tourism inustry in Cambodia and GSM countries in April 2010

GMS countries boost tourism industry to help poverty reduction and social development


Cambodia on April 7 opened The Mekong Tourism Forum in Siem Reap province, in a move to speed up the tourism industry in region and it joined from private and public sector tourism representatives gathering to assess the opportunities arising from the new road corridors that are opening up the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

H.E. Kuosuom Saroeuth, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia, said in opening remark: "The Forum represents an inclusive, cooperative effort to encourage both public and private sector participation to represent the GMS as a single destination.

“We hope to expand our marketing networks, promote the GMS, and its stakeholders, and pool our collective resources to create synergy between the six countries of the region,” he added. The forum included over 170 attendees from GMS.

He added in the forum that Asia and the Mekong region were pulling the travel industry out of its recent recession of the global economic crisis. He pointed out that Cambodia's international visitor arrivals grew in 2009 compared to 2008. the report from the tourism ministry said that during the first three months of 2010, a total of 683, 692 international tourist visited Cambodia, compared to the same period of 2009, this is an increase of 9.87 per cent and over Khmer New Year on the 14-16 April, domestic tourists rose to over 2.6 million-an increase of 23 per cent compared to the same Khmer New Year period in 2009.

The focus of the forum will be on the benefits to tourism that occur from new road corridors linking the region. The GMS countries composed Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the southern Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi, chose the theme "New Roads, New Opportunities" to pinpoint the challenges and opportunities facing tourism in the region.

"The time is right for inspirational and innovative cross-border tourism ideas that utilize the new road links," said Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) Executive Director, Mr Mason Florence. "We're moving from infrastructure provision to promotion and protection in the GMS. That's why the Mekong Tourism Forum will become an annual event again." Mr. Mason quoted as saying by the Mekong tourism forum website.

During the two-day forum, delegates will also hear from Mekong region governments about their plans for cooperation in tourism. Officials will update the audience on visa regulations, airport developments, border crossing changes, and new policies and incentives for the industry,” it added.
Bun Tee, president of the tourist guide association said: we have many works to do to increase cross border exchange like good and services to provide the benefit for the local people, and especially in ASEAN country, which plans to create ASEAN community in 2015. Integration of infrastructure of region will expand tourism industry, he said, adding that it helps create jobs and social development when people can do a great job to diversity attractions and bring in money outside the major destinations.
Leading tour operators, hotel companies, airlines and development organizations are attending the Mekong Tourism Forum 2010 along with tourism officials. The forum discussed on "Pioneering Mekong Tourism Products," "The Path to Community-based Tourism," "How Sustainable Tourism Can Drive Profit," and "The Road Ahead". ###