Mekong agrees to responsible tourism
MINISTERS of a grouping of Mekong countries have agreed to set up a framework for sustainable, inclusive and balanced tourism in the region.
Tourism ministers of a grouping of Indochina countries agreed to issue the ACMECS Ministerial Declaration on Responsible Tourism at a forum in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday.
The declaration by the Open ACMECS Ministerial Forum on Responsible Tourism reaffirmed the commitment of the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) to responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balanced tourism development.
The ACMECS member countries will collaborate to set up a responsible tourism policy framework, enhance information exchange and create adequate conditions for responsible use of cultural and natural assets for tourism.
Socio-economic advancement of vulnerable groups is supported through responsible tourism and cooperation between the public |and private sectors with the in-|volvement of international and |non-government organisations.
ACMECS brings together Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The ministers acknowledged the significant growth in tourism in the ACMECS region last year and emphasised the concomitant environmental and social challenges.
They also recognised that responsible tourism can play a significant role in community empowerment which, importantly, contributes to socio-economic development, especially in remote and rural areas in the ACMECS countries.
The countries are conscious that responsible tourism depends on various stakeholders like governments, the private sector, civil society, professionals, media and individuals, including visitors.
In recent years tourism has grown consistently and contributed positively to economic growth in the five member countries, Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien said.
Last year ACMECS members welcomed nearly 52 million international tourists and 8.8 million intra-regional tourists, respectively increases of 17 per cent and 8 per cent from 2014, he said.
The countries would collaborate to develop common solutions and action plans for responsible tourism, creating an attractive image of “five countries, one destination”, he said.
Vietnam’s tourism sector gives priority to sustainable and responsible tourism that enhances socio-economic benefits for the local community, focuses on the cultural heritage and reduces negative impacts on the environment.
In the first eight months of this year the number of international visitors to Vietnam was around 6.5 million, a year-on-year increase of 25 per cent.
The forum was attended by, besides the tourism ministers, executives from the tourism industry and international organisations, and was held in conjunction with the 2016 International Travel Expo that opened on Thursday.
Mekong Tourism Alliance Awards
The Mekong Tourism Alliance Awards (MTAA), given away on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of 2016 International Travel Expo in Ho Chi Minh City, recognise outstanding achievements in the field of tourism in the Mekong sub-region and encourages organisation and agencies to promote tourism.
The MTAA is now in its eighth year and has eight award categories:
Best Airline of the Year: Cambodia Angkor Air (Cambodia); Myanmar Airways International (Myanmar); Thai Airways (Thailand); Lao Airlines (Laos); and Vietnam Airlines (Vietnam).
Best Outbound Travel Operator of the Year: Mekong Discovery (Cambodia); Shan Yoma Travel and Tours (Myanmar); Phuket Jet Tour (Thailand); Wonderland Tour (Laos); Vietnam Travel & Marketing Transports (Vietnam).
Best Inbound Travel Operator of the Year: Charming Cambodia Tours (Cambodia); One Stop Travels and Tours (Myanmar); Phuket E-Magazine (Thailand); Asia Reveal Tours (Laos); Saigontourist Travel Service Company (Vietnam).
The Best Five-star Hotel of the Year: Naga World Hotel (Cambodia); Sule Shangri-La Hotel Yangon (Myanmar); JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi (Vietnam).
Best Resort of the Year: Sokha Hotels & Resorts (Cambodia); Ngwe Saung Yacht Club & Marina (Myanmar); Villa Santi Hotel & Resort (Laos); The Nam Hai Resort Hoi An (Vietnam).
Best Tourism Website of the Year: MT&K Tourism (Myanmar); Mict Laos (Laos); Rex Hotel Saigon (Vietnam).
Best Festival of the Year: That Luang Festival (Laos); Southern Fruit Festival (Vietnam); Songkran Festival (Thailand).
Broadcast Excellence Award for Destination Promotion: The Nation (Thailand); Laos Star (Laos); Oxalis Adventure Tours (Vietnam).
