Greater Mekong Subregion

23rd Tourism Working Group Meeting (Bangkok, Thailand, 2 June 2009)

The Twenty Third Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG-23) was held on 2 June 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. Representatives of the 6 GMS countries, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and development partners including the Asian Development Bank, and organizations based in Thailand (GTZ, UNDP, UNESCO, NZAID, French Embassy, USAID's ACE Project, and PATA) attended. The Meeting reviewed the status of priority projects under the Tourism Sector Strategy, including progress of the Tourism Development Plan and Tourism Marketing and Promotion Plan.

To move forward the Tourism Development Plan, 4 project profiles have been conceptualized by MTCO in close consultation with the NTOs and other stakeholders. The projects, focusing on tourism and biodiversity conservation, pro-poor tourism, tourism corridors, and strengthening of vocational skills of tourism SMEs, were presented at a donors' conference funded by France and ADB in March 2009. A new Sustainable Tourism Project financed by ADB for Lao PDR and Viet Nam is supporting 3 of the 4 projects even as MTCO continues to follow-up interest and prospective donor support.

Tourism marketing and promotion have been boosted with continued updating done on the www.MekongTourism.org and www.ExploreMekong.org websites. A Mekong Photo contest is being launched to create brand awareness, encourage travel in the GMS, and help develop the MTCO photo library. The judging process will take place in November 2009 and the winner announced in December 2009. This will be followed by a travelling photo exhibition to attract more people to visit the subregion. The Mekong Tourism Forum is also being revived starting in Cambodia in June 2010, and on a yearly basis thereafter, as a jointly sponsored event by the government and private sectors. Viet Nam is jointly organizing with Japan a "Mekong-Japan Culture and Tourism Days" to be launched in December 2009 in Can Tho City.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 1024kb | 10 pages ]

Opening Remarks: Appendix 2A, Appendix 2B

Progress Report on Marketing Projects

Reports and Follow-up of Previous Meetings: Appendix 4A, Appendix 4B, Appendix 4C

Progress Report on Status of Tourism Sector Strategy Projects: Appendix 5, Appendix 6, Appendix 7

Review of MTCO Administration: Appendix 9A, Appendix 9B

Draft Proposal on Japan-Mekong Tourism Cooperation

2nd GMS Tourism Ministers' Meeting (Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 9 January 2009)

The Second Meeting of the GMS Tourism Ministers was held on 9 January 2009 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting and ASEAN Tourism Forum. It was preceded by a Meeting of the GMS National Tourism Organizations on 7-8 January 2009. Participants at both meetings welcomed the new Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), Mr. John Mason Florence.

The GMS Tourism Ministers reviewed the status of operations of the MTCO, based in Bangkok, Thailand, which is coordinating the subregional tourism cooperation program and whose operations are funded by the countries themselves. They also reviewed the progress of the GMS Tourism Marketing Plan and Tourism Development Plan which guide the implementation of priority projects under the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy. Under the Tourism Marketing Plan, a new website www.exploremekong.org dedicated to GMS tourism marketing activities has been developed by MTCO to serve as an interactive platform for the Explore Mekong marketing campaign. The campaign and Thailand's initiative in launching the Visit GMS Years 2009-2010 will help promote increased tourist arrivals and sustainable and responsible tourism in the GMS. Under the Tourism Development Plan, MTCO has organized workshops, funded by ADB and the French Government, to jumpstart the implementation of 4 priority projects under the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy. Detailed project proposals arising from the workshops will be presented at a development partners' meeting planned in early 2009 to mobilize additional resources.

In their Joint Statement issued at the conclusion of their meeting, the Ministers reiterated their commitment to take advantage of the improved and expanded sub-regional infrastructure and connectivity in order to further promote tourism growth in the sub-region in a sustainable and socially responsible manner, and to continue to work together in intensifying their efforts in promoting the GMS as a single tourist destination in the face of the prevailing global economic downturn.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 330kb | 5 pages ]

Welcome Remarks

Joint Ministerial Statement

Reports and Presentations: Appendix 4, Appendix 5, Appendix 6

Meeting of the GMS National Tourism Organizations (Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 7-8 January 2009)

The Meeting of the GMS National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) was held on 7-8 January 2009 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009 and ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting. The GMS NTOs Meeting was organized to prepare for the Second GMS Tourism Ministers' Meeting scheduled on 9 January 2009.

The Meeting was attended by representatives of NTOs of the 6 GMS countries, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Meeting discussed the status and issues pertaining to the operations of the MTCO, including the recruitment of its new Executive Director, the secondment of the MTCO Project Coordinator, the MTCO financial report for 2008, and the issue of rotation of MTCO location. The meeting reviewed the progress of work under the GMS Tourism Marketing Plan and the GMS Tourism Development Plan which would be presented to the Tourism Ministers' Meeting on 9 January. The Meeting also reviewed the draft provisional agenda and draft Joint Ministerial Statement in preparation for the Ministerial Meeting.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 330kb | 6 pages ]

2nd GMS Tourism Ministerial Meeting Provisional Agenda

Reports and Presentations: Appendix 3, Appendix 4

Draft GMS Tourism Ministers' Joint Statement

22nd Tourism Working Group Meeting (Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 17 October 2008)

The 22nd Tourism Working Group Meeting (TWG-22) was held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on 17 October 2008. The meeting was attended by representatives from national tourism organizations (NTOs) of Cambodia, PRC (Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO).

The meeting reviewed the progress and follow up issues on decisions from the GMS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting held in January 2008, directives from the Third GMS Summit held in March 2008 relating to the tourism sector, and matters arising from TWG-21 held in May 2008. The meeting noted that prioritized projects under the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy that constitute the Tourism Marketing and Development Plans have been incorporated into the Vientiane Plan of Action endorsed at the Third Summit. Under the Marketing Plan, a new website www.exploremekong.org was soft launched in October 2008 as the foundation of the Explore Mekong Marketing Campaign. Also, at the initiative of Thailand, a Visit the GMS Years 2009-2010 has been endorsed. Both activities are aimed at promoting the GMS as a single destination. Under the Tourism Development Plan, the improved development website www.mekongtourism.org was launched in September 2008. Two workshops were successfully organized in September and October 2008 focusing on tourism and biodiversity, and pro-poor tourism. Two more workshops, focusing on the GMS tourism corridors and vocational training are planned later in the year. The workshops will develop project proposals to mobilize development partner support for related projects. The meeting also discussed measures to improve GMS tourism cooperation – including a GMS Tourism Cooperation Manual, and MTCO operations, particularly in light of the recruitment of a new full-time Executive Director who will officially assume office in November 2008. The outcome of the meeting will be reported at the GMS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting planned in January 2009 in Viet Nam.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 1084kb | 9 pages ]

Opening Session: Appendix 2, Appendix 3

Reports and Follow-up of Previous Meetings: Appendix 5, Appendix 6

GMS Tourism Administration: Appendix 7, Appendix 8, Appendix 9

Evaluation of Priority Projects and Expectation of Member Countries: Appendix 10, Appendix 11

Nay Pyi Taw Declaration

21st Tourism Working Group Meeting (Sihanoukville, Cambodia, 20 May 2008)

The 21st Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG-21) was held in Sihanoukville, Cambodia on 20 May 2008. The Meeting was attended by participants from the national tourism offices of the six GMS countries: Cambodia, PRC (Guangxi and Yunnan), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and representatives of development partners including the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), UNESCO, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Tourism Trade Report Weekly, and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO).

The Meeting discussed follow-through initiatives to implement key directives for the tourism sector of the Third GMS Summit held in Vientiane in March 2008. The Summit directives include the strengthening of sustainable management of natural and cultural tourism sites, promotion of joint marketing of tourism in the Subregion, and strengthening of the MTCO. These directives are consistent with the tourism development and marketing agenda that were endorsed by the GMS Tourism Ministers at their meeting in Bangkok in January 2008. Pursuant to the Summit directives and to jump start implementation of priority tourism projects under the Vientiane Plan of Action that was endorsed by the GMS Leaders at the Summit, TWG-21 discussed plans for 4 workshops in 2008. The workshops will cover (i) HRD vocational training course for SMEs to be held in Cambodia; (ii) pro-poor tourism focusing on public-private partnerships to be held in Lao PDR; (iii) tourism and biodiversity to be held in Thailand; and (iv) scenic corridors along the East-West Economic Corridor to be held in Viet Nam. The workshops, to be funded by ADB and the French Government, will finalize 4 project proposals for submission to donors.

In addition, TWG-21 discussed MTCO’s tourism marketing plan for 2009 that will move toward building the Mekong tourism brand, including the development of a slogan and logo on the theme “Explore the Mekong” that captures the key elements of nature, culture, and people, and other related activities to involve private sector partnership and collaboration. Other issues and concerns about MTCO’s financial, technical, and administrative operations were also discussed. Side meetings on Tourism Development Cooperation in the Emerald Triangle and the Mekong Tourism Development Project were also held immediately before (19 May) and after (21 May) TWG-21.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 314kb | 17 pages ]

Session 1: Appendix 3, Appendix 4.1 and Appendix 4.2

Session 2: Appendix 5 and Appendix 6

Session 3: Appendix 7 and Appendix 8

Session 4: Appendix 9

GMS Tourism Ministers' Meeting (Bangkok, Thailand, 21 January 2008)

Tourism Ministers of the 6 GMS countries met in Bangkok on 21 January 2008 on the sideline of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008 and ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting held on 17-26 January 2008. The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the national tourism organizations of the GMS countries and development partners with active interest and participation in tourism development in the Subregion. The GMS Tourism Ministers endorsed a GMS Tourism Marketing Plan and a GMS Tourism Development Plan, developed by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) in close consultation with the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG). The decisions of the GMS Tourism Ministers will feed into the preparations for the Third GMS Summit in March 2008. The Ministers issued a joint ministerial statement [ PDF: 496kb | 3 pages ] at the close of their meeting.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 25mb | 98 pages ].

GMS Tourism Working Group Ad Hoc Meeting (Vientiane, Lao PDR, 3 December 2007)

An Ad Hoc Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG) was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 3 December 2007. The Meeting was attended by participants from the national tourism offices of the six GMS countries: Cambodia, PRC (Guangxi Province), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, as well as representatives of development partners including the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Representatives of the South Asia Economic Cooperation Program (SASEC) Tourism Working Group also attended as observers. The Meeting reviewed and considered a draft GMS Tourism Marketing Strategy and a draft GMS Tourism Action Plan to implement the priority projects under the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy, for further refinement by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and eventual endorsement by the GMS Tourism Ministers. The provisional agenda and Draft Joint Ministerial Statement as well as other arrangements for the GMS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held in Bangkok, Thailand in January 2008 were also discussed. Preparations for the proposed “Ecotourism in the GMS” exhibition for the Third GMS Summit in March 2008 were finalized. Finally, the Working Group discussed the status of the selection process for a new Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and considered alternative steps to ensure the smooth operations of MTCO until the new Executive Director is recruited.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 8mb | 127 pages ].

20^th GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting (TWG-20) (Lijiang, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, 13-14 September 2007)

The 20th Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG-20) was held in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China on 13-14 September 2007, attended by representatives of national tourism organizations of the GMS countries, development partners, and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO). The meeting discussed the planned preparation by MTCO of a marketing strategy and action plan for GMS tourism. The TWG-20 provided guidance on the preparation of a detailed implementation and action plan for priority subregional tourism projects. The progress of the seven priority programs of the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy was also discussed. TWG-20 also discussed the preparations for the GMS Tourism Ministers' Meeting to be held in January 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand; and the tourism exhibits to be featured at the Third GMS Summit.

For more details, please view entire report.

19^th GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting (TWG-19) (Ho Chi Minh City, 29 March 2007)

The 19^th Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG-19) was held on 29 March 2007 in Ho Chi Minh City , Viet Nam . TWG-19 was organized by the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, with the Mekong Tourism Coordination Office (MTCO) as secretariat. The meeting was attended by representatives of the national tourism organizations of Cambodia , Lao PDR, Myanmar , Thailand and Viet Nam , and the provincial tourism organizations of Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of PRC as well as representatives from development partners and the private sector. The participation of the GMS delegates was fully financed by their respective governments, reflecting their strong commitment to subregional tourism cooperation.

TWG-19 (i) reviewed the achievements of the MTCO since its establishment in February 2006, as well as the challenges and expected outputs for its second year of operation; (ii) considered a proposal from Thailand on a GMS Tourism Cooperation Manual; (iii) reviewed the progress of the 29 priority projects under the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy; and (iv) discussed tourism-related projects under the GMS Core Environment Program. The TWG approved extending support to the MTCO for its second year of operation with a contribution of an additional $15,000 from each NTO. The Working Group noted that the French Government is seconding a tourism specialist to the ADB who will be based in the MTCO as Project Coordinator starting June 2007 to assist the NTOs in the implementation of the priority projects under the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy.

Discussions with representatives of the GMS Environment Operations Center based in Bangkok on tourism-related projects under the Core Environment Program (CEP) underscored the need for close cooperation and coordination between the CEP, the TWG, and MTCO to avoid duplication and enhance the win-win potential relationship between sustainable tourism development and the protection of the environment.

TWG-19 was followed by a GMS Tourism Investment Forum: Financing and Investing in Tourism SMEs held on 30 March 2007. About 200 representatives from SMEs, banks, investment companies, government agencies, and interest groups from within and outside the GMS discussed constraints, challenges, and opportunities to facilitate access to finance by tourism SMEs in the GMS.

The 7th Subregional Project Steering Committee Meeting of the GMS Mekong Tourism Development Project was also held to review the progress of implementation of the various project components. Another related activity was the 6th Regional Networking Meeting on Pro-Poor Tourism which focused on the theme gender and development.

For more details, please view entire report [ PDF: 312kb | 31 pages ].