Representatives from CLMV+T pose for a group photo at the Regional Workshop on Methods and Strategies
for Implementing Public Private Partnerships in the Tourism Sector in Vientiane Capital on May 3, 2017

(KPL) The Regional Workshop on Methods and Strategies for Implementing Public Private Partnerships in the Tourism Sector for Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam plus Thailand (CLMV+T) is being hosted in Vientiane on May 3-4.

The workshop is being held in the presence of high-ranking officials and both public and private representatives of the tourism sector of from CLMV+T countries.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Savankhone Razmountry said that the workshop is being held for the first time for public and private sectors in CLMV+T countries to exchange points of view on issues in the tourism industry.

Tourism has become a significant economic driver for developing countries worldwide, and the potential of the tourism industry in these countries has been proved to be high in terms of historic, cultural and natural diversity.

In 2016, the number of visitor arrivals in Laos reached 4.2 million, resulting in more than US$724 million generated as income. In  the same year, visitors from CMV+T countries visiting Laos reached over 3 million, including 2 million from Thailand, 900,000 from Vietnam, 16,000 from Cambodia, and over 3,000 from Myanmar.

The increase in visitors’ numbers to Laos indicates the existing win-win cooperation between public and private sectors.

Deputy Minister Savankhone said it was necessary to have a stronger public-private partnership so that tourism can be developed systematically to its maximum as this form of cooperation, once applied properly, would bring considerable benefits to sustainable tourism development for the economic growth.

“All developing countries consider the Public Private Partnership as a good model in tourism promotion and development. For instance, it helps boost community development, generate stable jobs and income for communities, reduce poverty, promote sustainable tourism development with well-preserved cultural identity and heritage and raise socio-economic status for the community with the participation of all sectors,” said Mr Savankhone. 

In July 2016, a CLMV Tourism Ministerial Meeting was held under the theme “Four Countries One Destinations” in Myanmar, stressing the importance of further strengthening collaboration among CLMV countries to develop joint packages of tourism products, facilitate travel and enhance capacity building.

KPL