Mekong Tourism

Travelling to Luang Prabang, the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 host city, is more convenient than ever.

Fly into Luang Prabang International Airport, Laos’s second-largest airport, with regular domestic and regional flights connecting from Vientiane, Bangkok, Hanoi, and beyond. Alternatively, the high-speed Boten–Vientiane Railway, part of the Laos-China Railway, offers a fast and seamless train journey through the Greater Mekong Subregion, with Luang Prabang as a key stop.

With travel becoming easier, this UNESCO World Heritage city is ready to welcome a vibrant gathering that will inspire new paths for tourism across the region.

For more information on MTF2025, please visit https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-forum-2025/

Hua Hin: A model for sustainable tourism in Thailand

Hua Hin, a serene coastal town in Thailand, is emerging as a blueprint for sustainable tourism. Amidst global travel challenges, it exemplifies how destinations can balance growth with authenticity. Key strategies include diversifying tourist markets beyond traditional sources, enhancing infrastructure and digital services, and promoting eco-friendly, community-based experiences like homestays and local crafts. These initiatives not only enrich visitor experiences but also support local economies and preserve cultural heritage. Hua Hin's approach offers valuable insights for other regions aiming to foster resilient and inclusive tourism. 🏖️🌱🏡



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Luang Prabang welcomed 1,167,581 visitors in the first quarter of 2025—a 162% increase compared to the same period last year, bringing in over USD 584 million in revenue. According to the Luang Prabang Provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, this included 459,091 domestic and 708,490 international travelers. In 2024, the province surpassed expectations by attracting 2.3 million visitors, more than doubling its original target of 900,000.

As the host city of the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025, Luang Prabang is setting the stage for regional dialogue, collaboration, and new possibilities for tourism in the years ahead.

For more information on MTF2025, please visit https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-forum-2025/

Lao PDR and Thailand complete final segment of fifth friendship bridge to boost regional connectivity

On June 6, Laos and Thailand marked the joining of the final segments of their fifth friendship bridge, a 1,350-meter cable-stayed crossing over the Mekong River linking Thailand’s Beungkan province with Laos’ Bolikhamsai province. Once operational by late 2025, the bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time and distance for cross-border trade, providing the shortest land route from northeastern Thailand to Viet Nam’s Vung Ang Port via Laos. Officials emphasized its role in strengthening regional economic integration, supporting Laos’ ambition to become a connectivity hub, and enhancing transport links across Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, and beyond.

For more details, visit https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-bridge-to-spur-momentum-for-viet-nam-laos-thailand-connectivity/



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Tourism that focuses solely on profits can widen inequality. However, when tourism is inclusive and community-based, it creates long-term social, cultural, and environmental value. Recognizing this, the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) promotes tourism models that place communities at the center of development, ensuring that growth is equitable, sustainable, and locally meaningful.

MTF2025 in Luang Prabang offers a unique platform for stakeholders across the Greater Mekong Subregion to take united steps forward, strengthening collaboration and advancing inclusive, responsible tourism for all.

For more information on MTF2025, please visit https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-forum-2025/

Sustainability with soul: Mei Zhang takes us inside the WildChina approach

Meet Mei Zhang, the visionary founder of WildChina, who has redefined sustainable travel in China for over 25 years. In this inspiring interview, Mei shares how her roots in Dali, Yunnan—and a life journey that spans Harvard and McKinsey—led her to create deeply immersive, community-first travel experiences. From reviving ancient trade trails like the Tea Horse Road to empowering artisans and restoring cultural heritage in remote villages, WildChina blends environmental responsibility with authentic human connection. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, WildChina is launching new GUDAO trails that reconnect travelers with China's untold stories and landscapes, especially across the Mekong basin.

Read more about how Mei believes tourism can—and should—leave a lasting legacy for both travelers and host communities. Visit MTCO website at https://mekongtourism.org/sustainability-with-soul-mei-zhang-takes-us-inside-the-wildchina-approach/



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The Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 is just around the corner! Later this month, Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage city rich in culture and natural beauty, will welcome tourism leaders, innovators, and community advocates from across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Get ready for an interactive platform that inspires conversations and fosters collaborative action focused on inclusive, sustainable tourism, shaping the future of travel in our region.

For more information on MTF2025, please visit https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-forum-2025/

MTF 2025 Registration Is Now Closed

Thank you for your overwhelming interest! Registration for the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 is now officially closed, as all slots have been filled. We’re excited to welcome our confirmed participants to Luang Prabang this June.

Stay tuned — we’ll continue sharing behind-the-scenes updates, speaker highlights, and insights into the event themes.

Thailand unveils THB 100 billion entertainment complex to boost tourism and year-round spending

Thailand has introduced plans for a THB 100 billion privately funded entertainment complex aimed at revitalizing tourism, enhancing year-round attractions, and increasing visitor spending. The integrated destination will include indoor stadiums, exhibition halls, amusement parks, museums, high-end dining, and cultural showcases like OTOP centers. With strict regulations on casino operations, the government emphasizes transparency, legal safeguards, and social responsibility. The project is expected to raise average tourist spending, generate significant state revenue, create thousands of jobs, and contribute up to 0.8% annually to Thailand’s GDP. Legislation is expected to move forward within the current administration’s term.

For more details, visit https://mekongtourism.org/thailand-unveils-thb-100-bn-entertainment-complex-to-rival-singapores-casino-success/



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Inclusive tourism growth goes beyond economic benefits—it empowers local communities by involving them in tourism planning and decision-making. This ensures that tourism benefits are shared widely, fostering pride, preserving cultures, and supporting sustainable development. The Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 will explore ways to harmonize policies, foster partnerships, and align efforts across the Greater Mekong Subregion to position GMS tourism for sustainable and inclusive growth on the global stage.

For more information on MTF2025, please visit https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-forum-2025/

Lao PDR Tourism Minister shares vision for sustainable tourism ahead of MTF 2025

Lao PDR is embracing a future of inclusive, sustainable, and connected tourism. In an exclusive interview, H.E. Suanesavanh Vignaket, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, shares how the country is advancing community-based tourism, investing in green infrastructure, and strengthening regional cooperation across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

📍As Luang Prabang—recently named one of the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories—gets ready to host the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025, this timely conversation reflects the spirit of MTF: fostering sustainable growth through shared values and collaboration.

🌿 Don’t miss the full interview and discover what makes Lao PDR a rising star in Southeast Asian tourism. 👉 Read here: https://mekongtourism.org/leading-with-sustainability-lao-pdr-shares-vision-for-tourism-growth-ahead-of-mtf-2025/

🕒 Last chance to register! Don’t miss the opportunity to join tourism leaders and changemakers at MTF 2025 in Luang Prabang. Registration will close soon!
🔗 Sign up now: https://mekongtourism.org/mtf2025

Among this year’s breakout sessions at the Mekong Tourism Forum, delegates will have the opportunity to explore how ecotourism supports conservation and promotes eco-friendly practices. The session will take place in a natural tourism setting and will be moderated by Mr. Masaru Takayama, the Founding Chair of the Asian Ecotourism Network. The panelists for the session include:
• Mr. Inthy Danesavanh, President of the Lao Tourism Association and Founder of the Inthira Group
• Ms. Acksonsay Rattanavong, Sustainable Tourism Advisor, Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR
• Ms. Julie Beaufrere, Country Manager, Khiri Travel Laos

Other breakout sessions will cover gastronomy tourism, agrotourism, and culture & heritage — each contributing to a shared commitment to sustainability across the GMS.

Join us at MTF2025 in Luang Prabang, June 25-27, 2025.

To learn more about MTF2025 and register, please visit https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-forum-2025/