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

Mekong Tourism Forum 2026

Pan Pacific Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar
June 16-18, 2026

MTF 2026 has concluded — thank you and see you at MTF 2027!

Yangon, Myanmar

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, MTF2025 was hosted in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang, Laos, from June 24–27. The forum gathered tourism leaders and stakeholders from across the GMS under the theme “United Journey – Stronger Together,” emphasising collaboration and the collective implementation of the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030 for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Join Us at the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026
“Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose”

The Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) 2026, themed “Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose,” will be organised by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), and the National Tourism Organisations of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

The forum will be held back-to-back with the 57th GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting and the MTCO Board Meeting, emphasising its role as both a policy-relevant and industry-facing platform. A technical workshop on practical tools for evidence-based destination marketing in the GMS will precede the forum, aimed at enhancing demand insights, campaign design, and marketing intelligence among GMS tourism authorities and partners.

Date and Venue:
16-18 June 2026
Yangon, Myanmar

The forum event on 17 June 2025 will feature a keynote address, an insight session on tourism outlook and travel trends for purpose-driven travellers, and an experience-sharing session highlighting practical lessons from community-based tourism initiatives. The programme will also include panel discussions on people-centred tourism and the role of living culture and creative expression in shaping meaningful travel experiences. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore a three-day GMS Gastronomy Tourism Exhibition Space and engage in professional networking and collaboration with GMS tourism stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sectors.

6 Reasons Why You Should Attend the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026

Tourism is ultimately about people. It is about the communities that welcome visitors, the traditions that shape destinations, and the connections created through travel. Bringing these voices and perspectives together, the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) 2026 convenes tourism leaders, policymakers, practitioners, and partners from across the Greater Mekong Subregion and beyond.

The forum offers a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, gain insights into emerging tourism trends and market developments, and learn from practical experiences shaping the region’s tourism future. It also provides a space to build partnerships, strengthen regional cooperation, and explore how tourism can deliver meaningful benefits for communities and destinations across the Mekong.

Engage with Regional Leaders and Changemakers: Connect with tourism leaders, policymakers, industry professionals, and development partners shaping the future of tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Explore People-Centred Tourism Approaches: Discover how tourism can support livelihoods, empower communities, and safeguard cultural heritage while delivering meaningful travel experiences.

Gain Insights into Travel Trends and Market Intelligence: Learn from experts presenting the latest tourism outlook, emerging travel behaviours, and insights into the growing demand for purpose-driven travel.

Exchange Practical Experiences from the Ground: Hear real-world stories and lessons from practitioners designing tourism initiatives that create shared value for communities and travellers alike.

Strengthen Regional Collaboration: Build partnerships and connect with stakeholders from the government, private sector, civil society, and creative industries across the GMS.

Experience Yangon and Local Tourism Initiatives: Participate in a technical tour offering first-hand insights into tourism initiatives in and around Yangon, Myanmar.

Discover What Awaits at MTF 2026

With the theme “Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose,” the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 highlights a shared commitment to place people at the centre of tourism development. This means supporting local livelihoods, safeguarding culture and heritage, and fostering meaningful connections between visitors and host communities, while promoting responsible, purposeful travel that contributes to inclusive and sustainable development across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Forum Highlights:

Dynamic Forum Platform: A platform for GMS tourism stakeholders to connect, exchange knowledge, and explore strategies for promoting the region.
Pre-Forum Technical Workshop: “Data to Decisions: Practical Tools for Evidence-Based Destination Marketing in the GMS,” strengthening demand insights, campaign design, and marketing intelligence among GMS tourism authorities and partners.
Tourism Exhibition: Showcasing sustainable tourism products, destinations, and initiatives across the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Keynote Address – Tourism for People: A Force for Good: Reflecting on tourism as a people-centred endeavour and its potential to generate meaningful benefits for communities.
Insight Session – Tourism Outlook and Travel Trends for Purpose-Driven Travellers: Presenting market intelligence and emerging travel trends shaping tourism in the Mekong region.
Experience Sharing Session – From Community to Travellers: Practical Lessons from the Ground: Highlighting practical approaches to locally rooted tourism that create shared value.
Panel Discussions: Exploring key themes including People at the Centre of Tourism and Living Culture and Creative Expression.
Networking Opportunities: Including a welcome dinner and the MTF handover ceremony dinner, fostering collaboration across the public, private, and civil society sectors.
Technical Tour in Yangon, Myanmar: Offering first-hand insights into local tourism initiatives and the city’s cultural and heritage attractions.