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In this issue:
Mekong Countries Seek to Expand Ties
Tokyo to Give B200 Billion for Mekong Area
Lao PDR Aims to Achieve Tourism Service Quality Through People by 2020
TAT and Xishuangbanna Promote Tourism Together
Mekong Odyssey 09: Ride For Life
Cruises on the Mekong Delta
News in Brief
Tap New Markets at www.ExploreMekong.org
Learn, Share, Engage at www.MekongTourism.org
Go Social with Mekong Tourism
Mekong Countries
Seek to Expand Ties
October 17, 2009
Countries along the Mekong River need to co-operate more on improving regional infrastructure, protecting the environment and developing
human resources to forge closer bonds and attract investment from outside the region. Thai officials outlined the proposal during the
second Mekong-Japan Ministers' Meeting held in Siem Reap, Cambodia last week under the theme "Mekong and Japan: A Partnership for
Development".
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya
reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to providing assistance to the region as a development partner with Japan in. Thailand will provide
grants and loans through the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Co-operation Agency (NEDA) as well as the Thailand International
Co-operation Agency (TICA). Previously, Japan and the five Mekong countries worked together under co-operation frameworks such as the
Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) economic co-operation and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy (Acmecs).
The minister also suggested strengthening the role of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) group and sought closer co-operation
with academic institutes such as the Mekong Institute in Khon Kaen.
Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told the meeting that his country had a US$20-million budget to help the Mekong Basin
countries. Of this, $10 million will be given to four Mekong countries excluding Thailand and the rest will go to the Mekong projects.
The meeting also emphasised promoting people-to-people contacts and cultural exchange by establishing the "Mekong-Japan
Exchange Year 2009", which features cultural and academic activities. Tokyo will host the first Mekong-Japan Summit next month on Nov 6-7.
Source:
Bangkok Post
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Tokyo to Give B200 Billion for Mekong Area
November 8, 2009
TOKYO – The leaders of Japan and Southeast Asia's five Mekong River nations wrapped up a summit yesterday at which Tokyo pledged more than
200 billion baht in loans and grants and vowed deeper ties.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said the Mekong region was a priority area for Japan's development assistance as it
seeks to boost growth in the resource-rich area.
A joint declaration said ''Japan commits over 500 billion yen of official development assistance in the next three years''
for the further development of the Mekong region countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Source: Bangkok
Post, Summary of Tokyo Declaration
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Lao PDR Aims to Achieve Tourism Service Quality Through People by 2020
VIENTIANE, November 2, 2009 – The Lao National Tourism Organisation (LNTA), launched its National Tourism Human Resource Development (HRD)
Strategy entitled Achieving Service Quality Through People in an event held at the Lao Plaza Hotel.
Mr. Somphong Mongkhonvilay (pictured), Minister and
Chairman of the LNTA, in his opening comments said, "I am convinced that by strengthening the institutional cooperative frameworks and
technical capacity of our people we can improve service quality in our tourism industry which will have the end result of expanding
opportunities for employment and profit making in this dynamic sector and establishing mechanisms for sustaining our fragile ecosystems,
heritage and culture".
Recognising the importance of tourism as one of the country's major engines of economic growth and poverty alleviation, the
Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has committed to assisting Lao PDR in strengthening human resources in the hospitality and tourism
industry through the establishment of Lux-Development Project LAO/020. Mr. Marc Franck, Charge d'Affaire of the Embassy of Luxembourg
commented, "Today's launch of the Human Resource Strategy for Lao PDR tourism is the culmination of a year of extensive work in research,
analysis, stakeholder consultation and the crafting and design of an appropriate vision and strategic recommendations. Today marks not the end
of a journey, but rather the beginning."
The HRD Strategy highlights service quality lies as the heart of all successful tourism destinations and as a source of
competitive advantage. It is estimated that by 2020, Lao PDR tourism will directly employ some 40,000 people. This will require the
up-skilling of the existing 17,000-strong workforce and the development of another 23,000 new entrants into the tourism labour force. The
strategy notes that elevating service quality will not happen by accident and securing a competitive advantage through people requires careful
and deliberate investment over a sustained period in the education and training of the tourism workforce.
Project LAO/020's Chief Technical Advisor, Mr. Peter Semone commented, "The story of successful tourism destinations and
enterprises is one that is largely about people: how they are recruited, how they are managed, how they are trained and educated, how they are
valued and rewarded, and how they are supported through a process of continuous learning and career development".
Source: Lao National Tourism Association
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TAT
and Xishuangbanna Promote Tourism Together
September 11, 2009
Tourism of Authority of Thailand plans joint marketing with China's Xishuangbanna Prefecture to support the launch of China Eastern Airlines
services to Bangkok, due to start 26 October. The new flight Xishuangbanna-Bangkok starts, 26 October, with four weekly services using a
150-seat aircraft. The airline will start two flights to Chiang Mai and Phuket if the Bangkok route proves popular.
Tourism Authority of Thailand executive director, Sansern Ngaorangsi, says a joint committee will be set up with China's
Yunnan Xishuangbanna Prefecture to promote tourism, exchange information, produce a map for the route from Thailand to Xishuangbanna and
Kunming, exchange media trips and jointly host mini travel marts.
In November, 30 to 40 tourism operators based in North Thailand will hold table-top sales in Xishuangbanna's capital of
Jinghong before heading to the China International Travel Mart, in Kunming, from November 19 to 22.
Xishuangbanna prefecture visited Thailand, last month, to check out investment and tourism potential in Chiang Rai, Chiang
Mai, Bangkok and Phuket. During the meeting with around 30 private sector companies in Bangkok, the delegation proposed:
1) Advertising support for the new flight Xishuangbanna-Bangkok service.
2) Thai travel agents, who organise tours to the North, should extend them to include Xishuangbanna, using a variety of transport options.
3) Tourism units create a joint-information centre to push tourism between the two countries.
4) Invite Thai tourism operators to invest in Xishuangbanna, based on new investment rules. It requires an initial RMB300,000 capital
investment.
Source:
TTRWeekly
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Mekong Odyssey 09: Ride For Life
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| Don Ross |
On November 8, TTR Weekly Managing Editor, Don Ross, and his colleague, Peter Brierley, set off from Chiang Rai in
northern Thailand on an ambitious 21-day cycle ride – without any support vehicle – that will follow a route of the Mekong River south
en route to Pakse in southern Laos.
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Peter Brierley |
The ride will raise funds for a Thai foundation that provides prostheses for handicapped children and
adults, The Prostheses Foundation of HRH the
Princess Mother. According to the riders' blog,
"This is an informal, from the heart, project with zero administration. We just want to make life a little better for those who have lost
limbs and need prostheses." Within just days of announcing their intentions to use the 1,600 km cycle ride to raise funds for charity they
have been receiving a tremendous response.
Anyone interested can pledge a small amount per km ridden (distance verified by Garmin GPS) or a fixed amount during or
directly after the ride. Regular Twitter updates and daily blogs with pictures on the adventure can be found at
www.TTRweekly.com. Pledge and payments
confirmation email: mekongodyssey@ttreport.com
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Cruises on the Mekong Delta
October 8, 2009
Indochina Sails Cruise Company launched its first river vessel named La Marguerite at last week's ITE-HCMC travel show.
Sailings started 20 September, after a three-month fit-out. The 46-cabin vessel, based in Ho Chi Minh
City, imitates the French colonial era in design and fittings. There are three cabin styles: 38 staterooms; six Sadec suites; and two
Indochina suites. All are air-conditioned and fitted with wardrobes, writing desks, sofas and mini-bars. Facilities are close to what a
visitor would enjoy in a hotel, but with less space and headroom. There is even a spa and gym on the same deck as the boat's dining area.
Its sales pitch focuses on offering a French colonial ambience, while the boat even follows a route detailed in the 1930s
novel "The Lover" by the French author, Marguerite Duras.
The boat sails for eight days on a route through the Mekong delta (Ho Chi Minh City, Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, Tonle
River and Siem Reap). The cruise is sold in both directions. Rates start at US$2,989.
Visit: www.indochina-sails.com
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Laos, China set up liaison office to fight human trafficking
Laos and China have set up a liaison office for law enforcement cooperation in southwest China's Yunnan Province to crack down on
the abduction and trafficking of women and children in border areas, Xinhua reported on 17 October. China has set up six similar
liaison offices in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, which borders Vietnam and Cambodia.
Source: KPL
Laos-Thailand expands co-operation on culture
A meeting to further the cultural co-operation between the Lao PDR and the Kingdom of Thailand was held in Vientiane on 17
October. At the meeting, both sides informed each other of their respective situation on cultural development made in the past few
years and discussed a number of future co-operation projects, aimed at strengthening the friendly relation and co-operation
between Laos and Thailand.
Source: KPL
NGOs seek higher organic standard
Farmers from across the Kingdom gathered for a training seminar designed to help growers improve the quality Cambodian growers
were given guidelines for improving harvest quality, including longer drying times so that rice could be stored safely for longer
periods.of organic rice to meet international standards and better compete on the global market.
Source:
Phnom Penh Post
Jimmy Carter and Thailand Partner to Build Homes
On December 5, 2009, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be 82 years old. In honor of His Majesty's birthday and his long and
benevolent reign over the Kingdom and in service to his people, Habitat for Humanity Thailand will build 82 homes in partnership
with families in need during the 26th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Chiang Mai, November 15-20, 2009.
Source: Habitat for Humanity (Thailand)
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Tap New Markets at www.ExploreMekong.org
MTCO's consumer-facing website
www.exploremekong.org will be a key
platform for marketing the Mekong region as a premier tourism destination.
Through www.exploremekong.org the
MTCO offers Mekong-region tourism stakeholders a valuable opportunity to dabble in online distribution for the first time, or
expand upon their existing web-based channels.
Minimum conditions apply for private-sector inclusion in the website's booking engine. Sponsorship and advertising
opportunities are also available.
For more information on the marketing opportunities offered by
www.exploremekong.org, please email
exploremekong@genaresasia.com.
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 www.mekongtourism.org for
convenient access to the proceedings of
MTCO's GMS
workshops and other resources
pertaining to sustainable tourism development, especially the MTCO's priority themes of conservation, poverty alleviation, human
resource development, and tourism corridor enhancement.
To contribute your own tourism development news, opinions, and resources to
www.mekongtourism.org, please email
content@mekongtourism.org.
Go Social with Mekong Tourism
Help MTCO tap into and expand its social media networks: Follow "Explore Mekong" on
Twitter, join our "Mekong Tourism" groups on
Facebook,
LinkedIn and
Plaxo, and help
us represent the GMS on The "Good Tourism" Wiki!
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