Community tourism pushed at MTF

DANANG There were calls to boost partnerships and improve connectivity during the main session of the recent Mekong Tourism Forum.
Around 100 representatives of Greater Mekong Sub-region governments and private sector tourism leaders met in Danang for the 19th Mekong Tourism Forum in mid-June.
Asian Development Bank’s Southeast Asia tourism expert, Steven Schipan, told forum delegates it was necessary to develop tourism in ways that would benefit communities and ensures environmental protection.
inside no 9ADB is involved in tourism initiatives in the GMS as part of a wider programme to flight poverty and create jobs through tourism.
But after close to 20 years of support and investment in studies and providing loans for tourism related infrastructure the sub-region lacks brand awareness.
Statistics revealed that around 52 million tourists visited the GMS in 2013, up 17% from 2012. Since 2002, the number of foreign arrivals to the region has increased about 12% per year, but despite the improvements the six GMS countries that also includes two provinces in China account for just 3% of the global tourism market share.
The 2016 Mekong Tourism Forum will be hosted by Cambodia.

sourced:ttrweekly.com