Sustainable Destination Management

Strategies in the OIC Member Countries

Regional unified visas, such as Europe’s Schengen visa, make multi-destination travel smoother

for tourists. Visa waivers between neighboring countries can also be used to facilitate

intraregional tourism along the corridor. In South America, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and

Peru, all members of the regional economic bloc Alianza del Pacifico, allow citizens from the

economic bloc countries to passport-free travel within the member countries.

In the case of the Danube TC, the Schengen visa facilitates travel to mots corridor countries,

which are European Union member countries. However, it is worth noting that for corridor

countries which are non-EUmembers, such as Bulgaria and Romania, tourists need to apply for

a relevant visa. In Bulgaria, a visa waiver was offered to Chinese tourists who possess a

Schengen visa.

In the case of the Greater Mekong Subregion TC, as opposed to European MDTCs, movement

within the region is constrained by the absence of a standard visa system. The GMS TC countries

have visa-free travel for ASEAN member countries for a stay of up to 14 days as well as visa

waivers for priority markets. Visa on arrival is available for international visitors from up to

180 countries at 46 land checkpoints and about 20 airports across the corridor. E-visas are also

offered by some of the corridor countries, namely Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. However,

the lack of a common visa and the complexity of access to information about visa requirements

and procedures, with different systems implemented by the various corridor member

countries, remains an impediment to the growth of the corridor.

Information on visa application procedures and entry requirements, including custom

restrictions and security measures for countries along MDTCs, need to be readily available and

accessible for tourists. The process of obtaining visas can be facilitated, whether through the

provision of e-visas or providing visas on arrival for specific tourist segments.

Entry

procedures can be facilitated using Trusted Traveler Programs, such as the United States’

Global Entry and Nexus Programs, which allows low-risk tourists to use faster lanes and

quicker processing at airports.

Best Practices in Monitoring Performance

A number of complementary approaches, as outlined in the following table, can be used to

monitor the effective management of MDTCs including the use of visitor metrics, the

measurement of organizational effectiveness of the corridor management entity as well as the

effectiveness of its marketing communications activities, the measurement of changes in

consumer-based brand equity as a result of the corridor’s management entity operations,

gauging stakeholder evaluation of DMO performance, and evaluating the sustainability of

tourism along the corridor.

International Seminar on Multi Destination Opportunities for Regional Integration

Please refer to the Danube Case Study for further information and details.

Please refer to the Greater Mekong Subregion tourism corridor case study for references and more details.

International Seminar on Multi Destination Opportunities for Regional Integration

Ibid.