Laos bids to host Mekong Tourism office
SIHANOUKVILLE – Mekong tourism policy makers will consider an offer from Laos to host the region’s tourism office by the end of 2009.
Government representatives from the six Mekong region countries – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – met this week for the 20th Tourism Working Group Meeting.
They discussed wide ranging issues including border check points, the development of tourism corridors and marketing plans leading up to Visit Mekong Year 2010.
Representatives from Laos recommended that the site of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) should be rotated and offered to host the office as early as 2009.
Currently Thailand hosts the MTCO in Bangkok, through the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, which provides free office space and utilities.
The ministry gave a commitment to underwrite office expenses until 2010, when it would be reviewed.
However, the delegates representing the six countries appeared to favour a rotation system that would give each country the option to host the office for three to four years.
Senior advisor to the MTCO, Peter Semone, outlined how the six countries could capitalise on the region’s tourism assets that largely go unnoticed in wider context of global tourism.
He revealed marketing plans leading up to Visit Mekong Year – VMY 2010.
They include launching www.exploremekong.org that features its own booking engine and secure payment capabilities for SME tourism enterprises in the region.
Due to be launched later this year, the website is part of a wider promotional campaign that will seek to enlist support from the private sector.
Ian Jarrett
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