Greater Mekong Subregion

Mekong Tourism Development Project (Loans 1969, 1970, and 1971)

Overview

In December 2002, the ADB approved loans of $15.6 million, $10.9 million, and $8.5 million, respectively, to Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam -- Loans 1969, 1970, and 1971 -- from ADB's Special Fund resources for promoting the development of the tourism sector in the lower Mekong River basin.

The objectives of the ADB loans are to:

• promote sustainable tourism in the lower Mekong basin countries through infrastructure improvements, community and private sector participation, and subregional cooperation
• improve high priority, tourism-related infrastructure in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam, promote pro-poor, community-based sustainable tourism in rural areas, and strengthen subregional cooperation
• mitigate environmental degradation, develop human resources, and promote cooperation between private and public sectors within the Greater Mekong Subregion by establishing tourism marketing and promotion boards

The Project comprises four parts:

• Tourism-related infrastructure improvements
• Pro-poor, community-based tourism development
• Subregional cooperation for sustainable tourism
• Implementation assistance and institutional strengthening

Sub-projects in Cambodia are as follows:

• Siem Reap Environmental Improvement
• Road Access Improvement to the Genocide Memorial
• Rattanak Kiri Airport Improvement
• Stung Treng Airport Improvement

Sub-projects in Lao PDR are as follows:

• Louang Namtha Airport Improvement
• Improvement of the Access Road to Konglor Cave
• Improvement of the Access Road to the Kwangsi Water Fall

Sub-projects in Viet Nam are as follows:

• Sam Mountain Environmental Improvement in An Giang Province
• An Giang Tourist River Piers Development
• My Tho Tourist River Pier Development in Tien Giang Province
• Tien Giang Environmental Improvement

Project Cost and Financing ($ million)

Status

Ongoing.

For detailed information on project status, email:

gms@adb.org