The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) has named veteran travel specialist Mason Florence as its new Executive Director.

"I am truly excited about being given the task of promoting the GMS as a single tourist destination," he said.

"It's a dream mission. The Mekong region is my favorite place to travel, and offers so much in terms of natural beauty, culture and, of course, food. Plus the people you encounter along the way are among the kindest and most hospitable on the planet."

Prior to his appointment at MTCO, Mason spent almost twenty years working and travelling in Asia as a writer, photographer, tour leader and consultant.

Mason’s career began in 1990 when he joined ‘The Japan Times’ newspaper as a Kyoto-based reporter. He later went on to work for Lonely Planet Publications, authoring numerous travel guide titles including 'Japan', 'Kyoto', 'Vietnam', 'Hanoi' and 'Ho Chi Minh City'.

After 12 years working as a travel journalist in Japan and pursuing rural sustainable tourism development work, Mason relocated to Bangkok in 2002.

There he co-founded Talisman Media Group, publishers of 'Bangkok 101' magazine and various other art, culture and travel publications in Asia.

Mason acknowledged the success of his predecessors Stephen Yong and Peter Semone.

"I am grateful for all of the hard work and dedication put in by Stephen and Peter," he said.

"They've left me with a solid foundation to work from and further develop and initiate a serious marketing agenda to get the Mekong brand on the world stage."

Stephen Yong, the MTCO's first full time director, resigned in mid-2007 to join French hotel booking system, Fastbooking.com.

Peter Semone acted as Senior Advisor to the MTCO in the interim and relocated to Vientiane in mid-2008 as Chief Technical Advisor for a Luxembourg Development Project in Lao.

Valere Tjolle