Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism's Message


Welcome!

The ASEAN Ecotourism Forum 2016 organised by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of Lao PDR in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is poised to be one of ASEAN's most important forum on ecotourism. The Forum will deliberate on the theme "ASEAN Without Borders: Roadmap for Strategic Development of Ecotourism Clusters and Tourism Corridors" of which the most important recommendations and resolutions will be incorporated in the “Pakse Declaration on ASEAN Roadmap for Strategic Development of Ecotourism”.

A Tourism Ministerial Round Table will convene to discuss and endorse the Pakse Declaration of which will reflect on our common aspirations to integrate the region's ecotourism destinations resonating with Lao PDR's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2016 with the theme of “Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community”.

The Declaration will call for an ASEAN coordinated roadmap for both public and private sectors to pool resources and unlock economic opportunities along designated tourism corridors, primarily to stimulate the flow of tourists across borders whether by land, river, air or sea. Trans-ASEAN travel will help to generate economies of scope and scale, especially in the rural areas and strengthening the sustainability of ASEAN's ecotourism industry. This is an opportune time for international tourism investers, developers and operators to tap on the exciting tourism opportunities ahead in the region.

Such ambitious undertaking will require the concerted efforts of all ASEAN Member States as well as the support and expertise of provincial authorities, consultants, ground operators and funding institutions. Under the aegis of the ASEAN Charter and in the spirit of ASEAN, tourism ministry officials, investors, researchers, practitioners and experts are encouraged to actively participate and contribute in this Forum and be part of the legacy and the transformation of this mega-biodiverse region to the most dynamic and prosperous ecotourism region in the world.

I bid you a warm welcome to Laos – “Simply Beautiful”. I hope you will enjoy your stay at Pakse City and visit the magnificent Vat Phou, UNESCO World Heritage Site. International delegates wil also be hosted an overnight stay at the 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don) Wetland Area, a truly remarkable ecotourism site that should not be missed. I wish you an enjoyable stay in Laos and a productive forum.


H.E. Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism.
Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism, Lao PDR

 

 



ASEAN Secretary-General's Message

I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Lao PDR for organizing the ASEAN Ecotourism Forum 2016. As one of the key deliverables of its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2016, it is a meaningful initiative to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN in 2017, and at the same time, contribute to the “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development” proclaimed by the United Nations also in 2017.


With ASEAN’s rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage, the region has attracted tens of millions of tourists from around the world every year, generating jobs and income for its peoples. This Forum brings together all stakeholders, government officials, investors, researchers and tourism developers and operators, to discuss and collaborate on developing a roadmap for strategic development of sustainable ecotourism in ASEAN. This initiative will certainly contribute to the realization of our goals under the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 as well as the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025 to promote responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balanced tourism development in the region.

I hope that the Forum’s outcomes will not only further promote partnership among key stakeholders for better ecotourism products and benefits for the local communities in the region, but also identify strategies to preserve and conserve ASEAN’s natural heritage for the next generations.

I wish the Forum great success!


H.E. LE LUONG MINH
Secretary-General of ASEAN



UNWTO Secretary-General's Message

Dear Friends,

Tourism has become one of the fastest growing and most relevant socio-economic sectors of our time. Despite global challenges, international tourist arrivals grew 4.4% in 2015 to reach 1.184 million overnight visitors, 50 million more than in 2014. Asia and the Pacific welcomed 277 million visitors in 2015, 13 million more than in 2014 (a 5% increase). Tourism earnings in Asia and the Pacific totalled almost US$ 419 million in 2015. Accounting for 10% of the world’s GDP, 7% of global trade and one in 11 jobs, the tourism sector has a vast potential to address some of the most pressing global challenges.


Harnessing this potential will require a coordinated effort by all tourism stakeholders to increase, and raise awareness of, the contribution of tourism to sustainable development. At the regional level, UNWTO fully supports the vision of ASEAN for tourism to promote regional integration and development. The numbers show that this vision is being realized. Tourism has emerged as a fundamental and powerful tool in fostering the social, cultural and economic development of South East Asian countries and the integration of the ASEAN community.


2015 was a landmark year with the approval of the Sustainable Development Goals, which should guide our common action towards 2030. It was also a special year for tourism as the United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This shows the international community has recognized tourism’s capacity to promote economic growth, inclusive development, better resource management and, importantly, environmental preservation.


In this context, ecotourism is a key strand of tourism, contributing substantially to poverty alleviation, the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development. I wish to commend ASEAN and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on the organization of the ASEAN Ecotourism Forum and look forward to its outcome.


As we prepare to celebrate the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017, I look forward to seeing ASEAN Member States continuing to share strategies for sustainable tourism development and preserving the environment and biodiversity of the region.


My best wishes for a successful conference.


H.E. Dr Taleb Rifai
Secretary-General of ASEAN


ABOUT ASEAN ECOTOURISM FORUM 2016:


The ASEAN Ecotourism Forum is an important forum among members of the ASEAN tourism fraternity. Organised in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), it aims to transform Governmental political and tourism development policies, promote sustainable businesses and generate jobs. The Forum also fosters a regional initiative to develop youth leadership among the ecotourism fraternity. The Forum welcomes emerging leaders who have quietly and tirelessly contributed to the regional tourism industry to participate actively at this Forum and be recognised.

The ASEAN Ecotourism Forum with the theme "ASEAN TOURISM WITHOUT BORDERS: ROADMAP FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM CLUSTERS AND TOURING CORRIDORS" is held under the auspices of the ASEAN Charter.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.

The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 is a major milestone in the regional economic integration agenda in ASEAN, offering opportunities in the form of a huge market of US$2.6 trillion and over 622 million people. In 2014, AEC was collectively the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh largest in the world.
 


 

 

Pakse Declaration on ASEAN Roadmap for Strategic Development of Ecotourism

 

The Declaration calls for an ASEAN coordinated roadmap to strategically identify, plan and develop an inter-connected network of ecotourism sites which are linked to major overland and river passageways. These ecotourism clusters and tourism corridors are developed to traverse all ASEAN nations, transcending borders and wildlife frontiers, facilitating tourists to travel deep into rural areas and nature reserves and to experience the essence of ASEAN's ecotourism attractions.This visionary development will unlock economic opportunities along overland and river routes; a major socio-economic initiative to create employment and uplift communities, revitalize idle natural resources and transform impoverished rural areas.
 

The Pakse Declaration to be endorsed by the ASEAN Tourism Ministers will be tabled at the ASEAN Leaders Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR in September 2016.

 

 

Drafting in Progress

 

 

SESSION 1: KEYNOTES
ASEAN WITHOUT BORDERS: ROADMAP FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM CLUSTERS AND TOURISM CORRIDORS

 

The Keynotes will present case studies and explore strategic proposals to integrate ASEAN's ecotourism regions and destinations through the development of ecotourism clusters and corridors with objectives to create transformative impacts on the ecotourism industry in ASEAN. The Keynote Speakers represents TIES, CIPD, WWF, IUCN and ATTA.

more

 

SESSION 2:
POLICIES AND ECONOMIES: MULTILATERAL COLLABORATION FOR ECOTOURISM GROWTH

 

This session will be a congregation of speakers representing the most important tourism bodies and agencies in the region to provide an overview of the future trends and opportunities in the region and the way forward for intra-ASEAN as well as trans-ASEAN travel. Presenters include the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Centres of Korea, Japan, China; PATA, MCTO, UNDP, WCS, AHP and others.

more

 

SESSION 3:
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: FORGING PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PEOPLE PARTNERSHIPS TO REVITALISE RURAL AREAS

 

This session presents some of ASEAN's reputable travel organisations and distinguished tourism professionals who will be coming together to collaborate and contribute to the development and marketing of the designated tourism corridors and clusters; uplifting communities, creating opportunities, strengthening local economies, improving connectivity and accessibility.

more

 

Register!

Be part of the
new ASEAN
Ecotourism
Community
Network


A network of professional and dedicated ASEAN nationals in the
ASEAN Economic Community contributing to the betterment
and advancement of ecotourism in the ASEAN region.

ASEAN ECOTOURISM FORUM
Theme: ASEAN WITHOUT BORDERS:
ROADMAP FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF
ECOTOURISM CLUSTERS AND TOURISM CORRIDORS

★ WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Tourism Ministers, provincial authorities, consultants, tour operators,
funding institutions, tourism ministry officials, investors, researchers,
ecotourism practitioners and experts

★ WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
Eminent invited speakers and experts
First-to-know statistics and future trends
Best networking circles
in the ecotourism fraternity

★ WHAT ARE THE TAKEAWAYS
New tourism business opportunities in ASEAN in the next decade
Latest ecotourism development and innovation worldwide
Being part of the ASEAN Ecotourism Community Network
Opportunity to contribute to the transformation of ASEAN's ecotourism industry'

 

DON'T MISS THE ASEAN ECOTOURISM FORUM
PAKSE & SI PHAN DON WETLAND AREA
CHAMPASSAK, LAO PDR

 

Why is the Forum important?

The ASEAN Ecotourism Forum is held in collaboration with national and international ecotourism bodies aims to establish a roadmap towards integrating the ecotourism industry in ASEAN and promoting the flow of tourists through the extensive river systems, overland as well as air routes. The Conference will be convened from 21 - 26 June 2016

Led by Lao PDR, as Chair of ASEAN 2016, it is an ASEAN Economic Community driven initiative of the ASEAN tourism industry, for the ASEAN tourism industry and by the ASEAN tourism industry.

Why you should not miss the opportunity?

This is an excellent life-time opportunity to visit Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) Wetland Area which includes the Khone PhaPheng Waterfalls, one of the worlds top ten largest cascading waterfalls! Come experience one of the greatest wonders of nature in no other than the heartland of Laos.


What has the Lao Government prepared for the Delegates?

  • 50% discount on Lao Airline air-fare to/from Pakse (Require a delegate registration confirmation number to qualify for discount)
  • No registration fee to attend the Forum. (For registered delegates with delegate badge only)
  • 1 Welcome Cocktail hosted by NZAid on June 17
  • 2 networking Lunches and 4 networking Teabreaks hosted by Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism on June 18 and 19
  • 1 Welcome Dinner and 1 Laotian Cultural Dinner hosted by Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism on June 18 and 19
  • One Lao SIM Card with 10,000 kip (USD1.23) credit
  • A 2 day, 1 night complimentary tour including accommodation and meals at the 4000 Wetland Area.


  • more information and registration

     

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    Event Programme