| GMS countries gathered to exchange what is working, what remains challenging, and what must improve. This spirit of reflection framed the GMS International Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, co-organized by the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) and the Swiss ST4SD Project, with support from SECO. Held on 18 November in Ninh Binh, the event brought together over 100 delegates, experts, and partners from across the subregion.
Discussions focused on the systems the GMS must strengthen: credible sustainability standards, deeper community ownership, regenerative approaches that restore ecosystems, and the application of technology and data for better planning. Swiss experts highlighted global trends such as carbon-aware travel, growing expectations for transparency and certification, and the shift from “less harm†toward net-positive impact.
 Famiy picture at the GMS Congress Country representatives contributed grounded insights—from Cambodia’s community and cultural tourism initiatives and Lao PDR’s lessons in equitable benefit-sharing, to Thailand’s destination management and Viet Nam’s Green Tourism Program.
MTCO presented the shared GMS tourism vision and strategic directions, while partners from Helvetas, Asian Ecotourism Network, and PATA underscored the need for stronger business engagement and a unified responsible-travel brand for the Mekong.
Read the rest of our newsletter for more developments at the intersection of tourism and sustainability. |
calendar week 50 / 25
