It was held on the first day of the IT&CMA & CTW Asia Pacific 2016 on September 27. This session of the education programme of the show, brings up to speed the latest developments in emerging ASEAN destinations of the Mekong Region of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmmar and Vietnam.

Panelists of the forum consists of Hoy Phireak, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism Cambodia  (left of image in the centre) with Sumate Sudasna, President of Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (right of image in the centre) and Addie Pornthip, Managing Director, Thailand, Destination Asia (middle of image in the centre). Moderator of the forum was Julia Douglas, Managing Editor of MICE in Asia.

Discussion was based on how best the emerging ASEAN countries can market and promote themselves as destination for MICE.

Questions raised were: on how popolar is the Mekong Region particularly Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam for MICE; which segments of MICE are these countries attracting now; what’s in place in terms of hardware (infrastructure and visas) and software (industry expertise and service); and the opinion of the panelists on establishing a Mekong Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The forum concluded that through their shared economies and strategic geographic location, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam can be marketed and promoted collectively, as the Mekong Region MICE destinations.