The event has been completed. See you at MTF 2025 in Luang Prabang

Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Join Us at the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Pullman Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
June 25-27, 2025

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF):

The Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) is an annual event dedicated to the tourism industry in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The event provides a cooperative platform for stakeholders in the tourism industry to discuss the development, marketing, and promotion of travel to, from, and within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). It presents an inclusive, interactive, and results-oriented opportunity to encourage public and private sector participation in representing the GMS as a single destination.

Initiated by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in 1996, the MTF has evolved significantly. Revived in 2010 by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), the forum continues to play a crucial role in shaping regional tourism. Amid today’s ever-changing tourism landscape, the MTF remains dedicated to promoting the GMS as a single tourist destination, providing a platform for addressing sub-regional tourism issues, and expanding marketing networks. By pooling resources, the forum aims to foster synergies that drive the sustainable growth and promotion of the region’s tourism sector.

Last year, MTF2024 was successfully hosted in Lijiang, China, from April 22-26, focusing on ‘Visionary Journeys Redefining Tomorrow’s Travel.’ The forum brought together tourism professionals to discuss innovation and the future of travel in the GMS, emphasizing post-pandemic resilience. It contributed to fostering new opportunities for sustainable growth in the region.

Join Us at the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025
“United Journey – Stronger Together”

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) 2025 will bring together tourism leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and beyond under the inspiring theme “United Journey – Stronger Together.” This theme underscores the critical importance of collaboration in tourism planning and development, emphasizing the collective responsibility of stakeholders to implement the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 as a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable growth.

As the tourism industry continues to evolve, the need for collective action has never been more critical. MTF 2025 will provide a dynamic platform for tourism stakeholders across the GMS to engage, share knowledge, and explore actionable strategies for promoting the region’s tourism globally. It will emphasize the significance of working hand-in-hand across sectors—government, private enterprises, and grassroots communities—to ensure that tourism development is equitable and beneficial to all.

To engage key tourism stakeholders, MTF 2025 will feature pre-MTF sessions, including a dedicated workshop for the GMS tourism private sector, fostering collaboration and industry dialogues. The forum will explore how the GMS can lead in sustainable, culturally rich, and immersive tourism through interactive sessions, expert insights, and knowledge exchange. It will also strengthen connections, build partnerships, and shape a resilient future for tourism in the region.

Date and Venue:

June 25-27, 2025
Pullman Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
(Pre-MTF sessions, including the GMS Tourism Associations Workshop, will take place on June 25.)

Join us in Luang Prabang for a journey toward a stronger, more united future for GMS tourism. Together, we can drive sustainability, inclusivity, and shared prosperity.

06 Reasons Why You Should Attend the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

The Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 offers a unique platform for tourism professionals, government officials, and stakeholders across the Greater Mekong Subregion to collaborate and drive collaborative growth. Hosted in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, the forum will focus on “United Journey – Stronger Together,” emphasizing the power of partnership in shaping a sustainable tourism future. Here’s why you should be part of the event:

Build Regional Collaboration: Engage in discussions on fostering partnerships across government, private sectors, and communities to implement the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 for inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.

Address Key Tourism Challenges: Contribute to solutions for managing visitor flows, mitigating overcrowding, and enhancing the resilience of destinations.

Explore Innovative Tourism Development: Learn about the role of technology and innovation in enhancing tourism experiences and supporting sustainable practices, especially for MSMEs and startups.

Promote Sustainable Practices: Discuss environmentally and socially responsible tourism strategies that preserve the GMS’s unique cultural and natural assets while benefiting local communities.

Gain Exclusive Industry Insights: Hear from thought leaders and industry experts on the latest trends and innovations in the tourism sector, shaping the future of the GMS region.

Experience the Host City Luang Prabang: Immerse yourself in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang, a stunning example of sustainable tourism, culture, and heritage in action, serving as the perfect backdrop for MTF 2025.

What to Expect at the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

The Mekong Tourism Forum 2025, hosted in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, will center on “United Journey – Stronger Together.” This theme underscores the critical importance of collaboration in tourism planning and development, highlighting the collective responsibility of stakeholders to implement the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 as a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable growth. Here is what to expect at this year’s MTF:

- A dynamic platform for GMS tourism stakeholders to engage, share knowledge, and explore global strategies for promoting the region.

- The GMS Tourism Private Sector Workshop, a pre-MTF session, bringing together representatives from GMS travel and tour guide associations to exchange insights, discuss challenges, and enhance regional collaboration.

- The launch of the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030, a roadmap for tourism development emphasizing sustainability, digitalization, resilience, and regional cooperation to drive regional tourism growth.

- A keynote speech highlighting the transformative power of collaboration and exploring how working hand-in-hand across borders, sectors, and societal levels fosters a more resilient and thriving GMS tourism landscape.

- An expert’s perspective on effective visitor management, balancing tourism growth with cultural and natural preservation, mitigating overcrowding, and enhancing destination resilience.

- Thematic breakout sessions focusing on agrotourism, gastronomy tourism, culture and heritage, and ecotourism.

- Sustainable tourism exhibition showcasing sustainable and cultural tourism products and services in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

- A technical tour showcasing Luang Prabang through themed tracks, offering insights into cultural heritage, sustainability, and local craftsmanship.

- Networking opportunities, a welcome dinner, the MTF handover ceremony dinner, and chances to expand cross-sector collaboration and partnerships.