Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office Collaborative effort between Cambodia, China, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam to promote the Gr (Source: United Nations World Tourism Organization. 2014.
(5)

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is administered out of the offices of the Department of Tourism of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, based in Bangkok, and was established with funding from the six governments of Cambodia, China,Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, which represent the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).The office

is staffed and overseen by the Executive Director, and supported by the Operations Manager. The staff is guided by the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG), which is made out of senior representatives of the NTOs of the six member countries. The MTCO gives the opportunity to interns to gain valuable international tourism experience, based on qualification and need. The MTCO has two major functions:
1) Development – To co-ordinate sustainable pro-poor tourism development projects in the Mekong in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and
2) Marketing – To promote the Mekong region as a single travel and tourism destination. GMS Tourism Sector Strategy 2005-2015

Inbound tourism in the GMS has been one of the fastest growing destinations in the world. Between 2004 and 2006, the number of tourist arrivals, based on thePATA studies, increased by 26%, with an impressive 61% growth for Cambodia and 55% for Yunnan and Guangxi together. A common goal of both of public and private sectors in all countries is to create sustainable tourism profit. This is achieved optimally by increasing inbound tourism yield, by developing quality products that tourists are willing to buy, and inciting longer stays with enhanced motivation to revisit. Thus, GMS’s strategy is to “develop and promote the Mekong Region as a single destination, offering a diversity of good quality and high yielding sub regional products that helps to distribute the benefits of tourism more widely; add to the tourism development efforts of each country, by fostering a sustainable tourism development approach, by contributing to poverty reduction, gender equality and empowerment of women, while minimizing any adverse impacts.”

The strategy is comprised of 7 core programs: (1) marketing; (2) human resource development; (3) heritage conservation and mitigation of negative impacts; (4) pro-poor tourism; (5) private sector participation; (6) facilitation of travel, and (7) tourism development in priority zones. These core programs are divided into 29 projects including 16 thematic projects and 13 geographical projects.

1) Marketing the sub region as a single destination
To support multi country tourism in the GMS by stimulating demand from high yield markets through appropriate product development and joint promotional activities.

2) Human resource development with women’s empowerment
To upgrade the skills of tourism managers and tourism trainers to ensure that the strategy can be implemented and that the tourism institutions deliver quality training so that qualified staff is in place to face and manage tourism demand from high yield markets.

3) Heritage conservation and mitigation of negative socio-cultural impacts
To promote higher standards in the management of natural and cultural resources to maintain the value of what are the core tourism assets of the GMS; To strengthen socially responsible practices necessary to limit the negative impacts which uncontrolled tourism growth generates.

4) Pro-poor tourism and Equitable Distribution of Benefits
To promote patterns of tourism development that help reduce the incidence of poverty and increase economic opportunities and incomes for the poorest through their empowerment.

5) Private sector participation
To facilitate private sector participation and partnership in planning, investment and marketing.

6) Cross-border facilitation
To address impediments of travel to and within the GMS

7) Tourism-related infrastructure
To jointly plan and develop tourism infrastructure throughout the 13 identified GMS priority zones and to better spread the benefits of tourism. Key challenges over the next ten years will be to maintain sustainability and develop high yield quality tourism. This action endeavors to secure the first foundation of the GMS Tourism Sector that will allow the GMS countries to optimize the benefits from tourism for its human and economic development while preserving the cultural and natural assets, which are assets that are its main capital for the long term. About the GMS

The Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) was the fastest growing subregion in Asia and the Pacific in 2013, showing a 17% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to 2012 (Table 3). This was more than double the growth rate in Asia and the Pacific and significantly higher than ASEAN’s 11% increase. Since 2002 international tourist arrivals in the GMS have grown at an average annual rate of about 12%. Although Thailand’s share of total GMS arrivals has declined from 61% in 2004 to 51% in 2013, it remains the major international gateway to the subregion. By country, international tourist arrivals are growing fastest in Myanmar a result of the extensive political and economic reforms that began in 2011. While Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have a modest combined share (about 15%) of international arrivals, it is important to note that each received over 200 million domestic visitors in 2013. The number of annual domestic trips in Thailand (over 100 million) and Viet Nam (over 35 million) is also significant. UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2014 Edition)

In 2013 the GMS welcomed 51.7 million international tourist arrivals, representing a 3% share of the global market. Over 60% of international visitors originate in Asia and the Pacific, led by the PRC, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In 2013 the PRC was the first or second largest source market in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and the third largest source market in the Lao PDR (Table 4). Thailand was the top source market for the Lao PDR and Myanmar, and visitors from Viet Nam formed the largest share of international tourist arrivals in Cambodia. Long haul source markets from Europe comprise approximately 20% of international tourist arrivals and those from the Americas about 7%. MEKONG TOURISM FORUM

The Mekong Tourism Forum provides a cooperative platform for stakeholders in the tourism industry to discuss the development, marketing and promotion of travel to, from and within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It presents an inclusive, interactive and results-oriented opportunity to encourage public and private sector participation in representing the GMS as a single destination. Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) organized the first Mekong Tourism Forum in 1996 and led it for 10 consecutive years. The hosting of this influential annual event rotated among destinations within the GMS until 2005. In subsequent years private sector initiated events around the region continued to work towards the forum’s goals. The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)has revived the forum in 2010 taking place in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with the theme of “New Roads, New Opportunities”. Followed by MTF2011 “Destination Mekong: The Making of a Star” in Pakse, Laos, MTF2012 in Chiang Rai, Thailand with the theme of “20/20 Vision: Building on Two Decades of GMS Cooperation”, MTF2013 in Guilin, China with the theme ““The Rise of the Chinese traveller: Optimizing the impacts for the GMS”, and MTF2014 in Mandalay, Myanmar with the theme “Tourism investment for the protection of Heritage and Culture”. Six Nations Three Common Goals

The Mekong Tourism Forum works to achieve three main objectives:

To raise the profile of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) as a single tourist destination
To provide an industry-wide platform for the public and private sectors to address sub-regional tourism issues
To expand marketing networks and opportunities for promoting the GMS and its stakeholders, pool collective resources and create intra-industry synergy.

Mekong Stories (www.MekongStories.com):  Over a year in the making. A very proud moment. Changing the paradigm to promot...
16/09/2022

Mekong Stories (www.MekongStories.com): Over a year in the making. A very proud moment. Changing the paradigm to promote Destination Mekong via authentic storytelling by making small businesses and social enterprises the true heroes that make the destination the destination.

Download your personal copy and get inspired at:
https://mekongstories.com/download/

More information: https://www.destinationmekong.com/2022/09/14/destination-mekong-publishes-first-mekong-stories-book/

Thank you to everybody that contributed to this passion project, especially Gerrit Kruger and Mark Bibby Jackson, who took the vision and made it become reality.

We all love stories, don't we? Especially travel stories that make us fall in love with unexplored or even familiar territories, and most importantly, their people.
We have some great news for you!
Destination Mekong, the private-sector-led regional tourism board that champions the Greater Mekong Subregion as a single sustainable tourism destination, has launched its first Mekong Stories book.
Download the Mekong Stories Book for free: https://mekongstories.com/download/
Read more here:
https://www.destinationmekong.com/2022/09/14/destination-mekong-publishes-first-mekong-stories-book/
Jens Thraenhart Gerrit Kruger Jens Uwe Parkitny Cathy Germier Mark Bibby Jackson Sok Sophea Chuob Ratana Bertie Alexander Lawson for Sampan Travel Cambodian Children's Trust
Hayley Holden for epicARTS Hivester Janina Bikova Laurence Couton for WildChina Mahidol University Marissa Carruthers for TTG Asia Mekong Quilts Michael Biedassek for bangkokvanguards
Nattakorn Asunee Na Ayudhaya Peter Richards Small Luxury Hotels of the World Sophie Hartman Suzanne Becken Valerie Olla for Ock Pop Tok WildChina

👍🏼Follow the new page to receive better information and more at Mekong Tourism
17/08/2022

👍🏼Follow the new page to receive better information and more at Mekong Tourism

📣Like and follow at new page  Tourism 👍
15/08/2022

📣Like and follow at new page Tourism 👍

👍Like and follow at new page Mekong Tourism  📣
11/08/2022

👍Like and follow at new page Mekong Tourism 📣

👍Like and follow at new page Mekong Tourism 📣
08/08/2022

👍Like and follow at new page Mekong Tourism 📣

👍Like and follow at new page Mekong Tourism 😊
05/08/2022

👍Like and follow at new page Mekong Tourism 😊

02/08/2022

We are moving to the new FB page Mekong Tourism

Please follow us.
Thank you

02/08/2022

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT : WE ARE MOVING

Our FB page has been changed to Mekong Tourism (). This page will no longer be used. Please like and follow our new page to stay updated on the Mekong Tourism. Thank you

🇱🇦 Feeling an unforgettable moment by sipping the finest cup of origin coffee whilst ziplining over the natural twin Tad...
21/07/2022

🇱🇦 Feeling an unforgettable moment by sipping the finest cup of origin coffee whilst ziplining over the natural twin Tad fane waterfall, which drops over 120 meters from joining the Champee and Pak Koot rivers. Champasak province, Laos

📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org
📷Photo: Tourism Laos

🇲🇲 The classic aerial view of the U-Bein bridge, one of Myanmar's most famous attractions of the oldest and longest teak...
19/07/2022

🇲🇲 The classic aerial view of the U-Bein bridge, one of Myanmar's most famous attractions of the oldest and longest teakwood bridge, extending 1.2 km over Taungthman lake in Mandalay, take a stroll along the bridge, admire the beauty and view the Myanmar people's way of life.

📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org
📷Photo: yoanguerreiro

🇰🇭 ANNOUNCEMENT ON WAIVING QUARANTINE FOR ALL NON-VACCINATED OR NON-FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERSIn accordance with the dec...
11/07/2022

🇰🇭 ANNOUNCEMENT ON WAIVING QUARANTINE FOR ALL NON-VACCINATED OR NON-FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERS

In accordance with the decision of the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Ministry of Tourism is pleased to notify tourism operators, domestic tourists, international tourists, media and the public that the quarantine requirements will be waived for all travelers who have not been vaccinated or have partly been vaccinated against Covid-19 from 11 July 2022 with the following condition:

1) Required to take COVID-19 Rapid Test by health officer upon arrival in Cambodia and
foreigners shall pay a test fee of US $ 5 per person.
- In case of a negative test result: the travelers are allowed to continue his / her journey to his / her home or destination throughout Cambodia without quarantine.
- In case of a positive test result and a mild disease: must be treated in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures for the Management, Care and Treatment of Covid-19 Patients at Home and he/she is responsible for all accommodation costs.
• All travelers with a suitable residence can be isolated and treated at his / her home.
• All travelers who does not have a suitable home to stay must be isolated and treated at a place designated by the Ministry of Health or the competent authority.
- In case of serious disease: he/she has to receive Covid-19 treatment at the hospital, where the Covid-19 treatment service is integrated into a Single Health Care System. For Covid-19 patients who are foreigners, they have to pay for their own medical treatment and accommodation.
2) All Travelers, who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 for any reason, are encouraged to go to the vaccination sites in the capital and provinces without any charge.

All domestic and international tourists and travelers are required to strictly adhere to the "3 Do's 3 Don'ts" health measures as well as Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) that the Ministry of Tourism has applied to all tourism services.

The Ministry of Tourism calls on all relevant parties to effectively implement and disseminate this Announcement to attract more international visitors to "Cambodia - Kingdom of Wonder, Feel the Warmth - Safe Clean and Green".

Read more information visit https://mekongtourism.org/announcement-on-waiving-quarantine-for-all-non-vaccinated-or-non-fully-vaccinated-travelers/

📷Photo: efired
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

The natural resources that draw tourists to coastal and marine zones underpin the economies of most small island develop...
08/07/2022

The natural resources that draw tourists to coastal and marine zones underpin the economies of most small island developing states and coastal destinations and provide myriad contributions to economic growth and human wellbeing. Yet, the health and beauty of these ecosystems - the very thing that draws people to coastal and marine destinations continues to be threatened by tourism itself. While the inherent balancing act of nature-based tourism has always been apparent, the unprecedented pause in global tourism induced by the pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to reassess and reset.

Read the full report “Opportunities for Transforming Coastal and Marine Tourism Towards Sustainability, Regeneration and Resilience” here https://mekongtourism.org/opportunities-for-transforming-coastal-and-marine-tourism/

📷Photo: The Ocean Panel
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

🇨🇳 Delicious dishes to try around the Mekong...It’s quite simple to make: take pork from local black pigs, salt the meat...
06/07/2022

🇨🇳 Delicious dishes to try around the Mekong...It’s quite simple to make: take pork from local black pigs, salt the meat and hang it up to cure. The dry, crisp air of Yunnan’s highlands is perfectly suited for curing the ham; the streaky, fatty meat of the local pigs makes the local ham a perfect partner for Yunnan dishes or eaten entirely on its own. The best Yunnan cured ham comes from either Xuanwei or Nuodeng.
📷Photo by: westchinatour
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

“Thailand Pass” registration and health insurance requirement will no longer be required for international arrivals from...
05/07/2022

“Thailand Pass” registration and health insurance requirement will no longer be required for international arrivals from July 1, 2022. In our latest newsletter, we’re showing how the Mekong Sub-Region has been slowly opening up, and welcoming tourists with less restrictions.
Learn more about travel in the Greater Mekong Subregion and related developments: https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-newsletter-issue-02-2022/

📷Photo: MTCO
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

“Thailand Pass” registration and health insurance requirements will no longer be required for international arrivals from July 1, 2022. In our latest newsletter, we’re showing how the Mekong Sub-Region has been slowly opening up and welcoming tourists with less restrictions..

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)’s Executive Director, Suvimol Thanasarakij, attended the Development Partners’...
01/07/2022

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)’s Executive Director, Suvimol Thanasarakij, attended the Development Partners’ Consultation Meeting 2022
‘Strengthening Capacity Development for a Robust GMS towards Post COVID-19 Recovery’ organized by Mekong Institute.

The event was attended by development partners across several sectors, including Ambassador from German Embassy, representatives from British, France, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Israel Embassies, and international organizations as well as govt agencies.

Thank you for the invitation.

🇱🇦Three-tiered waterfall near Luang Prabang, Laos.With the large cascade of bright turquoise blue water known as "Kuang ...
29/06/2022

🇱🇦Three-tiered waterfall near Luang Prabang, Laos.
With the large cascade of bright turquoise blue water known as "Kuang Si waterfall or Tat Kuang Si".

📷Photo: Souayang
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

🇲🇲An aerial view of "Taung Kalat," which is perched on top of a volcanic plug at Popa National Park, Bagan-Mandalay, Mya...
28/06/2022

🇲🇲An aerial view of "Taung Kalat," which is perched on top of a volcanic plug at Popa National Park, Bagan-Mandalay, Myanmar.
The mountain looks like a huge rock castle, and a beautiful monastery sits on top of it.

📷Photo: Mlenny
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

Travel Massive, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and Where Sidewalks End co-hosted a travel network event at t...
27/06/2022

Travel Massive, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and Where Sidewalks End co-hosted a travel network event at the Hyatt Regency in Bangkok, for tourism professionals to reconnect in person after over the 2 years of the pandemic. Though all of us are used to virtual meetings, face-to-face interaction is irreplaceable for the tourism and hospitality industry.

Travel Massive

🇨🇳The Danu Festival is held on the 29th day of the lunar month in Guangxi province. The Yao ethnic group celebrates this...
27/06/2022

🇨🇳The Danu Festival is held on the 29th day of the lunar month in Guangxi province. The Yao ethnic group celebrates this day with their traditional food, folk music, sports, and horse racing.

📷Photo: News.CN
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

What is tourism resilience and how does it support sustainability goals in destinations? How are destinations addressing...
24/06/2022

What is tourism resilience and how does it support sustainability goals in destinations? How are destinations addressing resilience priorities?

Find out the answers and destination-focused case studies with recommendations in the “ Enhancing Resilience to Drive Sustainability in Destinations” report recently published by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in partnership with ICF International Inc.

Read the full report here.
https://mekongtourism.org/enhancing-resilience-to-drive-sustainability-in-destinations/

📷Photo Cr.: World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

🇲🇲Cock's comb Island (which means Emerald Heart Island) in the Myeik Archipelago in southern Myanmar ✨wowed us with its ...
22/06/2022

🇲🇲Cock's comb Island (which means Emerald Heart Island) in the Myeik Archipelago in southern Myanmar ✨wowed us with its clear water and soft white sand.
Things you must do: Snorkel, diving, kayaking🚣

📷Photo: Tourism in Myanmar
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

Today (21st Jun 2022), Ms Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij, the Executive Director of Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) ...
21/06/2022

Today (21st Jun 2022), Ms Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij, the Executive Director of Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) attended and did a presentation on behalf of the Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Working Group (GMS) in the Joint Consultative Meeting between ASEAN Secretariat, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other Subregional Cooperation framework, including Centre for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Subregional Cooperation (CIMT), Brunei Darussalam- Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area Facilitation Center (BIMP-EAGA FC) and GMS.

The main objective of the meeting is to strengthen institutional linkages between the subregional programs and ASEAN by developing joint projects/activities/knowledge products that support resilient and sustainable recovery for the region.

The Meeting has agreed upon the next step. Stay tuned for the update.

We’d also like to thank ASEAN Secretariat for inviting us and ADB for facilitating the meeting.

Travel Massive Happy Hour with Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office & Where Sidewalks End Let's meet up again.It would be ...
21/06/2022

Travel Massive Happy Hour with Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office & Where Sidewalks End

Let's meet up again.

It would be a great opportunity for everyone in tourism to reconnect. So come on by to say hi to old friends, new acquaintances, and feel free to bring a friend in tourism.

This event is being hosted by Travel Massive Bangkok, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and Where Sidewalks End.

👉 Join us at the Hyatt on Soi 13 Sukhumvit Bangkok (it connects to BTS Nana) on the roof deck on June 27th, Monday at 6pm.

To register, visit https://www.travelmassive.com/events/travel-massive-happy-hour-with-mekong-tourism-coordinating-office-where-sidewalks-end-5892838201

📷Photo cr.: Travel Massive

Covid-19 has changed travel in many ways. Since the onset of the pandemic, travellers are thinking more about the impact...
21/06/2022

Covid-19 has changed travel in many ways. Since the onset of the pandemic, travellers are thinking more about the impacts of their holidays on communities, local economies and the environment.

Read the full “ Rebuilding tourism in Asia-Pacific: A more conscious traveller?” report issued by Economic Impact and sponsored by Airbnb at this link
https://mekongtourism.org/rebuilding-tourism-in-asia-pacific-a-more-conscious-traveller/
📷Photo: Airbnb
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

As the pandemic recedes and international travel begins to open up, most countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)...
17/06/2022

As the pandemic recedes and international travel begins to open up, most countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are welcoming visitors again! Read our latest newsletter to find out how communities around the Mekong are welcoming back visitors: youʼll find travel guidance specific to each of the GMS nations; GMS travel news; and updates from the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO).

Learn more about travel in the Greater Mekong Subregion and related developments:
https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-newsletter-issue-01-2022/

🇰🇭Twilight aerial view of captivating and vibrant ✨Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia  📷 Photo: Ministry of Touris...
15/06/2022

🇰🇭Twilight aerial view of captivating and vibrant ✨Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia

📷 Photo: Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia
📍www.mekongtourism.org

🇹🇭Take a day trip to Bangkok Thailand, where you may dress in traditional Thai clothing and visit temples and palaces wh...
14/06/2022

🇹🇭Take a day trip to Bangkok Thailand, where you may dress in traditional Thai clothing and visit temples and palaces while capturing unforgettable memories.

📷 Photo: Sence of Thai : Thai Costume Rental
📍 Website: www.mekongtourism.org

Adventure and discovery the spectacular "Shilin" (Stone Forest) have thousands of limestone rock formations. Yunnan, Chi...
13/06/2022

Adventure and discovery the spectacular "Shilin" (Stone Forest) have thousands of limestone rock formations. Yunnan, China, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
📷Photo: honeypics
📍Website: https://mekongtourism.org

ที่อยู่

Department Of Tourism, Rattaprasasan Phakdi Building, Chaengwattana Road
Bangkok
10210

เว็บไซต์

แจ้งเตือน

รับทราบข่าวสารและโปรโมชั่นของ Mekong Tourism Coordinating Officeผ่านทางอีเมล์ของคุณ เราจะเก็บข้อมูลของคุณเป็นความลับ คุณสามารถกดยกเลิกการติดตามได้ตลอดเวลา

ติดต่อ ธุรกิจของเรา

ส่งข้อความของคุณถึง Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office:

วิดีโอทั้งหมด

แชร์


องค์กรของรัฐ อื่นๆใน Bangkok

แสดงผลทั้งหมด
#}