Latest News

Tools and Resources for Nature-Based Tourism

Luxury is DEAD. There is no point in designing lavish hotels just to put heads on beds - every hospitality project should have a purpose and a candle to light. We in hospitality - designers, owners or operators - have…

Mekong Tourism & SUNx Malta Announce Scholarships for Climate Friendly Travel

Supporting Students & Professionals From The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries – Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Bangkok, September 22, 2020: Thanks to Malta’s Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, and the Institute for Tourism Studies Malta, SUNx Malta and The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) are offering 5 scholarships for a new online Diploma in Climate Friendly Travel. This Diploma is the first of its kind and will train students and professionals to support companies and communities in the Travel & Tourism industry in adjusting their operations…

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REGION

Our Initiatives

The “Experience Mekong Collection” showcases small, responsible, and sustainable travel businesses in the Lancang-Mekong Region.

Every year, six members of the Experience Mekong Collection (EMC) are recognized as Experience Mekong Showcases – one of each country and category showcasing sustainable and inclusive travel in the Lancang-Mekong Region and inspire travelers and businesses.

Mekong Heores are individuals who have made a significant contribution to developing tourism sustainability in the Lancang-Mekong Region. These individual might come from any background – They have in common their vision, commitment, dedication, and passion for the Region.

The Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) is a program launched by the Asian Development Bank and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, operated by Destination Mekong. It is the Lancang-Mekong Region’s first travel startup program.

Mekong Moments is a globally unique and pioneering visual consumer marketing campaign and travel inspirational platform that collaboratively promotes the LMR as a single tourism destination and drives direct business to individual businesses through social commerce.

The Mekong Mini Movie Festival is a unique social media campaign that celebrates the many faces and experiences of the Lancang-Mekong Region and promotes the region as a single tourism destination.

Initiative News

First Mekong Hero announced at Destination Mekong Summit

Founder of Thailand Community-based Tourism Institute honored Bangkok, July 7, 2020: The ‘Mekong Heroes’ is a new program, initiated by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and Destination Mekong, to…

Virtual Destination Mekong Summit to offer recommendations and…

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office is hosting a half-day Virtual Destination Mekong Summit, organized by public-private partnership Destination Mekong, with sponsorship of UNWTO Affiliate Member Chameleon Strategies, under the theme…

Finalists for the 2020 Experience Mekong Showcases announced

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office is announcing the 18 Finalists of the Experience Mekong Showcases 2020. 4,200 eligible votes determined three Experience Mekong Collection members from each of the six…

Case Study Phare Circus

Phare, The Cambodian Circus (or Phare Circus) is one of the most innovative, energetic, and amazing performance shows in Cambodia. The 330-person circus was established in 2013 and is an…

Destination Mekong

Destination Mekong was created in 2017 to promote the Lancang-Mekong region, comprising of Cambodia, PR China (Provinces of Guangxi and Yunnan), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam as a single destination to stimulate responsible and sustainable development and investment and drive inclusive growth. We are a public-private partnership framework that initiates and operates regional projects building capacity and fostering healthy and sustainable communities.

The Lancang-Mekong Region

LMR

Six Countries - One River - Unlimited Opportunities

The Lancang-Mekong Region (LMR) is a natural economic area bound together by the Mekong/Lancang River, covering 2.6 million square kilometers and a combined population of around 326 million.

The LMR countries are Cambodia, the People's Republic of China (PRC, specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.