Research launched to boost Mekong tourism

An investigation team set out on Dec. 9 from SW China's Yunnan Province to observe and study tourism resources, infrastructure constructions, development status, road trip routes and customs procedures in tourism cities of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.

The 12-day research is supported by Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Kunming Branch of China Tourism Academy and Yunnan Tourism Planning Institute and a number of travel agencies in Yunnan.

The team is made up of government officers from Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, experts from universities and representatives of travel agencies and Yunnan Tourism Association.

During the tour, members of the investigation team will have talks with government ministries, tourism enterprises, chambers of commerce and colleges of the three countries.

The research aims at promoting fields of policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds between Mekong countries. Meanwhile, more specific projects will be implemented to boost the development of Lancang-Mekong Tourism Cities Cooperation Alliance.

The investigation team had paid visits to Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, the upstream regions of Lancang-Mekong River in November. Consensuses had also been reached between the team and the two governments to improve infrastructure conditions, propose new tourism products and develop smart tourism in cities along Lancang-Mekong River in China.

By Li Hengqiang