Lao Ecotourism Forum triggers debate
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Stratis senior advisor Peter Semone kicked off the forum with a thought-provoking presentation on positioning Indochina on the world’s tourism map. He cautioned that the region risked falling behind competing destinations unless it clearly identified its objectives and boosted its marketing efforts.
The International Ecotourism Society chief Masaru Takayama, dressed in traditional Japanese garb, spoke on the effects of carrying capacity on green travel, saying it should not pose a problem through 2020 in spite of 13% annual growth. He warned of “green-washing”, or the dilution of the definition of true eco-products.
Alfredo Perdiguero, ADB senior economist overseeing the Mekong Tourism Development Project, warned that Indochinese tourism lacked leadership and stressed the need for the Mekong Tourism Office to continue striving to position the region as a single destination.
In an emotionally packed presentation, Dr Paul Rogers, SNV’s Lao senior tourism advisor, introduced the country’s flagship attraction, the “Hidden City” Viengxay caves. The culmination of Dr Rogers’ five-year effort opened five of the nearly 500 caves housing the country’s freedom fighters during the American-led invasion over three decades ago.
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr Sasithara Pichaichannarong addressed the UN Millennium Goal of Sustainable Tourism. She noted that a decade ago 1.2 billion people were living on less that a dollar a day, while today the number has fallen to 800,000.
The forum continues today with the trade-side of the event kicking in. Over 300 tourism industry professionals are taking part.
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