The Mekong region is among the world’s most visited travel destinations, having welcomed more than 70 million tourists in 2018 alone. As the tourism industries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand are helping promote economic growth, generate employment, and foster peaceful societies, their governments are increasing efforts to pursue a more balanced, collaborative, and sustainable tourism development. 

In support of this, the project aims to create “smart cities” to strengthen the five countries’ capacities in meeting the fast-rising and highly competitive tourism inbound market. Implemented by Mekong Institute with support from National Tourism Organizations and local destination management companies of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand, the three-year project will introduce smart tourism tools, techniques, and technologies through learning exchanges, structured learning visits, information-sharing, and adaption of best practices. Such investments are geared to expand small entrepreneurial businesses and deepen cultural interconnectedness and appreciation among and between cities in the Republic of Korea and the Mekong region countries.