Tourism is flourishing in the Greater Mekong Subregion, and countries are recognizing the need to develop tourism in ways that increase benefits to local communities and protect the environment. Today, governments see well-managed tourism as a powerful tool for reducing poverty, and growing national economies in a fair and equitable way.
GMS member countries and the Bangkok-based Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office are working to promote the Greater Mekong Subregion as a single destination for international visitors, and to encourage communities to enhance the environmental, social and economic benefits of tourism.
This work has included marketing sustainable and pro-poor tourism in the subregion through the development of multi-country tour packages; training government officials and people working in the tourism industry; producing local products for sale to tourists; and preserving the ecological and cultural heritage of key tourist sites in the subregion.
In September 2017, ministers from the six member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion endorsed the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025 to enable more competitive, balanced, and sustainable destination development.
Learn more:
• Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025
• Fourth GMS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (Vientiane, Lao PDR, 20 January 2013)
• Third GMS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 17 January 2011)
• Second GMS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 9 January 2009)
• First GMS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting (Bangkok, Thailand, 21 January 2008)
• Summary of Proceedings
• Mekong Tourism website