Mekong Tourism Forum 2015 introduces new format

BANGKOK - A new format and a range of special events will be part of the 2015 Mekong Tourism Forum, which takes place in Da Nang city in central Vietnam, June 15 to 19. In a new departure, the three-decade old event is now free of charge for all professionals of the tourism and travel industry. The Mekong Tourism Forum is supported by six countries of the GMS Greater Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, China PRC, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), the Asia Development Bank (ADB), and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO). MTCO Executive Director, Jens Thraenhart, said the new look Mekong Tourism Forum represents a perfect opportunity to track progress of the GMS while exploring new ways to create sustainable tourism in a region that attracts 50 million tourists a year. "We decided not to charge a registration fee this year to be fully inclusive. Not charging will make it easy for the industry to participate at the main symposium, a social media boot camp, a marketing workshop, and the investment summit," said Thraenhart. Four events in a week During MTF 2015, the main symposium will be emceed by Peter Greenberg, award-winning author and CBS News TV Host for the Travel Channel. The four events comprise: The Mekong Tourism Marketing Workshop, produced in collaboration with UNWTO, PATA, ATTA, GSTC, and Bangkok-based Thammasat University on Monday June 15; the Mekong Tourism Social Media Boot-Camp produced by Digital Innovation Asia on Tuesday June 16; the Mekong Tourism Investment Summit, produced in cooperation with HVS, Horwath HTL, and C9 Hotel works on Wednesday June 17; and the Mekong Tourism Symposium on Thursday June 18. Among special events organized during the MTF will be the screening of a movie called Gringo Trails on Wednesday June 17. The film shows the unanticipated impact of tourism on cultures, economies and the environment. The MTF will end on Friday June 19 with post-event tours to explore the Da Nang/Hoi An region as well as discovering a community-based tourism village. sourced:traveldailynews.asia