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The Mekong Tourism Forum opened today in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with private and public sector tourism representatives gathering to assess the opportunities arising from the new road corridors that are opening up the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).
In his opening remarks to over 170 attendees at the opening session today, H.E. Kuosuom Saroeuth, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia, said: "The Mekong Tourism Forum represents an inclusive, cooperative effort to encourage both public and private sector participation to represent the GMS as a single destination. We hope to expand our marketing networks, promote the GMS, and its stakeholders, and pool our collective resources to create synergy between the six countries of the region."
The Secretary of State told forum delegates that Asia and the Mekong region were pulling the travel industry out of its recent recession. He pointed out that Cambodia's international visitor arrivals grew in 2009 compared to 2008.
The focus of the forum will be on the benefits to tourism that occur from new road corridors linking the region. The GMS countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi, chose the theme "New Roads, New Opportunities" to pinpoint the challenges and opportunities facing tourism in the region.
"The time is right for inspirational and innovative cross-border tourism ideas that utilise the new road links," said Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) Executive Director, Mr Mason Florence. "We're moving from infrastructure provision to promotion and protection in the GMS. That's why the Mekong Tourism Forum will become an annual event again."
During the two-day forum, delegates will also hear from Mekong region governments about their plans for cooperation in tourism. Officials will update the audience on visa regulations, airport developments, border crossing changes, and new policies and incentives for the industry.
Apart from the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism and the MTCO, financial support for the Forum is being provided by the USAID-funded ASEAN Competitiveness Enhancement (ACE) project
ACE Director Mr R. J. Gurley told delegates that USAID would continue to work with tourism partners to increase cross-border exchanges of people, goods and services in the ASEAN region, which is striving to become a fully integrated economic community by 2015.
"ASEAN has identified responsible tourism as a priority sector for growth and greater integration in ASEAN and Mekong countries," said Mr Gurley. "The ACE Project is exploring how we can enhance the tourism industry's integration and competitiveness at the regional and sub-regional levels."
The Asian Development Bank wants to see new small and medium-sized tourism businesses creating wealth for the sub-region. "Our aim is for responsible community-based tourism enterprises to develop along and near the road corridors," said Christine Jacquemin, the MTCO Sustainable Tourism Development Project Coordinator, a position supported by the ADB. "New businesses may be small, but they can do a great job to diversify attractions and bring in money outside the major destinations."
Leading tour operators, hotel companies, airlines and development organizations are attending the Mekong Tourism Forum 2010 along with tourism officials.
During the forum at the Angkor Century Resort & Spa in Siem Reap, panel discussions are being held on "Pioneering Mekong Tourism Products," "The Path to Community-based Tourism," "How Sustainable Tourism Can Drive Profit," and "The Road Ahead".
In his opening remarks to over 170 attendees at the opening session today, H.E. Kuosuom Saroeuth, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia, said: "The Mekong Tourism Forum represents an inclusive, cooperative effort to encourage both public and private sector participation to represent the GMS as a single destination. We hope to expand our marketing networks, promote the GMS, and its stakeholders, and pool our collective resources to create synergy between the six countries of the region."
The Secretary of State told forum delegates that Asia and the Mekong region were pulling the travel industry out of its recent recession. He pointed out that Cambodia's international visitor arrivals grew in 2009 compared to 2008.
The focus of the forum will be on the benefits to tourism that occur from new road corridors linking the region. The GMS countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi, chose the theme "New Roads, New Opportunities" to pinpoint the challenges and opportunities facing tourism in the region.
"The time is right for inspirational and innovative cross-border tourism ideas that utilise the new road links," said Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) Executive Director, Mr Mason Florence. "We're moving from infrastructure provision to promotion and protection in the GMS. That's why the Mekong Tourism Forum will become an annual event again."
During the two-day forum, delegates will also hear from Mekong region governments about their plans for cooperation in tourism. Officials will update the audience on visa regulations, airport developments, border crossing changes, and new policies and incentives for the industry.
Apart from the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism and the MTCO, financial support for the Forum is being provided by the USAID-funded ASEAN Competitiveness Enhancement (ACE) project
ACE Director Mr R. J. Gurley told delegates that USAID would continue to work with tourism partners to increase cross-border exchanges of people, goods and services in the ASEAN region, which is striving to become a fully integrated economic community by 2015.
"ASEAN has identified responsible tourism as a priority sector for growth and greater integration in ASEAN and Mekong countries," said Mr Gurley. "The ACE Project is exploring how we can enhance the tourism industry's integration and competitiveness at the regional and sub-regional levels."
The Asian Development Bank wants to see new small and medium-sized tourism businesses creating wealth for the sub-region. "Our aim is for responsible community-based tourism enterprises to develop along and near the road corridors," said Christine Jacquemin, the MTCO Sustainable Tourism Development Project Coordinator, a position supported by the ADB. "New businesses may be small, but they can do a great job to diversify attractions and bring in money outside the major destinations."
Leading tour operators, hotel companies, airlines and development organizations are attending the Mekong Tourism Forum 2010 along with tourism officials.
During the forum at the Angkor Century Resort & Spa in Siem Reap, panel discussions are being held on "Pioneering Mekong Tourism Products," "The Path to Community-based Tourism," "How Sustainable Tourism Can Drive Profit," and "The Road Ahead".
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