Maintaining the Flow: Smart Visitor Management in the Mekong

Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)

A New Era of Tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion

As international travel rebounds across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), countries are embracing a vital shift from quantity to quality. Beyond chasing numbers, tourism leaders are focused on protecting cultural and environmental assets, enriching visitor experiences, and ensuring the long-term benefits of tourism reach local communities. This movement is transforming the way travel is managed and delivered across the region.

Balancing Growth with Sustainability

The post-pandemic resurgence in arrivals has prompted destinations like Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR to reassess how they accommodate visitors. Traditional hotspots are facing capacity concerns, while lesser-known destinations are now being spotlighted as part of regional tourism dispersion strategies. Smart visitor management has emerged as the key to ensuring that growth remains both responsible and resilient.

Viet Nam’s Vision: Longer Stays and Wider Exploration

Viet Nam has introduced a 10-year Golden Visa program, designed to encourage longer-term stays and spread tourism activity beyond the country’s major cities. The aim is to direct high-value visitors toward emerging destinations, promoting rural and cultural tourism, and reducing strain on places like Ha Long Bay and Hoi An. This long-view approach is expected to support more inclusive economic development.

Thailand Streamlines for a Smarter Arrival

Thailand is reimagining how tourists arrive with its Digital Arrival Card, a seamless entry process that integrates immigration, health, and tourism data. By making it easier to track visitor flows and preferences, the system supports better crowd control at key sites and enables tailored destination marketing. It’s part of a broader national effort to combine digital transformation with tourism sustainability.

Lao PDR Leads with Green Certification

In Lao PDR, Luang Prabang is taking steps to become a certified Green Destination. This globally recognized status reflects a commitment to environmental protection, waste management, and community-based tourism. It aligns with the city’s growing popularity and ensures that its unique charm and heritage remain intact, even as visitor numbers rise.

Infrastructure for the Future

With new airline routes opening across the region, Cambodia is investing heavily in next-generation airport infrastructure to prepare for sustainable growth. Improved air connectivity is making it easier for tourists to access second-tier cities and rural attractions, thus helping to spread the tourism footprint more evenly and reduce congestion at traditional hubs.

Regional Collaboration at the Mekong Tourism Forum

The growing push for smarter visitor management will be the central theme at the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025, set to take place from 25 to 27 June in Luang Prabang. The forum will bring together public and private stakeholders to discuss best practices, share innovations, and explore regional policies that promote community engagement, preserve heritage, and support regenerative tourism.

Where Tourism Meets Responsibility

The Mekong region is at a critical crossroads. With the right tools, policies, and partnerships, tourism can remain a powerful force for development and conservation. From high-tech solutions to grassroots initiatives, the movement toward smarter tourism is not just necessary—it is already underway.

Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Dates: 25–27 June 2025
Location: Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
Official Website: https://www.mekongtourism.org

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