Sixteen SMEs to Co-Host Mekong Tourism Forum

• “Highly inclusive” Mekong Tourism Forum 2017 to take place June 6-9 in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Sixteen small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Luang Prabang, Laos will serve as Host Venues for Mekong Tourism Forum 2017 (MTF 2017), “Prosper with Purpose”, June 6-9.

The organisers of MTF 2017 – the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, the Luang Prabang Provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) – invited the SMEs to host 90-minute “breakthrough” sessions on June 7 & 8.

The breakthrough sessions will take place in the afternoons; after the Forum’s opening ceremonies, keynote speeches, and keynote panel discussions in the mornings, and the included networking lunches.

Breakthrough session topics include experiential tourism, food tourism, adventure tourism, marketing, hotel investment, aviation, river cruises, heritage tourism, ecotourism and wildlife, human capital development, promoting women-led enterprises, child protection, community-based tourism, and clean-green cities.

Click here for more about the 16 MTF 2017 breakthrough sessions and their Host Venues.

MTCO Executive Director Jens Thraenhart said: “This approach generates enthusiasm and input from a wide range of Luang Prabang tourism stakeholders and positions the UNESCO World Heritage town as the host destination for the event.

“The Forum is the Greater Mekong Subregion’s (GMS’) premier multi-stakeholder travel & tourism industry event so it is appropriate that multiple stakeholders from the host town help to plan and host the event.

“This is also a new MICE concept, which allows small towns like Luang Prabang to become more competitive in the meetings and events segment.”

In addition to inviting Luang Prabang tourism stakeholders to host MTF 2017 sessions, the content itself is being developed by the industry for the industry.

“Each session will be facilitated and led by an expert organization in the specific field,” Mr Thraenhart explained.

He added: “This year’s MTF will be highly inclusive and we hope that delegates find it engaging and memorable, with ample opportunity to experience the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang.”

Eight topical tracks with two sessions each will take place simultaneously at host venues in and around Luang Prabang in the afternoons of June 7 & 8.

When they register (at www.MekongTourism.org/MTF), Forum delegates can choose a different track for each afternoon, allowing each delegate to explore explore four interactive sessions at four distinct Host Venues.

Click here for more about the 16 MTF 2017 breakthrough sessions and their Host Venues.