Greater Mekong Subregion: Mekong Tourism Development Project (Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Viet Nam)

Subregional cooperation was the preferred approach in enhancing tourism in the GMS. Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and Viet Nam had incipient tourism industries. These countries had recognized the advantages of collective actions to develop new products, improve policy climate and institutional capacities, strengthen promotion and marketing, and establish strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. Thus, the "one holiday, several destinations" tourism concept was proposed to be adopted since tourism plans and programs in individual GMS countries could only prosper when these were to be strongly linked to each other. Travelers to the GMS participating countries could then be able to visit not just one or two but all three of these GMS countries. With increased tourist arrivals, higher incomes from tourism, and conservation and protection of the cultural and physical environment, these countries were expected to be able to create jobs, reduce poverty, ensure equitable distribution of tourism benefits, and improve economic and social well-being.

This report validates the completion report's assessment of the project which aims for a sustainable tourism development promoted in the lower basin of the Mekong River through infrastructure improvements, increased community and private sector participation, and subregional cooperation. IED overall assessment: Successful