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October 10, 2021

SPTO – Destination Mekong Partnership to Enhance Tourism Recovery

BANGKOK, October 10, 2021 – The Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) and Destination Mekong have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster a collaborative partnership that will benefit both organizations and their stakeholders. With their extensive membership of the greater Mekong sub- region (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as Southwestern Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi) and 20 Pacific Island countries (PICs), spanning all four sub-regions, SPTO and Destination Mekong represent world-class tourism destinations that will benefit from information sharing and best- practice experiences under the MoU… Read More

Jens Thraenhart

[email protected]

September 30, 2021

Destination Mekong hosts 2021 Mekong World Tourism Day Forum on October 6-7

BANGKOK, September 30, 2021 – The Mekong World Tourism Forum, part of the two-event series of the Destination Mekong Summit, held virtually on October 21-22, will feature inspiring keynote speakers, Bangkok-based award-winning hotel designer Mr. Bill Bensley in conversation with outgoing Executivve Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, Mr Jens Thraenhart, and social impact innovator Mr. Jimmy Pham, founder of Hanoi based social enterprise and Experience Mekong Showcase recipient, KOTO (Know One – Teach One)… Read More

July 27, 2021

Finalists for the 2021 Experience Mekong Showcases announced

BANGKOK, July 27, 2021 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office is announcing the 15 Finalists of the Experience Mekong Showcases 2021 from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand Viet Nam, as well as Guangxi and Yunnan in PR China. Finalists from Myanmar this year will be judged differently via an industry panel made up of relevant Mekong Tourism Advisory Group members. Three thousand eligible votes determined three Experience Mekong Collection members from each of the five participating countries this year for the next round of voting for this prestigious recognition. Now open for a public vote until August 31st, the six Experience Mekong Showcases will be announced at the 2021 Destination Mekong Summit later on this year… Read More

April 28, 2021

SUNX MALTA & MEKONG TOURISM TO STAGE 1ST STRONG EARTH YOUTH SUMMIT (SEYS) FOR ASIA

BANGKOK, April 28, 2021 – SUNx Malta in partnership with the Mekong Tourism Collaboration framework, made up of public sector organization Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and private sector partnership Destination Mekong will host the first ever Climate Friendly Travel Youth Summit for Asia on Friday 30th April 2021. The ‘Strong Earth Youth Summit’ (SEYS) will include lectures, workshops and other educational activities aimed at highlighting the need for a clean and green post-Covid future for the tourism sector, in accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and 2050 Paris Agreement… Read More

February 18, 2021

Shortlist for the 2021 Experience Mekong Showcases announced

Public voting open to support small responsible businesses during these challenging times

BANGKOK, February 18, 2021 – Created four years ago in September 2017 to both recognize and encourage sustainable and responsible tourism development, 72 Experience Mekong Collection (EMC) member businesses have been shortlisted – ten from each of the six GMS member countries plus the two finalists from last year that did not win – to determine the final six businesses to be recognized for the third annual Experience Mekong Showcases via public voting (https://www.destinationmekong.com/experience-mekong-showcases2021-voting/), announced at the 2nd Virtual Destination Mekong Summit in May 2021. The “Experience Mekong Collection” curates small, responsible, and sustainable travel businesses in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)… Read More

February 8, 2021

Nominations for 2021 Mekong Hero open

Former Ministers of Tourism from Thailand and Myanmar to co-chair Selection Committee

BANGKOK, February 08, 2021 – The ‘Mekong Heroes’ program (www.MekongHeroes.com), which was launched in 2020, initiated by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and Destination Mekong, to celebrate passionate individuals in Mekong tourism who work tirelessly behind the scenes to “inspire and influence the direction of our industry, modelling new ways of conceiving and doing tourism better.” These leaders that have made a significant contribution to developing tourism sustainability in the Mekong Region. These individuals might be CEOs or senior government officials, or they might be entrepreneurs or small business owners… Read More

February 1, 2021

The MIST program evolves from “Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism” to “Mekong Innovations in Sustainable Tourism”

MIST program aims to expedite tourism industry growth, create an ecosystem that inspires innovation, and promote sustainability in tourism.

BANGKOK, February 01, 2021 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) (www.MekongTourism.org) as the secretariat of the Tourism Working Group of the six national tourism organizations of the Greater Mekong Subregion, and Destination Mekong (www.DestinationMekong.com), the public-private collaboration framework of the Lancang-Mekong Region, in consultation with the six member governments of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and its partner the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has decided to evolve the 4-year old trail-blazing initiative. Originally limited to only startups in the two categories of travel tech and travel social enterprises, the evolved MIST program will focus on innovations in sustainable tourism, resilience, and climate change in the Greater Mekong Subregion, aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)… Read More

January 5, 2021

Mekong Tourism Forum postponed to September 2021

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism decide to postpone the regional flagship tourism conference to end of 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

BANGKOK, January 05, 2021 – The member governments of the Greater Mekong Subregion agreed at the recent 46th GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting on December 3rd, 2020 to postpone the Mekong Tourism Forum in Bagan, Myanmar. The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) has been working closely with the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar to plan the annual flagship tourism conference in the Greater Mekong subregion. The forum has been postponed three times so far, originally planned to be hosted on April 28-29, 2020, then August 25-26, 2020, and then February 25-26, 2021.... Read More

September 22, 2020

Mekong Tourism & SUNx Malta Announce Scholarships for Climate Friendly Travel

Supporting Students & Professionals From The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries – Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

BANGKOK, September 22, 2020 – Thanks to Malta’s Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, and the Institute for Tourism Studies Malta, SUNx Malta and The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) are offering 5 scholarships for a new online Diploma in Climate Friendly Travel... Read More

September 8, 2020

Virtual Destination Mekong Summit provides actionable insights for travel and tourism industry during COVID-19

Session videos now available online to watch for free

BANGKOK, September 8, 2020 – The 1st Destination Mekong Summit was organized virtually by UNWTO Affiliate Member Strategies as a lead partner of Destination Mekong in partnership with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office on 25 August 2020. Nearly 1,500 registered attendees from over 100 countries joined the virtual conference on Zoom with an additional 500 following the live stream on YouTube and the event website... Read More

August 28, 2020

Winners of the 2020 Experience Mekong Showcases announced

BANGKOK, August 28, 2020 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office announced the 6 Winners of the 2020 Experience Mekong Showcases. From 60 shortlisted businesses of the over 350 Experience Mekong Collection members, nearly 10,000 eligible votes narrowed down to 18 finalists (3 from each of the six GMS member countries), and finally recognizing the six 2020 Experience Mekong Showcases... Read More

August 5, 2020

Virtual Destination Mekong Summit to offer recommendations and insights for travel businesses during COVID-19 to prepare for a balanced tourism recovery

BANGKOK, August 5, 2020 – In the afternoon of Tuesday, August 25th, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office is hosting a half-day Virtual Destination Mekong Summit, organized by public-private partnership Destination Mekong, with sponsorship of UNWTO Affiliate Member Chameleon Strategies, under the theme of “Balanced Tourism Recovery for a Better Future”... Read More

July 7, 2020

First Mekong Hero announced at Destination Mekong Summit
Founder of Thailand Community-based Tourism Institute honored

BANGKOK, July 7, 2020 – The ‘Mekong Heroes’ is a new program, initiated by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and Destination Mekong, to celebrate colleagues in Mekong tourism who work tirelessly behind the scenes to “inspire and influence the direction of our industry, modeling new ways of conceiving and doing tourism better.” Two Mekong Heroes will be selected per year, who will join the Mekong Heroes Gallery. We will tell their personal stories to inspire others… Read More

July 7, 2020

Finalists for the 2020 Experience Mekong Showcases announced

BANGKOK, July 7, 2020 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office is announcing the 18 Finalists of the Experience Mekong Showcases 2020. 4,200 eligible votes determined three Experience Mekong Collection members from each of the six member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion for the next round of voting for this prestigious recognition. Now open for public vote until August 15^th, the six Experience Mekong Showcases will be announced on August 25^th, at the 2020 Destination Mekong Summit… Read More

May 30, 2020

Mekong Tourism Forum postponed to February 15-16, 2021

BANGKOK, May 26, 2020 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) announced on Saturday, May 30th during a webinar hosted by the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association that the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar decided to move the annual Mekong Tourism Forum dates to February 15-16, 2021 from August 25-26, 2020, amid the current COVID-19 pandemic… Read More

May 26, 2020

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and Mekong Institute partner on new Mekong COVID-19 Innovations Crowdsourcing Initiative

BANGKOK, May 26, 2020 – Covid-19 is a terrible shock to the global economy as well as the thousands of individuals and families it has affected. Companies in the immediate term need to ensure that the health and safety of its workers, partners and suppliers come first. The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), Destination Mekong, and the Mekong Institute (MI) have partnered on a new initiative to encourage anybody to crowdsource newly spotted innovations reacting to the current Covid-19 pandemic in the Greater Mekong Subregion (Yunnan and Guangxi in PR China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam). Innovations may come from the government, large companies, small businesses, startups, individuals, or partnerships... Read More

May 20, 2020

Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) open 2020 call for applications in travel technology and social impact categories

BANGKOK, May 20, 2020 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) (www.MekongTourism.org) as the secretariat of the Tourism Working Group of the six national tourism organizations of the Greater Mekong Subregion, and Destination Mekong (www.DestinationMekong.com), the public-private collaboration framework of the Lancang-Mekong Region, formally opens the call for application of the 2020 Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) program (www.MIST.asia). Travel startups in the two categories, travel technology ventures and social impact ventures from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. For the first time, MIST also welcomes startups headquartered in the Yunnan Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in PR China... Read More

May 1, 2020

Shortlist for the 2020 Experience Mekong Showcases announced

BANGKOK, May 1, 2020 – Created three years ago in September 2017 to both recognize and encourage sustainable and responsible tourism development, 60 Experience Mekong Collection (EMC) member businesses have been shortlisted – ten from each of the six GMS member countries – to determine the final six businesses to be recognized for the third annual Experience Mekong Showcases, announced in Q3 of 2020 ... Read More

September 30, 2019

The 2019 Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism Finalists Announced

BANGKOK, September 30, 2019 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office today announced that 10 innovative startups from across the Mekong Region will compete in the Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) competition on 9 October 2019. This year, MIST will be held in Bangkok together with the new Travel Startups Asia Forum ... Read More

April 25, 2019

The 2019 Mekong Tourism Forum on May 28-29 innovates with new inclusive concept in ancient heritage town

BANGKOK, April 25, 2019 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office has become known for its innovative ways of organizing sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly conferences. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism of P.R. China (MCT) and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province in collaboration with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office

March 20, 2019

Mekong Tourism to launch second annual Mekong Mini Movie Festival at Asian Tourism Forum 19 in Ha Long, Vietnam.

The 2019 Mekong Tourism Forum at ITB Berlin ([email protected]) will feature a partnered showcase between Mekong Tourism and PATA regarding this year’s elected theme of ‘Leveraging Visual Storytelling to Promote Destinations and Effect Change’

March 6, 2019

In partnership with PATA, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office will hold its annual Mekong Tourism Forum at ITB Berlin for the third consecutive year.

The 2019 Mekong Tourism Forum at ITB Berlin ([email protected]) will feature a partnered showcase between Mekong Tourism and PATA regarding this year’s elected theme of ‘Leveraging Visual Storytelling to Promote Destinations and Effect Change’

December 21, 2018

Mekong Tourism launches new visual storytelling campaign ‘Mekong From Above’ to showcase the best aerial photos and videos in the Southeast Asian Subregion.

BANGKOK, December 21, 2018 – The “Mekong From Above” aerial photo and video contest, the first of its kind in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), provides an opportunity for amateur and professional photographers to compete by capturing aerial photos and videos of the amazing landscapes, astonishing heritage, and numerous rich traditions of the region….ReadMore

December 18, 2018

Mekong Tourism launches public voting for the first annual Mekong Mini Movie Festival ahead of its launch of the Mekong Minis at ATF 19 in Ha Long, Vietnam.

BANGKOK, December 18, 2018 – The MTCO is calling bloggers, videographers, travel enthusiasts, and the public at large to vote for their favourite Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) destination videos at www.mekongminis.com to afford short-listed participants a chance to win trips in the region and hotel stays worth up to $16,000 USD ..Read More

November 20, 2018

Latest UNWTO Report Heralds Mekong Tourism Forum as an Inclusive Tourism Global Best Practice.

BANGKOK, November 20, 2018 – A new United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report praises Mekong Tourism’s 2017 Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) as a global best practice in inclusive tourism..Read More

November 15, 2018

HSMAI to Honour Mekong Tourism with Gold Adrian Award for Outstanding Travel Marketing Excellence in 2018 ‘Mekong Mini’s’ Festival Campaign.

BANGKOK, November 15, 2018 – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will honour the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) with a Gold Adrian Award for digital marketing excellence displayed in its 2018 Mekong Mini Movie Festival, a social media campaign that has earned a global reach of over 7 million people to date

October 19, 2018

Vietnamese Startup Ecohost Takes Second Prize in
Regional Travel Startup Competition.

SINGAPORE (October 19, 2018) – Vietnamese startup travel company Ecohost beat out 110 competitors to take second prize in the 2018 Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) challenge...Read More

October 19, 2018

BambooLao Wins Regional Travel Startup Competition.

SINGAPORE (October 19, 2018) – BambooLao from Luang Prabang, Lao PDR beat 111 entrants from across Southeast Asia to take top prize in the 2018 Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) challenge..Read More

October 18, 2018

Mekong Tourism selects responsible tourism leaders for its 3rd annual Experience Mekong Collection Showcase.

BANGKOK, October 18, 2018 – Created two years ago to both recognize and encourage sustainable and respsible tourism development, Mekong Tourism initiative the Experience Mekong Collection (EMC) Showcase has tilted its spotlight on six new organisations for the third annual showcase release…Read More

October 18, 2018

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office prepares for 2nd annual Experience Mekong Collection Showcase.

BANGKOK, October 18, 2018 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is inviting the public to nominate their favourite Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) small businesses on www.experiencemekong.org to determine next year’s 2019 Experience Mekong Collection Showcase. The nomination deadline is December 1, 2018...Read More

October 17, 2018

Mekong Tourism partners with TAT to feature nine new travel corridors on travel inspirational platform Mekong Moments.

BANGKOK, October 17, 2018 – Through collaborative efforts from the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), nine new travel corridors have been added to social commerce web platform Mekong Moments in an effort to help promote some of Thailand’s hidden treasures within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)...Read More

September 18, 2018

Inaugural Mekong Mini Movie Festival decides on first round of winners while setting the stage for its final award ceremony in early 2019.

BANGKOK, September 18, 2018 – If you pull open the curtain of this year’s first annual Mekong Minis Movie Festival contest, this is what you will see – a collection of 60-second-long doses of euphoria, and while 12 submissions have already been bestowed reward, Mekong Tourism judges will select another set of winners to round off the year-long contest in early 2019..Read More

September 18, 2018

MTCO receives 2018 PATA Gold Marketing Industry Award for exemplary excellence showcased in its ‘Mekong Moments’ campaign.

BANGKOK, September 18, 2018 – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 18, held in Langkawi, Malaysia on September 14, saw the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) receive reward for its exemplary work in tourism industry marketing for the Pacific Asia region..Read More

September 24, 2018

Mekong Tourism featured in new tourism research report supported by Google alongside companies Airbnb and Grab.

BANGKOK, September 24, 2018 – Amid showcasing its social inspirational campaign platform mekongmoments.com, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) has been featured as a driving force for tourism growth in the Asia Pacific region in a Google supported report published by the Pacific Asia Tourism Association (PATA) and Oxford Economics company Tourism Economics...Read More

August 27, 2018

Mekong Tourism vows to tackle issue
of single-use plastic pollution in Greater Mekong Subregion

BANGKOK, August 27, 2018 – Amid recent reports of the Mekong River’s massive contribution of plastic waste in the world’s oceans, Mekong Tourism stakeholders hammered down on a commitment to significantly reduce the river-bound waste in the short term at this year’s Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF)..Read More

August 20, 2018

Mekong Tourism Forum innovates by integrating rural villages
as conference venues and stimulating dialogue.

BANGKOK, August 20, 2018 – The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office has become known for innovative ways of organizing conferences in sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly ways..Read More

April 25, 2019

The 2019 Mekong Tourism Forum on May 28-29 innovates with new inclusive concept in ancient heritage town

April 25, 2019

The 2019 Mekong Tourism Forum on May 28-29 innovates with new inclusive concept in ancient heritage town

April 25, 2019

The 2019 Mekong Tourism Forum on May 28-29 innovates with new inclusive concept in ancient heritage town