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In this issue:
Tourism Arrivals Surge
Throughout Mekong Region
Easier Visas and Access, But
Threats Ever Present
Cummings Identifies
Neglected Segments
Lao Extends Visa on Arrival
MTO and Mekong Institute
Unite on HRD
Mekong Showcase in Hong Kong
Hospitality Sector to
Convene in Vientiane
Mekong Investment Summit Set
for Hanoi
About the Mekong Tourism Office
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Dancers from
Dali, Yunnan Province, China, perform during the Mekong 'forum' at
last week's Thailand Travel Mart
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Tourism Arrivals Surge
Throughout Mekong Region
The governments of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) have reported
strong increases in arrivals to the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
Official figures show that Cambodia's international visitor arrivals
rose 19.2% to 813,392 January to June this year compared to same period
last year. Compared to 19.2% for Cambodia, Lao PDR arrivals increased
15% (Jan-Apr), Myanmar 7.3% (Jan-Jun), Vietnam 7% (Jan-Jul). Thailand's
figure of 47.5% (Jan-Jun) is due to the impact of the tsunami on last
year's figures. Foreign arrivals to mainland China increased 6.1%. MTO
Executive Director Mr Stephen Yong said: "The emerging destinations of
the GMS are growing faster than many mature destinations due to the
catch-up factor. Airport upgrades, new flights, visas on arrival and
ease of access from efficient gateway hubs such as Bangkok also help."
He added: "The novelty of visiting so-called 'new' destinations will
continue to drive eye-catching growth for the Mekong region for the
foreseeable future."
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Easier Visas
and Access, But Threats Ever Present
MTO Executive Director Mr Stephen Yong (pictured) gave an overview of
the tourism industry in the GMS. Addressing the "Windows on the Mekong"
session during Thailand Travel Mart on September 26, Mr Yong said the
GMS visa situation was improving due to the increased number of
cross-border access points, more entry points with visas on arrival,
easier visa extensions, and the prospect of a GMS single visa. These
improvements were being bolstered by rapidly developing road transport
corridors, the implementation of agreements on the transportation of
goods and passengers, the integration of telecommunication services, and
better interconnectivity of the energy grid.
However, Mr Yong said there were major challenges to address, such as
the GMS's weak market position, its limited and narrow product base,
uncontrolled growth, low yields, limited poverty alleviation impacts,
and the authorities' limited control over negative social factors
associated with tourism. In tandem with this, Mr Yong said the region is
also facing threats from terrorism and rising energy prices, inflation
and interest rates. Avian flu also remains a serious concern.
Nevertheless, Mr Yong said the MTO would rigorously pursue the following
strategies: 1) increase efforts to market the subregion as a single
destination 2) increase the diversity of subregional tourism attractions
3) raise management capacities and service industry quality standards 4)
confront the negative impact of tourism 5) broaden pro-poor tourism 6)
boost private sector participation, and 7) accelerate facilitation
efforts.
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Cummings
Identifies Neglected Segments
Lonely Planet writer Mr Joe Cummings (pictured) told attendees at the
same "Windows on the Mekong" session that the Mekong travel sector had
great potential but needed to do better in key marketing segments. He
said the promotion of new wave cinema, vernacular architecture (such as
Chinese shop houses and art deco buildings), "new latitude" wines,
fusion cuisine, affordable spas, indigenous folk music and long-stay
tourism visas would all benefit the Mekong region. The Lonely Planet
author, who first arrived in Thailand in 1977, called for better
conservation of local architecture and funding for families or
organisations who occupy architecturally significant buildings but who
may not have the know-how or funds to preserve them.
Lonely Planet Web site.
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Lao Extends Visa on Arrival
Lao PDR has introduced a 30-day extendable visa on arrival to replace
the former 15-day visa. Most visitors enter at the Thai-Lao Friendship
Bridge or at the airports at Vientiane or Luang Prabang. Sixty percent
of visitors are Thai. Visa fees remain US$30. Thai nationals pay US$15.
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MTO and Mekong
Institute Unite on HRD
The Mekong Institute (MI) and the MTO will collaborate to promote the
common goal of regional cooperation in tourism development of the GMS.
The area of cooperation will primarily be focused on capacity building
for senior to middle-level personnel from public/private tourism and
tourism related organisations in the GMS countries. The collaboration
envisions fulfilling general and specific human resource development
needs of the tourism industry in the GMS while avoiding duplication of
activities.
Mekong Institute Web site.
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Mekong Showcase in Hong Kong
At the PATA Travel Mart at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, September
13-15, the MTO promoted its activities at a booth donated by PATA. Mr
Yong also gave a press briefing on September 15 outlining the MTO's main
priorities: marketing and product development, human resource
development, heritage conservation, poverty reduction, private sector
participation, and removing the impediments to travel.
PTM06 Live.
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Hospitality Sector to
Convene in Vientiane
The 2006 Asean Hotel and Restaurant Association Conference will take
place at the Lao Plaza Hotel, November 17-18 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Leading hoteliers, airline and association executives will address the
theme, "Asean – An Emerging Force Riding on the New Tourism Wave".
Delegates from within Asean will pay US$50, non-Asean US$100. Further
information and sponsorship options are available. Tel: (+856)
21-241-017
laohra@lenexangnet.com.
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Mekong
Investment Summit Set for Hanoi
The second Mekong Tourism Investment Summit will be held in Hanoi at the
end of March 2007. The event will be organised by the MTO. Over 200
delegates are expected to attend. Mr Yong said: "We will evolve the
format from our experience at the Luang Prabang summit earlier this
year. Our aim is still to identify new investment opportunities and make
the regulatory environment in all GMS countries more
investment-friendly."
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About the
Mekong Tourism Office
The MTO was established in February 2006. Its four key objectives are
to:-
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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
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Add to the tourism development efforts of
each GMS country
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Contribute to poverty reduction, gender
equality and the empowerment of women
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Promote sustainable development, while
minimising adverse impacts.
Contact Point
Mekong Tourism Office
Mr Stephen Yong, Executive Director
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); GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion); IMF
(International Monetary Fund);
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); UNWTO (United
Nations World Tourism Organization).
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