Mekong Tourism has 2016 will stage a half-day Mekong Tourism Investment Summit after yesteryear’s success in Sihanoukville, Cambodia from July 5-7.
The Executive Director at Mekong Institute, Dr Watcharas Leelawath would give an overview of the investment climate in Greater Mekong Sub-region, followed by various panels on infrastructure, aviation and hotel development. The panel led by Dr Leelawath would be including members from GMS countries represented by esteemed personnel like Mr Inthy Deuansavan (CEO, Green discovery – Laos), Mr Thourn Sinan (CEO, B2B Travel – Cambodia), Mr Luzi Matzig (CEO, Asian Trails, Thailand). The issues that would be taken up for later include visa regulations, border crossing changes, airport developments, and new policies and incentives for the tourism sector.
Long time GMS expert Mr Don Ross, Managing Director of TTR Weekly, would moderate the aviation panel to focus on the air panel to develop secondary destinations. The airlines are represented by Ms Desiree Bandall from Air Asia, Mr Peter Wiesner from Bangkok Airways, and Captain Woranate Laprabang from Thai Smile.
The hotel investment panel would discuss investment opportunities and challenges for investors, operators, and brands in the region. Paola Ornelli-Bock, Vice President at HVS would serve as the moderator to this panel and feature Mr Rory Hunter of Song Saa Island, and Mr Sokun Chanpreda of Shinta Mani, two of the most recognised properties in Cambodia. Other brands include Mr John Kaplan of Minor Group and Mr Vishal Daga of Six Senses Resorts & Spas.
The River Cruise panel, moderated by Mr Peter Semone, the author of the UNWTO Mekong River-based Product Development Report, released this year, will include Mr John Boyd of Pandaw Cruises, and Mr Maarten Perdok of Heritage Line. Mr Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Mr Eric Ricaurte, CEO of Greenview will address the delegates by aligning developments to sustain practices to promote authentic experience. This year, the Mekong Tourism Investment Summit is produced in collaboration with the Global Tourism Economy Forum (Macau, PR China), and HVS.
This year’s Tourism Forum would be hosted by Cambodia Ministry of Tourism (MoT) at the Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville on the beautiful Southern Coast of Cambodia from July 5 to July 7. More information can be gathered from www.MekongTourismForum.org.
