“Four Southeast Countries - One Attractive Destination”

During the last years, tourism of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam has been witnessing impressive breakthroughs and become an important momentum for national socio-economic development. According to tourism experts, the demand for destination connection of tourists is very large. 4 tourists out of 10 tourists coming to Vietnam connect their visit to other destinations and 3 of whom connect their visit to destinations located in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Destination connectivity helps to enhance competitiveness and save promotion cost. This is also a positive signal for tourism development cooperation among the four nations. Thanks to this initiative, the increase in the number of tourists of the four countries is always greater than the average rate of ASEAN and the world. Particularly, in 2010, despite heaps of challenges from global economic fluctuations, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar still receive 10.9 million tourists (approximately 25 percent higher than that of previous year).

 

Currently, completion of infrastructure construction, especially transport infrastructure system and legal procedures are being accelerated to create comprehensiveness and to maximize connectivity effectiveness. Furthermore, international tourists can easily access four said tourism destinations via direct flights, waterway or by road. Commitments made by Ministers to turn four countries into a single destination will serve as a good condition for boosting development cooperation with a view to exploiting potentials and strengths of the four Greater Mekong Subregion nations. 

 

Tourism Ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar strongly believe that with advantages in economic development potentials, experiences in tourism development and regional transport connection, etc., Vietnam will act as a bridge and a transit destination. In addition, Vietnam’s experiences in infrastructure system and tourism development are valuable for the three countries to take into consideration.

 

In response to high recommendations of other nations for Vietnam, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh says that the cooperation for tourism development among Cambodia, Lao and Vietnam already shows its efficiency. After years of implementing the objective of “Three countries – One destination”, the number of international tourists coming to the three countries increases significantly. And now, the new element, Myanmar will enhance this relationship. However, such existing challenges as incomprehensive infrastructure systems, limited awareness capability, natural disasters, diseases or economic recession, etc. cannot be ignored. As such, it is necessary that high quality tourism products be developed and investments in infrastructure system be prioritized.

 

Mr Thong Khon, Cambodian Minister of Tourism, states that collaboration for tourism development among Greater Mekong Subregion nations has really added bright colors to Cambodia’s tourism sector. In 2010, Vietnam tops the list of international tourists visiting Cambodia. This country welcomes 470,000 Vietnamese tourists among 2.5 million tourists to Cambodia. In 2011, it is estimated that Cambodia will attract 2.7 million international tourists. The number of tourists from Vietnam is estimated to reach 550,000.

 

Since the demand for destination connectivity of tourists is huge, Mr Nguyen Thuong Hoang Hai, representative of Vietnam Airlines proposes that the four countries promulgate policies on loosening visa procedures for nations with large tourist sources from Northeast Asia, North America and Australia. More importantly, it is necessary to implement the commitment of “one visa entitles travel in four countries”. This endeavour will help to boost the number of tourists as well as turnover from tourism for the four countries, creating an important financial source for reinvestment in infrastructure system, transport system and improvement of service quality, etc. and thereby creates every favourable condition for prosperous development of tourism sector of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.