Chiang Mai to host 9th Mekong Tourism Forum

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will hold the 9th Mekong Tourism Forum, March 26-28, 2004 at the Sheraton Chiang Mai Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

As a venue, Chiang Mai is blessed with natural beauty and a unique culture. It is the hub of economic activity, communications and tourism in northern Thailand.

National tourism offices, government officials, airline leaders, hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents and media from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan, China (PRC) will meet to discuss key issues such as selling the Mekong region as a travel destination and mutual cooperation within the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

The theme for the Forum is "Protect, Position and Promote," which reflects PATA’s strategic agenda. Several issues will be discussed such as Mekong travel product development, private sector investment and tourism as a regional growth engine. Plenary sessions will be built around the theme of protecting, positioning and promoting GMS tourism. 

"There is tremendous potential for Mekong countries to raise their tourism profile," said PATA Vice President, Mr. Peter Semone. "However, it is vital to know how to protect, position and promote this region in order to maximise the benefits without causing negative effects." 

The 9th Mekong Tourism Forum is organised by PATA in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The Forum is being hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Registration for PATA members is US$120 per delegate, US$200 for non-members and PATA Chapter members and US$50 for spouses for social functions only. Earlybirds will receive a US$20 discount for registering before January 30, 2004. A late fee of US$20 will be levied for registrations received after March 1, 2004.