MEKONG TOURISM FORUM HELD IN YUNNAN’S DALI

The old town of Xizhou (pictured)  hosted part o
the Mekong Tourism Forum 2019. Photo: TTG Asia

This year’s edition of the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) was held on May 28 and 29, hosted by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism of China (MCT) and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province in collaboration with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO).

The two-day event was held in Dali, and the heritage town of Xizhou in Yunnan in south-western China. The theme for this year is Tourism – a driver for cultural heritage preservation and poverty alleviation.

The first day (May 28) started off at the Dali Conference Centre, and feature the official opening, and MTF keynotes and sessions.

Mekong Tourism initiatives for the first day’s session include the launch of a new Mekong Trends Report on Responsible Tourism in the GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion), the introduction of the new Experience Mekong Collection website, and the screening of videos from the Mekong Mini Movie Festival campaign.

One of the two keynotes of MTF 2019 will be Brian Linden, the owner of Linden Centre hotel in Xizhou, looking at how sustainable tourism is shaping the industry development.

The afternoon keynote was given by Mei Zhang, founder of the travel company Wild China. The Dali native will take MTF 2019 delegates on her own personal journey of Yunnan, and relate the importance of connecting culture with tourism to achieve heritage preservation, poverty alleviation, and sustainability.

The day closed with a gala dinner hosted by the People’s Government of Yunnan at Dali International Hotel, next to the conference centre.

The second day (May 29) was hosted in the heritage town of Xizhou, located 20km north of Dali Old Town and part of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in north-western Yunnan.

In the spirit of showcasing sustainability and inclusivity, Jens Thraenhart, executive director of the MTCO, revealed that MTF’s cultural learning experiences was held in small artisan businesses and lunches served in local restaurants.

Read the full article at TTG Asia: http://www.ttgasia.com/2019/05/12/mekong-tourism-forum-heads-to-yunnans-dali/
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
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