Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
82
context, the vision for joint tourism marketing in the GMS is: “ The tourism industry in the
Greater Mekong Subregion is integrated, prosperous, and equitable with effective partnerships
and knowledge sharing.”
Figure 29: Map of Greater Mekong Subregion
Source: DinarStandard
To work toward the overall goal and objective for the development and management of the
tourism sector, seven core strategic programs were identified including: (i) marketing; (ii)
human resource development; (iii) heritage and social impact management; (iv) pro-poor
tourism development; (v) private sector participation; (vi) the facilitation of tourism to and
within the subregion; and (vii) the development of tourism-related infrastructure 277 . The
expected outcome of GMS cooperation is “more competitive, balanced, and sustainable
destination development.”278
According to the ‘Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025’, more than 20 years of GMS cooperation
has laid a sturdy foundation for the future. GMS countries are committed to working together
to build a prosperous and sustainable tourism industry. Strengths have been identified as the
277 "About," Mekong Tourism, accessed August 14, 2019,
278 The Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2012–2022.