MEKONG TOURISM MINISTERIAL SUMMIT TO CONVENE IN BANGKOK

Tourism ministers of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand will meet officially for the first time on 6 October 2000 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok to formalise a number of bilateral tourism co-operation agreements and create special group to ensure their future implementation.

The meeting is designed to boost regional travel & tourism co-operation between the four countries as well as under the aegis of the Association of South East Asian Nations and the Greater Mekong Subregion forums. The four ministers include H.E. Mr. Veng Sereyvuth, Minister of Tourism, Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Cheng Sayavong, Vice Minister of Ministry of Commerce and Tourism and Chairman of National Tourism Authority of Lao PDR, H.E. Brig. Gen. Aye Myint Kyu, Deputy Minister and Minister Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar and H.E. Mr. Adisai Bodharamik, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The summit comes in the wake of a series of visits to Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR by the Thai tourism minister, and is intended to consolidate the entire package of Thailand's bilateral tourism agreements with these countries and co-ordinate the various moves being taken to boost tourism flows to and within the entire region.

The ministers will also get a chance to be appraised of the various tourism and infrastructure projects under way region-wide including transportation and telecommunication linkages, travel facilitation, tourism development planning, tourism investment, human resources development, joint promotion/marketing, public and private participation and multi-lateral cooperation.

Said Minister Adisai, “This a landmark meeting, and the first of its kind. There is little doubt that tourism plays a very significant role in all our economies. By keeping each other updated with the ‘big- picture’ plans and developments and further removing obstacles and impediments to investment and visitor flows, we can all benefit and ensure that the region retains its edge in a highly competitive global market.”

He added, “The four countries are all members of the ASEAN as well as the GMS, so the new agreement will lead to a very bright future for the tourism industry not only in the four countries but this entire region.”

After the meeting on 6 October, the four tourism ministers will pay a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai at Government House.

This will be followed by a luncheon hosted by the Thai tourism minister at 13.30 hrs and the signing ceremony of the Implementation Plan for Tourism Co-operation between the four countries. A joint press conference will be held at 17.00 hrs.

The pact will see the four countries work with relevant authorities of their respective countries to open up more border checkpoints, authorise visa-on-arrival and other facilities for visitors, and improve the convenience of travelling by overland routes.

These will vastly facilitate the promotion of a number of joint marketing campaigns, backed by production of collaterals and brochures, plus organisation of familiarisation trips for travel agents and travel writers.

Thailand will also commit to continuing to assist its neighbouring countries in the GMS region with Destination Development Plans and Tourism Master Plans and human resources development.

Various studies, research projects and training programmes will be jointly conducted to improve tourism service standard and the quality of tourism-related personnel.

In order to ensure implementation of the regional tourism co-operation programmes, the four NTOs will form an Implementing Technical Group (ITG) to act as the working mechanism to implement all the agreed tourism agreements and plans.

Said Minister Adisai, “The meeting will not only promote our respective tourism industries but also strengthen friendship and the economic, social and political structures of our countries.”