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In this issue:
Mekong Ministers Pleased with Progress
Contribute to a Five-Year Plan to Develop Hospitality Skills
Mekong's Priority Projects Progress Apace
Cambodia's Cardamom Community Smells Seeds of Success
Invest Now in the Bamboo Bicycle Boom
Elephas Maximus is Throwing a Party. You're Invited!
Learn, Share, Engage at www.MekongTourism.org
About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
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| Mason Florence (above left) led the MTCO delegation to the ASEAN Tourism Forum, January 10-12,
in Hanoi and took part in the preceding GMS Ministerial and NTO meetings (below) |
Mekong Ministers Pleased with Progress
Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) tourism ministers praised the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office's efforts to accelerate the sub-region's
program of tourism development and marketing.
The ministers praised the MTCO for improving coordination in the implementation of the region's tourism strategy and organizing three seminars
in 2008 that were aimed at accelerating implementation of preferred projects under the region's tourism development plan.
The ministers acknowledged the assistance of the French government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in enhancing the MTCO's financial and
technical capacities, and spoke highly of Thailand's initiative in launching the Mekong Tourism Year 2009-2010.
The second meeting of GMS tourism ministers, which took place January 9 within the framework of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Hanoi,
Vietnam, passed a joint declaration on cooperation between the region's tourism authorities. The declaration noted the GMS' tourism sector's
continued growth and assured that the sector would stand firm against the fallout from the global financial crisis.
The six GMS countries' tourism ministers affirmed that they would make full use of the sub-region's infrastructure and improve their
co-ordination to promote the development of sustainable tourism in a socially responsible manner. The ministers asked that the GMS Tourism
Working Group and MTCO exploit all available resources.
MTCO will present in-depth proposals for further development at a conference later this year, and launch a new website for tourism promotion
activities at www.exploremekong.org that will complement the trade portal at
www.mekongtourism.org.
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Contribute to a Five-Year Plan to Develop
Hospitality Skills
The MTCO seeks your professional and practical input into the development of "a detailed project proposal for the elaboration of a five-year
program to train trainers in the provincial areas, adopt a common GMS curriculum for the hospitality industry (accommodation and food
services) based on agreed competencies standards, [and to] develop a regional certification/accreditation system".
A February 12-13 workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia will focus on vocational training for entry-level staff in small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) as well as the qualifications of business owners.
More information.
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Mekong's Priority Projects Progress Apace
There are risks in the current development pattern of GMS tourism that need to be carefully managed,
according to MTCO project coordinator Christine Jacquemin.
Presenting the results and action items concerning the MTCO's development program during the GMS Tourism Ministers' meeting in Hanoi on
January 9, Ms Jacquemin (pictured) added that the MTCO welcomed the proactive participation of all stakeholders.
Of the 29 Mekong tourism development projects overseen by Ms Jacquemin, four have been identified as priorities: Tourism and biodiversity;
Pro-poor tourism (poverty alleviation); GMS tourism corridors; and vocational training courses for SMEs.
In 2008, MTCO organized the first three in a series of workshops dedicated to each of the priority sectors. A February 12-13 workshop in Phnom
Penh, Cambodia will be the fourth. (See story entitled "Contribute to a Five-Year Plan to Develop Hospitality Skills" above.)
The French government's regional cooperation department initiated the development program, which is co-funded by the Asian Development Bank,
France, and the host countries.
Download Ms Jacquemin's presentation. (PDF 805 KB)
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Cambodia's Cardamom Community Smells Seeds of Success
The Cardamom Mountains are a biodiversity hotspot, according to the website of a successful ecotourism project in southwest Cambodia: "They
are one of the last remaining elephant corridors and large predator ranges in the region. They host more than half of Cambodia's 2,300 bird
species and are home to 14 globally threatened mammal species. Illegal logging, hunting and clearing for farms are threatening the species and
the integrity of the forest ecosystems."
It is fortunate then that IUCN (Netherlands), Live & Learn Environmental Education, and Wildlife Alliance saw the potential for
community-based eco-tourism (CBET) in the area and commenced work in the Chi Phat Commune in 2007.
Comprising four villages located on the banks of the Phipot River, the Chi Phat Commune is now the home for "Mountain Biking in the Southern
Cardamom Mountains"; a community-managed ecotourism product offering guided mountain bike tours and nature treks, as well as guesthouse and
home-stay accommodation.
The Chi Phat CBET Committee works to develop the Commune's eco-tourism capacity. Each of the Committee's 16 members takes responsibility for
the development of a specific service or facility. Their efforts are supported by Live & Learn and Wildlife Alliance, which train Chi Phat
locals in a range of services across five modules: Eco-awareness; Eco-guiding; First aid; Hospitality; and Mountain biking. The project is
co-funded by IUCN.
Cardamom project.
More Cambodian CBET projects.
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Invest Now in the Bamboo Bicycle Boom
The Chi Phat CBET Committee of the previous story might be tempted to build its own fleet of
mountain bicycles out of bamboo rather than source inferior models from afar. A US-based bicycle manufacturer that has
rediscovered the high-performance and ecologically-sound merits of bamboo-frame bikes is actively working in developing nations to
teach entrepreneurs how to make them.
According to Calfee Design, the reasons to do this are "so strong that it would be foolish not to try", including: Bicycles are in
high demand in developing nations as a labor-saving means of transport; Bamboo-frame bikes cost less than inferior imported steel
bikes; Bamboo is plentiful in many developing nations; Bamboo is easy to grow in dry areas; Bamboo bike manufacturing provides
skilled employment and an apprenticeship model; Bamboo bikes are difficult to mass-produce; Bamboo bike building does not require
electricity or a large investment.
Calfee is seeking individuals or organizations interested in either loan-financing or sponsoring containers of inexpensive, high
quality bicycle parts needed to build complete bikes.
Email craig@calfeedesign.com for more information.
Calfee in Ghana.TOP
Elephas Maximus is Throwing a Party. You're
Invited!
One of the defining components of Asian heritage is under threat due to loss of its forest habitat and economic development eroding human
demand for its strength and intelligence, according to elefantasia.org. In response to these concerns, the Elephant Festival is an attempt to
raise awareness of the need to protect the Asian elephant, an animal dear to the hearts of the people of the Mekong.
Sayaboury in Laos plays host to cultural activities and entertainment at the 2009 Elephant Festival, February 14-15: "Expect
to see colorful elephant processions, elephant bathing, mahout demonstrations, ancient Baci ceremony, traditional Monk blessings, live
performances, night markets, fun fairs and much, much more."
Elefantasia.org.
2009 Elephant Festival.
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Learn, Share, Engage at www.MekongTourism.org
The MTCO's website at www.mekongtourism.org is quickly developing into an indispensable
resource for anyone interested in tourism development: development partners, NGOs, students, teachers, policy makers, and the travel trade.
Bookmark mekongtourism.org for convenient access to the proceedings of MTCO's
GMS workshops
and a knowledge center for sustainable tourism development, especially the MTCO's priority themes
of conservation, poverty alleviation, human resource development, and tourism corridor enhancement.
Contribute your own tourism development news, opinions, and resources.
Email content@mekongtourism.org.
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About the
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
The MTO was established in February 2006. Its four key objectives are
to:-
• Develop and promote the Mekong as a
single destination, offering a diversity of good quality and
high-yielding sub-regional products that help to distribute the
benefits of tourism more widely
• Add to the tourism development efforts of
each GMS country
• Contribute to poverty reduction, gender
equality and the empowerment of women
• Promote sustainable development, while
minimising adverse impacts.
Contact Point
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
5th Floor, Office of Tourism Development, Ministry of Tourism & Sports
154 Rama I Road, National Stadium, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 612-4150/1. Fax: (66-2) 612-4152.
E-mail:
info@MekongTourism.org. Website:
www.MekongTourism.org.
Media enquiries:
media@MekongTourism.org.
Abbreviations
ADB (Asian Development Bank); EU (European Union); GMS (Greater Mekong
Subregion); IMF (International Monetary Fund); MTCO (Mekong Tourism
Coordinating Office); MTO (Mekong Tourism
Office); SNV (Netherlands
Development Organization); STEP (Sustainable Tourism Eliminating
Poverty); UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific); UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization); UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism
Organization).
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