ADIREKSARN TO KEYNOTE MEKONG TOURISM FORUM

Mr. Pongpol Adireksarn, former Thai government minister and well-known author, will deliver the keynote presentation at the Sixth Mekong Tourism Forum, March 30-April 1, 2000 at the Bank Hotel, Kunming, China (PRC). Mr. Adireksarn's speech will be called: "Appraising the Jewels of the Mekong -- Coping with Change and Transforming It into Success."

Mr. Adireksarn is a distinguished politician who has played a key role in the development of Thailand's tourism industry. He was the Minister to the Prime Minster's Office in charge of tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand 1995-1996. He was also Chairman of the 1996 PATA Annual Conference. In 1992, Mr. Adireksarn was Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 1997 until April 2000 he was Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Under the pen name of Paul Adirex, he has written four novels: The Pirates of Tarutao, Until the Karma Ends, the King Kong Effect, and significantly, Mekong.

The 2001 Mekong Tourism Forum will focus on the Greater Mekong Sub-region's (GMS's) current tourism developments and the overall objective of promoting Cambodia, Yunnan Province, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam as a single destination. The Forum will also provide updates on marketing, cross-border cooperation, infrastructure and visa procedures.

Panellists will also debate dot-com dilemmas, air access, better management of familiarisation trips and the strengths and weaknesses of the GMS inbound market. Breakout sessions will cover the marketing strengths and weaknesses of the Great Wonders of Suwannaphumi, Hoi An World Heritage City, and An Ecotourism Model: the Case Study of Yunnan Province.

A further highlight of the forum will be the Buyers' and Sellers' Business Session where trade business will be conducted. Pre- and post-event tours offered at special rates will also showcase Yunnan's unique attractions: the Stone Forest, the Qixing Ethnic Village in Kunming, Jade Dragon Mountain and the Black Dragon Pool in Lijiang.

The forum is being organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The Forum will be hosted by the China National Tourism Administration and the Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration.

Registration for PATA members is US$120 per delegate, US$170 for non-members and US$50 for spouses for social functions only. Early birds will receive a US$20 discount for registering before January 15, 2001. The late fee is US$20 for registrations received after March 1, 2001.