Nakhon Phanom (Thailand) – June 15, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The Mekong Tourism Forum 2018 will take place in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, from June 26 to 29. It is hosted by the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Government in cooperation with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO). Located in northeastern Thailand on the Mekong River, bordering Laos, the city combines Thai, Laotian, and Vietnamese cultural influences, significant Buddhist sites, modern infrastructure, and excellent road and air connections.

His Excellency Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Kingdom of Thailand, said: “We selected Nakhon Phanom as the host province for the MTF 2018 because we at the Ministry believe that Nakhon Phanom is the center and hub of tourism in the GMS countries.”

This year's theme builds on the 2017 MTF theme, "Prosper with Purpose," and the 2016 MTF theme, "Creating Authentic Experiences." Today's travelers are seeking transformative and enriching experiences. Through mutual understanding and more responsible practices, tourism can be a vital catalyst for positive change in people's lives. The theme, "Transforming Travel – Transforming Lives," will be launched with a keynote address by Jeremy Smith, editor of Travindy and author of the recently published book "Transforming Travel."

Jens Thraenhart, CEO of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), said: “Tourism can be an important catalyst for positive changes in people’s lives through mutual understanding. Transformative travel can also bring about a change in our behavior in the fight against serious problems such as overtourism, inclusive growth and plastic pollution.”

The seminar on Buddhist tourism explores the transformative power of travel. As one of the fastest-growing tourism segments in Asia, Buddhist tourism not only attracts international tourists to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) but also boosts domestic tourism and makes a significant contribution to the local economy. Nakhon Phanom, this year's host of the Mekong Tourism Forum and an important center of Buddhism in Northeast Thailand, is the ideal destination to focus on Buddhist tourism.

His Excellency Mr. Pongpanu Svetrundra, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said: “Thailand is ready to take a leading role in Buddhist tourism in ASEAN and South Asia, and we intend to propose, in cooperation with the member countries, the creation of the ‘ASEAN-South Asia Buddhist Tourism Story Book’ project.”

The “Experience Mekong Collection” showcases over 150 responsible and sustainable small businesses from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) through innovative case studies from each of the GMS countries. Supporting local communities through small-scale tour operators, promoting gender equality, and combating poverty are central goals of the Mekong Tourism Collaboration, comprised of six member countries. The “Experience Mekong Collection” puts these goals into practice and serves as a capacity-building platform to educate other businesses on the application of responsible and sustainable business practices. In addition to the six “Experience Mekong Collection Showcases,” presented in partnership with Mahidol University International College, some members of the “Experience Mekong Collection” will exhibit their services at the Mekong Marketplace.

With MTF 2018, we want to not only give the annual forum a motto, but also embody it. Executives from Ctrip.com, Airbnb, Air Asia, and Inle Heritage Myanmar will connect the theme of "Transformative Travel" to their respective industries in inspiring 15-minute presentations. Following this, this year's session, "Opportunities and Risks in the Mekong Region," will address the critical issue of plastic pollution and invites all interested parties to discuss how the travel and tourism industry can reduce the consumption of single-use plastics in the Mekong region. Single-use plastics are one of the biggest problems of our time, and the travel and tourism industry can contribute to the solution.

The Mekong Tourism Forum 2018 aims to raise awareness about plastic waste and make the event plastic-free. For the second year running, MTF 2018 has designed a limited-edition refillable water bottle as part of the "MTF 2018 Plastic Free Kit".

Finally, eight thematic strategy workshops on topics such as culinary, adventure, and wellness tourism will take place in eight villages of ethnic communities around Nakhon Phanom. By visiting and interacting with the local communities, participants can connect with the local population, while the locals, in turn, have the opportunity to meet visitors from around the world. Thus, MTF 2018 is themed "Travel Changes – Lives Change" and is testing a new conference concept: The workshops will be held in the villages themselves, allowing the local people to actively participate in the event and become part of the experience.

Two integrated programs enhance the overall experience of MTF 2018:

The first "Mekong Mini Movie Festival" kicks off with a half-day conference on film and destination marketing. The focus will be on the potential of film, video, and visual storytelling for destination promotion. Highlights include keynote speeches by Rob Holmes from the award-winning production company GLP Films and a case study on "The Hangover Part II" at the Lebua Hotel in Bangkok. Following the conference, participants will evaluate some of the most inspiring films from the ongoing Mekong Mini Movie campaign. The first winners of the Mekong Mini Movie Festival will be announced at the awards ceremony. In collaboration with the WWF, the festival will also raise awareness of the endangered Mekong dolphins, the festival's mascots.

For the second time, the Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) program showcases some of the most innovative travel startups with the potential to revolutionize traditional practices and offer solutions to key industry challenges. Highlights include the half-day MIST Travel Innovation Conference, as well as presentations from the top startups in the 2018 MIST semi-finals.

The Mekong Marketplace showcases responsible tour operators from the Experience Mekong Collection and also features the Blogger Matchup Lounge and the MIST Startup Lounge. Organized annually by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, the Mekong Tourism Forum provides a platform for stakeholders from the region's public and private sectors to discuss the promotion and marketing of travel and tourism in and within the GMS countries – Cambodia, the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The MTF was last held in Thailand in 2012, specifically in the northern province of Chiang Rai. Last year, the forum took place in June in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Further information about MTF 2018 can be found at www.MekongTourismForum.org. Registration is free for professionals in the travel and tourism industry.

About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office: The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), based in Bangkok, was established with funding from the governments of the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) – Cambodia, the People's Republic of China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Funded by annual contributions from each GMS country, the MTCO acts as the secretariat of the GMS Tourism Working Group. This group comprises senior representatives from the national tourism organizations of the six GMS countries and coordinates and promotes the sustainable tourism development of the GMS in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, as well as the marketing of the Mekong region as a unified travel and tourism destination in cooperation with the public and private sectors. The MTCO operates its award-winning digital platform, MekongTourism.org, as a central hub for promoting responsible and sustainable tourism in the region, and the annual Mekong Tourism Forum, which rotates among the GMS countries.

For further information, please contact: Managing Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, Mr. Jens Thraenhart ([email protected]), Media Coordinator, Mr. Luc Citrinot ([email protected]).