Mekong tourism looks to strengthen its communication

GUILIN- The 31st Mekong Tourism Forum takes place in Guilin welcoming some hundred participants from all over the world. They will discuss during two days progresses, achievements and issues in tourism for the Greater Mekong Sub-region. It is also an opportunity to look at future developments for the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office. “We recognize that communication is essential to increase the recognition of the region”, indicates Mason Florence, Executive director of the MTCO.

A comprehensive communication plan for the year 2013-2014 was then presented to the working group consisting of tourism delegations from Guangxi and Yunnan for China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

All the current existing sites about Mekong Tourism (Mekongtourism.org, exploremekong.org and mekongresponsibletourism.org) are due to be merged into one single website, Mekongtourism.org. “We realize that information and products demand from the consumers are also interesting the professionals. As new regulation or infrastructure development can also be of interest for travellers. And merging all the websites into one single entity will be simpler to manage and more cost-effective”, adds Mr. Florence.

The new website will be more visual, more convivial with a larger space given to pictures but also the opinion of travellers through a blog and a story telling subdivision. Professionals will have a dedicated section that they will be able to access thanks to a free password. All Mekong stakeholders agreed that the website should be more convivial and increase the awareness of the brand Mekong. It is highly important to be sure that travellers get an idea of what the Mekong” said Pasit Poomchusri, Deputy Director General at Thailand Ministry of Sports and Tourism. “The website should also be available in Chinese as China travellers are an increasingly important market for all of us”, advised Tith Chantha, Director General at Cambodia Ministry of Tourism.

Other measures to accompany MTCO new strategies will include regular press releases, an increased visibility at major travel shows in the region and the organization of fam./press trips to discover GMS new multi-country tours as well as launching awards for the best Mekong tourism destinations and products.

Mr. Florence unveiled also two public/private partnerships. The first one is called Freeplayo.com. Owned and managed by former MTCO Executive Director Stephen Yong and former PATA communication officer David Gillbanks, Freeplayo is an interactive loyalty program highlighting the region’s responsible, sustainable and community-based tourism products. Registered members will earn points and redeem them on selected Mekong products.

A second initiative has been forged with traveldailynews.asia and its publishing company Travel Media Applications for the creation of destinations portraits. The portfolio will highlight multi-country thematic routes in the Mekong and help tourism professionals to identify and market them. Each portrait can be downloaded and print.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews