Mekong-region tourism cooperation and integration.
ACE Project Director RJ Gurley said: "We wished to demonstrate that with sound advice and the right mix of user-friendly open-source technologies, small tourism operators can achieve competitive web standards with relatively low budgets."
The 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong' site cost little more than US$1,000 to design and build. It was based on a responsible tourism guidebook published by the Mekong Tourism Development Project in 2008.
www.ExploreMekong.org/responsible
… And is Eligible for the 'Spotlight Award'. Vote Now!
Voting is open for the 2009 Ecotourism Spotlight Award. Government websites that educate visitors about ecotourism and responsible travel options are eligible. Vote 'Mekong' now.
 |
Unlike the PATA Gold Award, which was determined by a panel of expert judges, the Ecotourism Spotlight Award is based on a popular vote. Make your voice count: Vote 'Mekong' now.
The winner will be announced in celebration of World Tourism Day (September 27) as way of spotlighting best practice in responsible travel and ecotourism.
Vote 'Mekong' now.
Responsible Tourism: Off the Beaten Path in Northeast Thailand
Gecko Villa offers guests the chance to experience traditional rural life in the rice-farming heartlands of Northeast Thailand, yet in comfort and without the normal language barriers encountered in the area. The villages of Isan are rarely visited by tourists and offer a marked contrast to developed tourism destinations.
 |
All Gecko Villa's revenues are distributed within the local community. All its employees are local. And the majority of produce and services at the property are sourced locally. For those who would like to assist the community, visits to village schools may be arranged. Donations of educational equipment, sporting goods or clothing are always gratefully accepted.
Gecko Villa would also welcome your help in undertaking its reforestation projects in disused rice paddies.
Full entry on the PATA Gold Award-winning 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong'.
July 2009
 |
| MTCO Executive Director Mason Florence addresses the World Ecotourism Conference 2009 |
MTCO Talks Development, Marketing at Ecotourism Event MTCO Executive Director Mason Florence was a panelist during the special session entitled "Development & Marketing of the Greater Mekong Sub-region", July 17, at the World Ecotourism Conference 2009 (WEC2009) in Vientiane. The session provided industry leaders with "a strategic framework to plan for the sub-region and to enable them to understand and respond to strategic trends and developments".
 |
| H.E. Bouasone Bouphavanh, the Prime Minister of Lao PDR, chats with Mason Florence at the Mekong Tourism booth |
Mr Florence outlined some of Mekong Tourism's plans for the coming year, including a public relations campaign to raise awareness for Mekong as a single destination, the Mekong Photo Contest, and reviving the Mekong Tourism Forum. Mekong Tourism also took out booth space at the public exhibition that ran in parallel with WEC2009.
"It was an enjoyable and productive four days," said Mr Florence. "We were able to raise awareness of Mekong Tourism activities among ecotourism stakeholders who play an important role in showcasing our region's unique natural and cultural assets to responsible travelers."
WEC2009 brought global ecotourism players together to network, collaborate and share their experiences, best practices, and technology for the advancement of ecotourism around the world. This year's Conference focused on "developing regions". In the final session, delegates agreed in principle with a "Vientiane Declaration" that seeks to promote the use of proven ecotourism practices within the wider travel and tourism industry.
The Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA), which teamed up with Malaysian event organizer DISCOVERYMICE to stage WEC2009, planned a series of local events including the Lao International Tourism Exhibition and Food Festival that added value to the program and attracted public participation on the last day.
WEC2009.
Sustainable Best Practices Handbook for SMEs
 |
The handbook comprises tips on how to lower electricity and water consumption, manage waste in an eco-friendly way, and interact positively with local communities. These tips are illustrated by case studies of more than 40 SMEs throughout Thailand. The best practices described apply just as well in other destinations. Technical advice and contacts are also provided.
The handbook was published by the Environmental Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and Bumi Kita Foundation, with financial support from the European Union's EU-Thailand Small Project Facility and the French Embassy in Thailand.
Download handbook. (PDF 3.5 MB)
| Vote Mekong for Ecotourism Spotlight Award Voting opened yesterday, July 20, for the 2009 Ecotourism Spotlight Award. Nominees for this year's award include Quito Visitors' Bureau, Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong (this site) Ecotourism Laos, Failte Ireland and Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas. Vote now.
"In 2009 we have more contenders than ever before," said Planeta.com founder Ron Mader and director of the Ecotourism Spotlight Award. "The spotlight award shines attention on best practices and these nominees offer great examples for other government websites." Government websites that educate visitors about ecotourism and responsible travel options are eligible to win Planeta.com's third annual Ecotourism Spotlight Award. Complete details are online the Planeta Wiki. The winner is announced in celebration of World Tourism Day (September 27) as way of spotlighting best practice in responsible travel and ecotourism. The award was developed to create incentives for communication, opportunities for conversation and a reward for participation among government leaders working toward ecotourism and responsible travel. Nominees are asked to review each other's websites. "Connect with each other," advises Mader. "While this is a competition, we also encourage collaboration. Learning from other leaders makes sense. All of these nominees are winners." Vote now. |
Responsible Travel: Informed Passengers Will Pay a Carbon Premium
Flight search data reveals 57% of airline travellers are prepared to pay a premium for flights with lower carbon emissions. The use of the Carbon Friendly Flight Search tool demonstrates that travellers will choose carbon-efficient flight options, with 57% of users selecting the lowest cost /lowest carbon option, even if it is up to 19% more expensive than the lowest cost/higher carbon option.
The flight search tool developed by Global Travel Market (GTM) and The Carbon Consultancy in association with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, provides travellers with ratings on the efficiency of the long and short haul fleets used by major airlines and highlights lower carbon emitting direct flights vs indirect flights.
The free online tool has been piloted on selected websites, which have generated in excess of 10,000 flight searches and the results are compared against GTM's normal flight search tools where no carbon ratings or direct flight options are present.
Read more.
Responsible Tourism: They See a Future When You Come to Stay
Contribute directly to youths' vocational training by enjoying the warmth of their hospitality at Tonle Guesthouse (pictured). The Tonle Tourism Training Center opened in early 2007 with the backing of Tourism for Help (Switzerland) and more recently from Tourism for Help (France).
 |
The guesthouse accommodation comprises four rooms equipped with fans in a traditional Khmer house. There is a book shelf upstairs packed with information about local attractions. A large sitting room and a terrace offering a splendid view of the Sekong River allow guests to feel at home.
Full entry on the 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong'.
June 2009
Opinion: How Technology and the Social Conscience Will Rescue Tourism
By Shane K Beary
 |
There was a time when I subscribed to the concept of 'responsible tourism' as the best model to ensure a sustainable future for the industry, yet resigned myself to the fact that in our consumer-driven society where money alone is king, and where we place a financial value on our ideals, most people give the idea little more than lip service.
That of course was before circumstances and events conspired to create a situation in which responsible tourism appears to be the only viable solution to the tourism industry's woes. The have's will have to help the have not's in order to ensure their own survival.
Mr Beary (pictured) argues his case in the full article. Read it.
MTCO Connecting People, Coordinating Projects in Vietnam
 |
Ms Jacquemin presented four project proposals developed by the MTCO, which were based on the findings of appropriately themed MTCO workshops. ADB and German development bank KfW are funding one such pilot project in central Vietnam's UNESCO Natural World Heritage area of Phong Nha-Ke Bang. Designed by the MTCO to strengthen the management of tourism within and around bio-diverse areas, the project was based on findings from the September 2008 workshop on tourism and biodiversity in Bangkok.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang, a 85,754-hectare park in Quang Binh Province, is one of two Natural World Heritage sites in Vietnam (along with Halong Bay). It is famous for its caves and karst landscape. A good destination for biking and hiking, Phong Nha Ke Bang's mountains are home to the richest variety of primates Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh highway passes along the park's east side. The west borders Laos.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang's UNESCO listing.
MTCO Contributes to GMS Environment Projects
MTCO Project Coordinator Christine Jacquemin discussed the implementation of the 2009-2011 Core Environment Program Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI) projects by the GMS Environment Operation Center at a workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 27. The projects have been endorsed by the GMS Working Group on the environment and include five concept clusters to be implemented thanks to US$4 million funding from Finland. MTCO has been invited to be the coordinating organization on the two clusters that contain tourism components:-
• Cluster 1: "Golden Quadrangle Integrated Approach to Tourism, Climate Change & Environmental Performance Assessment"About the CEP.
• Cluster 4: "Integrated Approach to SEA, BCI, and EPA in the GMS Southern Economic Corridor"
Responsible Tourism: Life's an Andaman Beach
 |
| Photo © Darinka Montico |
Several village tours are available, including cultural tours, family tours and hands-on tours. Each of the tours contains a diverse mix of cultural exchange, ecological and handicraft-making activities. The tours are designed for everybody, regardless of age or ability, including mature and single travelers. In addition to village tours and homestays, AD also can arrange long-term volunteering placements and study tours, and can book tours to Koh Surin and the Koh Ra Ecolodge.
Full entry on the 'Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong'.
New STDP Focus in Lao to 2014
The new GMS Sustainable Tourism Development Project (2009-2014) aims to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Lao, focusing especially on poverty reduction, sustainable development, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage and vulnerable groups.
The Project is financed by a US$10 million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with additional resources by the Government of Lao PDR. The Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) is the executing agency responsible for the coordination and implementation of the project in the nine target provinces of Champasak, Salavanh, Savannakhet, Vientiane, Houaphanh, Oudomxay, Sayabouli, Bokeo and Luang Namtha.
For more information, visit Ecotourism Laos.
March 2009
Consumer Site to Focus on Responsible Tourism
BY: MTCO COMMUNICATIONS
A new extension to MekongTourism.org and ExploreMekong.org, inspired by 'The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam' will be launched into cyberspace by the end of March.
 |   |
MTCO Executive Director Mason Florence welcomed ACE Project's initiative. "This is a terrific way for global citizens to learn about and comment on responsible tourism activities in the Greater Mekong Sub-region," Mr Florence said. "We're hopeful that this will help build the foundation for a new print edition of the guidebook, which will contain information about responsible tourism activities in all six countries of destination Mekong."
All content pages and posts based on the content of the original book, which was written by Guy Marris, Nick Ray, and Bernie Rosenbloom, and edited by Ken Scott, will be tagged "bookcontent". As the site develops further, anyone will be able submit comments, testimonials, and fair criticism on its content, and also make specific recommendations regarding responsible tourism activities in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Guangxi and Yunnan provinces of China for the website's free publication. Email content(at)mekongtourism.org.
A publication of the Mekong Tourism Development Project (MTDP), ‘The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam’ was funded by the Ministry of Tourism Cambodia, the Lao National Tourism Administration and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism with loans from the Asian Development Bank.
To submit content, please email content(at)mekongtourism.org.
January 2009
Mekong's Priority Projects Progress Apace
BY: MTCO COMMUNICATIONS
There are risks in the current development pattern of GMS tourism that need to be carefully managed, according to MTCO project coordinator Christine Jacquemin.
| |  |
Presenting the results and action items concerning the MTCO's development program during the GMS Tourism Ministers' meeting in Hanoi on January 9, Ms Jacquemin (pictured) added that the MTCO welcomed the proactive participation of all stakeholders.
Of the 29 Mekong tourism development projects overseen by Ms Jacquemin, four have been identified as priorities: Tourism and biodiversity; Pro-poor tourism (poverty alleviation); GMS tourism corridors; and vocational training courses for SMEs.
In 2008, MTCO organized the first three in a series of workshops dedicated to each of the priority sectors. A February 12-13 workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia will be the fourth.
The French government's regional cooperation department initiated the development program, which is co-funded by the Asian Development Bank, France, and the host countries.
Download Ms Jacquemin's presentation. (PDF 805 KB)
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