Mekong Tourism Collaboration

Tourism in the Mekong Region is steered collaboratively by a public-private framework between the public and private sectors.

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, which is the secretariat of the Tourism Working Group, and Destination Mekong, which is the destination marketing organization led by private sector partners, are both managing initiatives aligned to the GMS Tourism Strategy to create a sustainable and inclusive environment to support businesses and communities in the Mekong Region and provide benefits for all stakeholders – residents, travelers, and businesses.

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Virtual Destination Mekong Summit to offer recommendations and insights for travel businesses during COVID-19 to prepare for a balanced tourism recovery

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 of “Balanced Tourism Recovery for a Better Future”. In order to assist businesses during these challenging times, the registration fee has been waived as a gesture of goodwill.

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Thailand towards 2030 – Future of Travel & Tourism

Through Smart Tourism, governments have the opportunity to utilize big data and relevant technologies to:
> Attract target travelers by having a better understanding of their preferences
> Facilitate traveler touchpoints along the entire travel journey
> Connect travelers with city infrastructure and commuter networks for a more seamless travel experience
> Serve travelers better by connecting data, travel providers and traveler touchpoints

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2019 MIST Winners Announced

This year, MIST was held in Bangkok together with the new Travel Startups Asia Forum, featuring startup stories from successful travel ventures and MIST Alumni. The opening keynote was given by Senator and former Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand HE Mr Weerasak Kowsurat who linked the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship to tourism development in Thailand and the Mekong Region. The closing keynote was given by founder of Nok Airways Mr Patee Sarasin, who gave valuable insights from his experiences in starting an airline in Southeast Asia.

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Data & Digital Platforms: Driving Tourism Growth in Asia Pacific

Destinations in the Asia Pacific region can maximise tourism growth, and in turn job creation, by expanding their online presence. As travellers organise
trips online more frequently, destination management organisations and businesses should leverage available tools and digital platforms to engage with them throughout the planning process. Data generated by online interactions can be leveraged to further drive innovation and growth. There are opportunities to generate over 9 million new jobs in the region. This would stimulate GDP growth by up to an additional 1% destination-by-destination with an average 5% rise in the Travel & Tourism sector.

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