Preliminary Forum Programme


ASEAN Without Borders: Roadmap for Development of Ecotourism Clusters and Tourism Corridors



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Tuesday 21 June 2016

Arrival of delegates. Meet and greet at Pakse airport
Evening cocktail hosted by NZAid

Wednesday 22 June 2016

Registration and arrival of National and International Delegates

OPENING CEREMONY
ASEAN Tourism Ministers, ASEAN Plus 3 Ministers, Secretary-General of ASEAN and Secretary-General of UNWTO pay courtesy call on Prime Minister of Lao PDR
ASEAN National Anthem
Song of "Laos, Simply Beautiful" performed by Alexzandra and Sam
Champasak Cultural Performance
ASEAN Ecotourism Video
Welcome Speech by H.E. Governor of Champasak Province
Remarks by H.E Prof. Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara, Minister, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR
Opening Remark by H.E. Dr Lim Hong Hin, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN
Congratulatory Remarks by Mr. Xu Jing, Director, Regional Program for Asia and the Pacific, World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Spain
Opening Speech of the ASEAN Ecotourism Forum 2016 by H.E Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao People’s Democratic Republic
“Strike the Gong” Opening by H.E Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Visit Green Tourism Exhibition Booths
Coffee break

SETTING THE SCENE

ASEAN Roadmap for Development of Ecotourism Clusters and Tourism Corridors & ASEAN Ecotourism Community Network (AECN)
Mr Sounh Manivong, Director-General, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lao PDR

SESSION 1 - KEYNOTE ADDRESSES


THE EUROPEAN GREEN BELT: INSPIRATIONS FOR ASEAN ECOTOURISM CORRIDOR

Mr Boris Erg, IUCN Director for East Europe and Central Asia, SERBIA

The European Green Belt connects more than 16. Almost 150 governmental and non-governmental organisations from these countries have come together in the Green Belt Initiative. The Green Belt connects National Parks, Nature Parks, Biosphere Reserves and transboundary protected areas as well as non-protected areas along or across borders, and promotes regional development initiatives in the field of nature conservation. What are the secrets and tips we can learn from this monumental initiative providing the inspiration and motivaton for ASEAN Ecotourism Corridors?



GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM CLUSTERS AND THEMATIC CORRIDORS

Prof Dr Amran Hamzah, Centre of Innovative Planning and Development (CIPD), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, MALAYSIA

In Malaysia’s National Ecotourism Plan, 60 clusters located along major access roads and rivers were identified for development, over the next 10 years. What are the key challenges and opportunities that can be derived from such planning concepts? What are the enablers and guidelines to carry out such an ambitious development linking the ASEAN countries with a network of tourism corridors.



REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR GROWTH

Mr. Xu Jing, Director, Regional Program for Asia and the Pacific, World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)






DEVELOPMENT FINANCE FOR ECOTOURISM IN ASEAN

Mr Steven Schipani, Senior Portfolio Management Specialist, Lao PDR Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank, LAO PDR

Development finance is much needed to spur strategic ecotourism developments especially in developing countries. However there is always a range of variable factors that impacts on the feasibility and risks of each development. What are these factors that can make or break a development project? How do small scale ecotourism developments leverage on economies of scale and economies of scope? What are the guidelines to apply for development financing and how to attain the necessary marketability and sustainability?


Special Intervention
Tourism And Women In The ASEAN Region: Perspective And Ideas
Mr Andreas Zurbrugg, Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Lao PDR


SESSION 2 - POLICIES AND ECONOMIES: MULTILATERAL COOPERATION FOR ECOTOURISM GROWTH

COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES OF ASEAN CENTRES: THE WAY FORWARD
H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General, ASEAN-China Centre, CHINA
H.E. Amb. Kim Young-sun, Secretary-General, ASEAN-Korea Centre, SOUTH KOREA
H.E. Mr Masataka Fujita, Secretary-General, ASEAN-Japan Centre, JAPAN
Mr. Roberto Oliva, Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, PHILIPPINES
Panel Discussion

Drawing on past programs and new tourism initiatives, the various ASEAN centres will provide a strategic overview of their programs in the ASEAN region, highlighting their vision and mission as well as their synergistic contribution to the ASEAN tourism agenda.


INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES & PROGRAMS FOR ECOTOURISM
H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism, THAILAND
Mr Norman Ramirez, Head of ASEAN Heritage Park Program, PHILIPPINES
Mr Paul Eshoo, Ecotourism Adviser, Wildlife Conservation Society, LAO PDR
Panel Discussion

From soft adventure and tiger conservation to wildlife heritage parks, the Session will deliberate on these ecotourism resources that will pave the way for development of new and exciting ecotourism activities.


Welcome Dinner hosted by Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism




THURSDAY - 23 JUNE 2016


SESSION 3 – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM CLUSTERS & CORRIDORS:
FORGING PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PEOPLE PARTNERSHIPS


PARTNERSHIPS IN TOURISM DESTINATION MANAGEMENT

Mr Tim Gamper, Country Manager, Swisscontact, LAO PDR
Dr Frans Teguh, Director for Infrastructure Development & Tourism Ecosystem, INDONESIA
Mr Andreas Hoffman, Managing Director, Asian Trails, LAO PDR
Panel Discussion

In the Plan of Action for ASEAN Cooperation in Tourism (1998), it states “to provide the ASEAN region a more eventful, appealing and powerful product image as a destination in the Asia-Pacific region and a strong institutional boost to highlight the brilliance and variety of ASEAN tourism experience”. A speaker each from an international non-profit organisation, a national tourism organisation and a regional destination management company will give insights into the development of attractive tourism products that highlights the wonders of the ASEAN tourism experience.



PARTNERSHIPS IN TOURISM CORRIDORS

H.E. Amb. Kim Young-sun, Secretary-General, ASEAN-Korea Centre, SOUTH KOREA
H.E. Mr Tith Chantha, Vice Minister of Tourism, CAMBODIA
Mr Jens Thraenhart, Exec. Director, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), THAILAND
Mr Spencer Lee, Commercial Director of AirAsia, MALAYSIA
Panel Discussion

Accessibility and connectivity are critical factors for the success of tourism, and it would be imperative to connect every tourist destination in ASEAN into the overall integrated transport and communications network that moves peoples, information and goods swiftly. Air, sea, river and land corridors have been identified as tourism corridors for the flow of tourists and the travelling itself offers unique experiences of community engagement amidst the splendour of culture and nature across ASEAN countries.



PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Mr Randy Durband, CEO, Global Sustainable Tourism Council,
Mr Inthy Deansavuan, President, Green Discovery, LAO PDR
Mr Masaru Takayama, President, Asian Ecotourism Network, JAPAN
Panel Discussion

Experts with wide experience in ecotourism and local communities will share their story in sustainable tourism development. They will provide an insight of the work and efforts in bringing obout change in tourism destination management for sustainable growth. The Forum will discuss about the challenges and the fortitude that is required to make sustainable tourism work.


SESSION 4 - Thematic Break-Out Sessions

Chief Facilitator: Mr Rik Ponne, Tourism Sector Specialist, Lao Tourism Support Activity Project
Multilateral Cooperation and Initiatives | Regional Planning and Development | Stakeholders’ Consortium
Feedback/Presentations from Break-Out Groups/Q & A
Wrapping Up/Conclusions
Presentation of Pakse Declaration on ASEAN Ecotourism
Closing Speech


Lao Gala Dinner hosted by Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism




FRIDAY - 24 JUNE 2016



COMPLIMENTARY TECHNICAL TOURS

OPTION 1 - Day Tour of Southern Laos

Highlights: Vat Phou Temple & Ancient City - UNESCO World Heritage Site & Pha Souam Waterfall Starts at 7:50am. Ends at 16:00pm
Click here for itinerary

OPTION 2 - 2 Days, 1 Night Southern Laos Tour

Highlights: Khone Pha Pheng (biggest waterfall in the world), 4000 Islands Wetland Area, Crossing the Mekong River, Overnight Stay at Don Det Island, one of the 4000 islands, Lao Cuisine, Lao Traditional Performances and Activities
Starts at 7:50am on 24th June 2016, Ends at 16:00pm on 25th June 2017
Click here for itinerary