MI CO-ORGANIZES INTERNATIONAL TOURISM CONFERENCE, AUGUST 27-31, 2012.

Tourism of all kinds has good effects, remarked Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee (left), renowned economist and Mekong Institute Steering Committee Chairman, during the opening ceremony of the 62nd AIEST Conference. 

The three-day conference, co-organized by MI and the Faculty of Management Sciences, Khon Kaen University, at the Pullman Hotel, Khon Kaen was themed Advances in Tourism Research: Perspectives of Actors, Institutions and Systems, and brought together over 80 international scholars and young researchers. 

The Association of International Scientific Experts on Tourism (AIEST) is a network of over 300 scientific and practical experts with particular interests in tourism from all around the globe, who gather annually to present and deliberate on new tourism research and initiatives. The 2012 conference included speeches, breakout sessions, and excursions on pressing topics related to the study of tourism. 

Speaking on the state of tourism in Southeast Asia today, Dr. Narongchai pointed out that growing numbers and statistics are representative of more open policies on trade and investment. Southeast Asia, he stated, has blossomed economically in a relatively short period of time, but with economic problems in developed nations affecting the export market of Asia, the region must once again focus on becoming more self-reliant. 

Mr. Oswald Pichler, Vice-President for Accor Asia-Pacific, addressed business perspectives on Asian hospitality as a more personal way of doing business. He explained that service tends to be performed more from the heart in Asia, which extends to client-customer and client-staff relationships. 

Both Narongchai and Pichler underlined the importance of quality rather than quantity when referring to the need for growth in the tourism sector, with Pichler adding poignantly that patience is the key to success.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.