Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
84
(ADB), in its role as the leading development partner in the GMS, has supported tourism
development over the past decade through grant and loan projects including the
Mekong Tourism Development Project, Sustainable Tourism Development Project and
the Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project. These projects have provided
tens of millions of dollars in investment in tourism product development,
infrastructure, capacity development, and marketing. 287
Infrastructure
There are notable improvements in air and land access across the GMS in recent years 288 .
Transnational highways link most major GMS urban centers, and there are five international
bridges spanning the Mekong River at strategic locations in the North-South, East-West, and
central GMS economic corridors. Intra-GMS air traffic is proliferating in line with route
expansion of low-cost and premium airlines. Overland travel is being made more accessible by
the GMS cross-border transport agreement, which is facilitating growing investment in
international tourist coach services and the movement of personal vehicles across borders 289.
However, it was stressed that the GMS countries, unlike those in Europe, still do not have open
borders. Movement from one country to another by car, therefore, poses a challenge, because
one must obtain permission from a tour operator up to six months in advance of such a
journey.290
Furthermore, transport and urban infrastructure investment in many secondary destinations
does not match demand. This is mainly due to funding and capacity constraints for construction
and maintenance, along with a lack of decentralized planning 291. Additionally, the range and
type of tourism products and infrastructure along the core brand, the Mekong River, varies for
several reasons: Boat landings, such as wharfs, jetties, and piers, tend to be well-developed in
locations where overland tourists or cargo vessels most frequently visit such as Cambodia’s
capital, Phnom Penh, and Chiang Saen, Thailand. Conversely, less visited, more remote
destinations, many of which offer CBT and nature-based activities, have less developed landing
infrastructure, as they tend to serve mostly local river traffic.292
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Seven cross-cutting themes have been mainstreamed in all strategic programs and projects of
GMS tourism projects as part of the Sustainable Development goals, which include gender
equality, private sector development, environmental sustainability, partnerships, universal
access, and community participation 293: “The whole mandate is related to developing tourism
in the region, is all looking at sustainable and responsible tourism development which is
obviously crucial for especially this region.” 294
287 Ibid.
288 Interview with Executive Director, MTCO
289 Ibid.; Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, Experience Mekong: Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Marketing Strategy
and Action Plan 2015–2020.
290 Interview with chairwoman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing
291 Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025.
292 World Tourism Organization, Mekong River-Based Tourism Product Development.
293 Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Sector Strategy 2016-2025.
294 Interview with Executive Director of MTCO