CHIANG
MAI, 10 June 2016: A new alliance to promote flight connectivity and tourism
packages among destination partners — Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and
Thailand — should boost the region’s tourism.
Tourism
representatives from the CLMVT countries formally launched the newest marketing
alliance at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2016, Thursday.
Tagged
CLMVT, the group is will conduct joint tourism promotions under a common banner
and logo “CLMVT Link: Prosper Together”.
During
the launch press conference, Thursday, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor,
Yuthasak Supasorn, said country alliances are used as a key strategic tool to
boost tourism, which in turn strengthens economies.
“Today is
the first step for CLMVT, we are joining hands to demonstrate we can
cooperation to encourage the region tourism industry.”
The
alliance has its roots in the an earlier grouping known as CLMV that was
established to promote aviation routes and tour packages between Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. It was first convened during the ITE a trade show in
Ho Chi Minh City 11 years back.
In
2013, the tourism leaders from the four
nations extended an invitation to Thailand, through the Ministry of Tourism and
Sports, to join the alliance and informal meetings have been held since as a
sub-committee of ASEAN. Now at TTM the
alliance has been formerly launched to the trade.
“To boost
the region’s tourism industry, TAT has talked with local airlines such as Thai
Airways International, Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia and Nok Air to
study ways to open more direct flights in the region.”
Upcoming
intra-regional direct flights will include Thai AirAsia’s new daily Bangkok –
Vientiane flight starting 1 July. Bangkok Airways is considering a new daily
flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang possibly in October. Meanwhile, Nok Air plans to launch three
weekly flights between Bangkok and Mandalay around October or November this
year.
“The
increase in airline connectivity will boost regional tourism….CLMVT has
potential to promote tourism products and extend the footprint of tour packages
across the five countries,” Yuthasak explained.
ASEAN
countries welcomed slightly more than 98 million international tourists to the
region, last year, up 7.3%, the TAT governor noted. CLMVT members represented
around 26.8 million of those arrivals in 2010, rising to 44.42 million in 2014,
or about 42% of the total visitors to ASEAN.
“These
statistics show the potential of the CLMVT market as well as its importance to
the ASEAN Community. CLMVT countries is a sub-grouping of ASEAN, but if it can
strengthen unity, it will ultimately benefit the ASEAN platform.”
Besides
air connectivity the group will develop tour package routes, attend roadshow
and travel fairs to boost travel.
Cambodia’s
Ministry of Tourism deputy general director, Try Chhiv, said that spreading the
flow of tourists from packed attractions to secondary destinations was a
priority.
“Cambodia
will promote green sustainable tourism…to the coastal area and northeast
regions to take the pressure off Siem Reap, home of Angkor Wat.”
Lao PDR’s
Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism’s Public Relations Division
Tourism Marketing Department director, Manisakone Thammavongxay, agreed that
increasing aviation and transport links between the countries would help
encourage the region’s tourism industry.
Myanmar’s
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism deputy general director, Khin Than Win, said
more low-cost airline services were needed to fill the connectivity gaps in the
region.
“Currently,
only Thai AirAsia and Nok Air offer low-cost services to Myanmar….increasing
low-cost travel will help to boost tourism….in addition, we will open more
border checkpoints to encourage tourism and trade in border provinces.”
Vietnam
National Administration of Tourism’s Tourism Marketing Department deputy
general director, Vu Nam, said familiarisation trip for tour operators and
media would be hosted in CLMVT region.
“Besides
air connectivity between destinations in the region, we also need to create
more tourism products and link destinations through themed tour packages.”
Commenting
on criticism that the alliance would duplicate the work of the Mekong Tourism
Office, established and funded by the same five countries plus China, the TAT
governor countered: “There are many platforms promoting tourism… we are part of
the GMS (Greater Mekong Sub-region) and also ASEAN, all platforms we use to
promote tourism.”
Funding
will be on a project basis, he said, probably split five ways, but in some
instances a lead partner could underwrite a bigger share of a project’s costs.
The group
has convened as a sub-committee under ASEAN’s tourism umbrella. Now the
alliance says it will embark on joint promotions starting with attendance at
trade show and the exchange of tourism information to be channelled through
country tourism offices worldwide.
Thailand has 26 offices overseas that will assist in distribution.
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