Close to 100 participants took part recently in a Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) workshop aimed at developing definitions of principles and guidelines for nature based tourism development.

Hosted by the Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the workshop was supported by the Asian Development Bank and the French Government. The two-day workshop at the Siam City Hotel, Bangkok, attracted presenters and attendees from throughout the GMS, Asia, Europe and the USA.

Speakers presented case studies of 'ecotourism' and nature-based tourism projects throughout the world. Tourism operators sharing their experiences at the first workshop include Wild Asia, Pacific Asia Tourism, Track of the Tiger and Six Senses Group.

Representatives from different areas related to the environment â€" NGOs, scientific researchers, conservation centres and academics â€" also participated.

Workshop goals included a focus on assessing training needs and establishing a roadmap for a programme to improve the management of tourism in and around protected areas. This first workshop of a series of four also aimed at jumpstarting four "priority projects" of the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy which was designed by ADB with the GMS countries.

"The workshop achieved its first objective of gathering the different stakeholders together," said MTCO Development Project Coordinator, Ms Christine Jacquemin. "I think it is the first time private sector, environmental organizations and country officials in charge of tourism and environment were meeting together to discuss what is their common interest â€" how tourism if better managed can become a tool for biodiversity conservation and local development," she added.

“The strong attendance clearly demonstrates that this is in everyone's interest. It was a good opportunity for people to establish new contacts and share experiences," Ms Jacquemin said. During the second day, attendees worked on defining training needs and a road map that was later validated within a task force meeting.

According to Ms Jacquemin, the workshop will be a success if it leads to funding of a subregional program to train protected area management teams in tourism management which has been identified as priority number one by all the stakeholders.

Valere Tjolle