Mekong Tourism Forum to Take Place in Danang 16-19 June 2015

The 2015 Mekong Tourism Forum will be hosted in Danang by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam in Danang City from 16 to 19 June 2015.

Under the theme, 'Unlocking the Potential of the Mekong Region via Innovative Partnerships', the event will showcase emerging tourist destinations and trends in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

Business and government leaders will assess the latest tourism developments and investment opportunities along the regional road networks linking Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the China's provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi.

The Mekong Tourism Forum will feature top keynote speakers and interactive panel debates. In order to increase relevance, various sideline events will be staged, including the Mekong Tourism Investment Summit, and the E-Tourism Asia Boot Camp.

The Mekong Tourism Investment Summit will be produced by HVS. Chris Pucher, Director of the HVS Bangkok Office said, "HVS is excited to produce the Mekong Tourism Investment Summit, supporting the overall Mekong Tourism Forum, slated to become an annual one-day event as part of the Mekong Tourism Forum. Now more than ever, the region is in a pivotal growth phase. With markets such as Myanmar opening, industry leaders need to come together to ensure more responsible and sustainable tourism development."

For the fourth time, the E-Tourism Asia Boot Camp will focus on four key areas, including social media and mobile marketing to key target markets including Europe, North America, and Asia; how to work with bloggers and key digital influencers; understanding online distribution and working with online travel agencies; and marketing to affluent Chinese consumers via digital and social media.

The Mekong Tourism Advisory Group Meeting will meet to discuss the new Mekong Tourism Marketing Strategy & Action Plan 2015-2020 and how the public and private sector can partner and collaborate in promoting the GMS as a single tourism destination.

"We are looking forward to hosting this influential networking gathering and invite the world to Vietnam's beautiful central coast," said Dinh Ngoc Duc, Director General, International Cooperation Department, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. "We are in a pivotal time when innovative partnerships are essential to unlock the potential of the Mekong region and strengthen collaboration between the private and public sectors."

Jens Thraenhart, newly appointed Executive Director of the Bangkok-based Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, said, "Today villages and towns in the GMS are benefiting from the arrival of tourists where there were none before. At the Mekong Tourism Forum we will discuss investment prospects and hear from tourism operators who are already taking advantage of opportunities along the new overland corridors."

Luzi Matzig, Chairman of Asian Trails Group, added, "The Mekong Tourism Forum provides great inspiration to companies seeking to innovate and grow across the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. Over the years the Forum has proven to be a great source of synergy between grass roots operators, multi-national hotel chains, destination management companies, NGOs,government bodies and the media."

The 2015 Mekong Tourism Forum is free to attend for qualified industry professionals.