Discussing solutions for developing tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion

One of the objectives of the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) 2025 is to discuss common solutions and new approaches to sustainable tourism development; strengthen regional cooperation; promote community-based tourism and responsible tourism.

The Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) 2025, organized by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (MICT) in coordination with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), will take place from June 25-27, 2025 in Luang Prabang (Laos).

The Mekong Tourism Forum is an important program in the tourism cooperation mechanism among the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, with the participation of Cambodia, Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (People's Republic of China), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

MTF 2025 will bring together tourism leaders, innovators and stakeholders from across the Greater Mekong Subregion. Under the theme “Journeying United – Stronger Together”, MTF 2025 highlights the importance of collaboration in tourism planning and development, and underscores the shared responsibility of stakeholders in implementing the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 as a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Mekong Tourism Forum is an annual event dedicated to the tourism industry in the Greater Mekong Subregion. It provides a collaborative platform for tourism stakeholders to discuss the development, marketing and promotion of tourism to, from and within the Greater Mekong Subregion.

To engage key tourism stakeholders, MTF 2025 will feature pre-MTF sessions, including a dedicated private sector workshop in the GMS tourism industry, to foster industry collaboration and dialogue. This will be complemented by interactive sessions, expert insights, and knowledge exchange. It will also enhance connectivity, build partnerships, and shape the future of tourism recovery in the region.

At the forum, delegates discussed promoting partnerships between the government , the private sector and the community to implement the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 towards inclusive and sustainable tourism growth; discussed environmentally and socially responsible tourism strategies. At the same time, they found solutions to manage visitor resources, reduce overcrowding and enhance the resilience of destinations.

As part of the forum, delegates will also participate in a thematic tour introducing Luang Prabang, with detailed information on cultural heritage, sustainability and local crafts.

Initiated by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in 1996, the MTF has played a key role in shaping regional tourism. In today’s ever-changing tourism landscape, the MTF continues to promote the GMS as a single tourism destination, providing a platform to address sub-regional tourism issues and expand marketing networks. By pooling resources, the forum aims to foster cooperation to promote sustainable growth and boost the region’s tourism industry.

In 2024, MTF was successfully held in Lijiang, China, from April 22-26. With the theme “Visionary Journeys Redefining Future Travel”, MTF 2024 brought together tourism experts to discuss innovation and the future of tourism in the GMS, with an emphasis on post-pandemic resilience; thereby contributing to promoting new opportunities for sustainable growth in the region.

XUAN HIEU

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ban-giai-phap-phat-trien-du-lich-tieu-vung-mekong-mo-rong-post886686.html