The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), the secretariat of the Tourism Working Group of the six
national tourism organizations of the Greater Mekong Subregion
(GMS), has decided to change the focus and name of its “Mekong
Innovative Startups in Tourism” initiative.
Originally limited to only startups in
the two categories of travel tech and travel social enterprises,
the evolved “Mekong Innovations in
Sustainable Tourism” (MIST) program will now focus on innovations in sustainable
tourism, resilience, and climate change in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Nominations are open to any business entity, from
startups to established corporates, from NGOs to governments, and
from individuals to partnerships, coming from the six member
countries of the GMS, as well as from all over the
world if the initiative can be applied to driving sustainability
and resilience in the Mekong Region.
Jens Thraenhart,
Executive Director of MTCO, said, “This is an important and significant
step forward to continue to innovate our initiatives to stay
relevant to the changing needs of the tourism industry, during and
post the current COVID19 pandemic. Keeping our powerful MIST
brand, the focus will be on innovative and creative projects and
concepts driving sustainability and resilience to recover travel
and tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion.”
In the first quarter of 2021, MIST will invite
nominations from startups, established companies, government
organizations, NGOs, academia, media, as well as individuals,
students, and partnerships. For an entry to be accepted it needs
to be an operating initiative or project that drives sustainable
tourism and resilience.
The MIST jury, made up of members of the
Mekong Tourism Advisory Group (MeTAG) and the Swiss-based
Ecosystem builder Seedstars, will judge
the final pitches during a hybrid MIST Forum planned for the
second half of 2021 in Bangkok.
Nominations are being accepted
on the MIST website starting
today, until 31 April 2021.
Existing MIST nominations are being considered
based on the new criteria.
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