08 June 2009

Mekong sub-region in focus

BANGKOK - The inaugural Mekong Photo Contest is expected to boost tourism, art and culture along the countries fronting the Mekong River.

The six-countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), are Cambodia, China (Yunnan/ Guangxi), Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), in conjunction with Knowledge Media Group, is organising the contest.

Under the theme EXPLORE MEKONG: Peoples, Places and Cultures, the competition is to focus on the beauty and unique ways of life of peoples living along the Ã¢â¬Åâœmighty MekongÃ¢â¬~ river and around the GMS, exposing places of interest, the cultural heritage of the people, and the natural beauty and environment of the region.

Entries will be accepted from September 1, 2009 to October 31, 2009.

Judging will take place during November 2009 and the final results will be announced on December 1, 2009.

Entry forms and detailed information including terms and conditions will be available online at www.MekongPhotoContest.com

All entries are to be evaluated and judged by an international panel of eminent photographers, photo editors, artists and writers.

There will be more than a dozen prizes valued at more than US$15,000.

Sponsorships opportunities (in cash and in kind), as well as media partnerships are now open.

For more information, log onto: www.MekongPhotoContest.com or contact contest coordinator Jaffee Yee +66 (0)81 922 9063 (mobile) or info@MekongPhotoContest.com

All winning entries will be exhibited in an online photo gallery for a worldwide audience.

Exhibitions of the winning images are planned in each of the six GMS countries beginning in late 2009 into 2010.