Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) was establishing by Cambodia, China, Laos PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to cooperate the economic sector among the six member countries. The GMS Tourism Sector Strategy was approved by the 2^nd GMS Summit to cooperate in the regional tourism sector.

GMS Tourism Ministers reviewed the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy in 2010 and approved to emphasize the three main sector strategies among the seven sector strategies. The three main sector strategies are as follows:

1. Tourism Marketing
2. Human Resources Development
3. Poverty alleviation and Community-based Tourism Development

Updated GMS Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025 was set up and includes the following strategies:

1. Human Resource Development
2. Improve Tourism Infrastructure
3. Enhance Visitor Experiences and Services
4. Creative Marketing and Promotion
5. Facilitating Regional Travel

This updated GMS Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025 was confirmed and announced at the GMS Sub-regional Tourism Ministers Meeting which was held at Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2018.

Myanmar participates in the projects and coordinates actively with Asia Development Bank (ADB), Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and other GMS National Tourism Organizations. GMS Tourism Working Group Meetings are held twice a year and Mekong Tourism Forum is held once a year in GMS member countries alphabetically.

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)

The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) located in Bangkok, Thailand, in the offices of the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok, and was set up with funding from the governments of the six Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries –Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The MTCO, which operates on annual financial contributions from each GMS country, has two primary functions: Tourism Development: MTCO coordinates sustainable pro-poor tourism development projects in the Mekong in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Marketing: MTCO promotes the Mekong region as a single travel and tourism destination.

MTCO is managed by an Executive Director and supported by an Operations Manager. MTCO staff is guided by the GMS Tourism Working Group, comprising senior officials of the six GMS countries’ National Tourism Organizations.

Primary Functions of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office

MTCO serves as the Secretariat of the GMS Tourism Working Group; coordinates subregional tourism development projects and subregional tourism knowledge management; and assists the GMS countries jointly promote the Mekong as a single tourism destination. MTCO receives support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

1) Development – To co-ordinate sustainable pro-poor tourism development projects in the Mekong in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and

2) Marketing – To promote the Mekong region as a single travel and tourism destination.

More information about MTCO >>>> https://www.mekongtourism.org/about/what-is-the-gms/

More information about Mekong Tourism >>> www.mekongtourism.org