メコン地域（タイ、カンボジア、ラオス、ミャンマー、ベトナム）の観光需要回復についてのディスカッション by TravelMole

アメリカのロサンゼルスに拠点を置いている旅行メディア travelmole 主催の「メコン川流域の観光需要回復について」のオンラインパネルトーク、ディスカッションが2020年7月に開催されていた。

あの頃、2020年冬頃までには、東南アジアのトラベルバブル実施や、旅行者の隔離免除の移動再開が期待されていた。ベトナムでは、メコンラスティックを運営するBobbyが「現在、ベトナムでは70日間連続で感染が確認されておらず、とにかく国内旅行に集中している。国際線の就航に関しては、ベトナム政府は、少なくとも8月末まで停止する意向だ。」と言っていた。あの頃、商業便は飛んでいた。ビジネス目的での、日本や、中国、韓国を結ぶ飛行機は。

メコン川地域の国々（カンボジア、タイ、ミャンマー、ベトナム、ラオス）の観光の現状を知る、とても良い機会だったのだが、毎回このような国際的な会議に参加できる観光業のプロが言語の問題で限られているのを痛感する。かつモデレーターの質問も「いつ西欧人が東南アジアに隔離無しで旅行できるようになるか？」という西欧人と東南アジアという構造になっていたような気がする。（まぁ、テーマがそうだったんですが）

まぁ、時間を経ないとわからないことが多いのだが、まさか2020年末現在、欧州内ですら旅行が難しくなっている現状だとは、あの頃、誰が想像できただろうか。

Mekong Region Tourism organized by TravelMole Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p988wQqylZs

Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, & southern China border the Mekong River. They receive over 70 million visitors yearly, not counting the over half a billion who visit Yunnan in southern China. Topics: - Mekong River basin overview - When will travellers from SE Asia, UK & Europe and North America be welcomed, without quarantine - Health and distancing policies at attractions, shops and restaurants - What are the traditional itineraries and activities. And, what ones recommended for those who are concerned about distancing?

Country Representative Speakers: Mekong Tourism - Mr. Jens Thraenhart, Executive Director of Mekong Tourism Myanmar - Mr. Bertie Lawson, CEO of Sampan Travel Myanmar Laos - Ms. Duangmala, Managing Director of Exo Travel Laos Cambodia - Mr. Nick Ray, Director of Hanuman Travel Cambodia & Lonely Planet Author Vietnam - Mr. Bobby Nguyen, CEO of Mekong Rustic Viet Nam Thailand - Mr. Herman Hoven, CEO of Khiri Travel China - Mr. Brian Linden, Owner Linden Center Dali/China Moderator: Mr. Charlie Kao, Publisher, TravelMole Media Group

Mekong Tourim Coordinating Office in Bangkok
Promote Mekong as a single tourims destination with the government supports from Thailand, Myammar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and China

Mekong Startup program/ Small enterprises
Mekong Connection is more important than ever

Sampan Travel Myammar in Yangon

Exo Travel Laos
Inbound tour operator

Hanuman Travel Cambodia & Lonely Planet Author
Tailor made tour

Mekong Rustic in Can Tho
Boutique inboud tour operator/ CBT

Khiri Travel in South Asia

Linden Center Dali in China (rigion of himalaya)
Boutique Hotel

Sampan Travel Myanmar

Q. When will travelers from SE Asia, UK & Europe and North America be welcomed without quarantine?
There is no signal

Mekong Tourism Babble
Thailand and Vietnam Babble
(and together with Korea, Japan, China…in Winter this year)

Laos: At the moment, the government does not take any decision yet until Thailand, Vietnam open first. For tourism industry, we need to think how to survive with the domestic.

Cambodia: Good thing like Laos, only minimal cases found and 0 death. But no tourist visa has been issued and flights are still operating but not takeout. At the moments we wait to see bigger countries like Vietnam and Thailand initials. Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, possible indochina travel bubble, extended out to Thailand and gradually opening Asians.

Vietnam; Focus on domestics. The government decided to not to have international tourists by the end of August, for now. Only a flight from China, Korea and Japan for business. It will be a while Westerners will be welcomed without quarantine.

Thailand: Daily updates, possible open day. More recent, dates will be mentioned. Big domestic travel demand back in Thailand, many operators are confidence enough to welcome back. After domestic travels, they will be regional traveling. In July we may see some regions travelers. European will be longer. But momentums keep going.
China: Domestic markets really want to escape big cities. Wherever we go, we have to present that residences. Domestics are picking up but China will not open up the borders for international travelers.

Q. Safety and health issues?
Following measures of WTTC, UNWHO guidelines, or governments guidelines or recommendations. What are health and safety measures? Especially what is being recommended or required for attractions, shops and restaurants?

Myammar: Contagious cases are low. The Ministry of Health, Tourism speared out all guidelines for all hotels, shops etc. All customers check temperatures and wear mask.
Shops have maximum numbers of guests. Those operating a group tour will need to follow guidelines and regulations change.

Laos; Hand gels, masks etc but local people do not take care seriously, no death, no new cases for more than 60 days. In Luanpulapane, some hotels open again. Without tourism in this tourism city, there is nothing. We need to make the life easier.

Cambodia: Angkorwat, recently for the best social distancing place. But of course bad situation for guides, drivers, tour guides.
Pnongmen Airport, masks, sanitizer, temperatures, prepare and ready for this already compared to Europe. Cambodia never had lockdown. Freedom of movement. Compared to COVID-19, mesquites and D fever are much more dangerous cases in tropical elements.

Vietnam; All hotels, restaurants and shops are open normally. We wear masks only to go to the airports.

Thailand: Mask, sanitizers, social distancing etc same as others.
DMC Thailand Higinge Initiative for making standatrds in all situations? For hoping travelers come to travel to Thailand with condifence.

China: More degitalised, we carry QR code, we can scan and permission to enter to hotels, villages, sign in, we do not offer buffet anymore. We feel safe here with all the guidelines.

Thailand: lot of great works by governments. SHA Health Satification in Thailand also did a great work. TRUST and CONFIDENCE are most important things that governments have to have. We need to have all the way CONSISTENCY.
Mekong Tourism Board Meeting, WTTC, all delegates
Will that be any Mekong Stamp? That what other countries doing individualities.
What are the good practices in other countries?
Endorsements through WTTC standards.
To make travlers: “when I travel, I know I am safe but also I know what is beeing required.”

Q. What are some new itineraries and activities being recommended for those who are concerned about distancing?

Resorts? Heritage type tourism? Any recommendations for tour operators, tour guides, travelers?

Myammar: Traditionally Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan were the most tourists will go.

Laos: Eco-tourism, Nature, and culture. In terms of itineraries, we do not have much change. But in terms of safety, how to offer services with more safety. For examples, for car, we need to have more masks, sanitiser etc. Luanprangpanng is famous even for local people. And Mekong river cruise, with resort, village, shops and local people can also visit. Making very attractive prices. We should keep this coorporation even after COVID-19 and make balance between low and high seasons.

Cambodia: Issue is to push people to travel out than Angkorwat. Remote temples, countryside, south coast etc. but now key is to bring guests back to Angkorwat without many people. (feels like back into the history). The government tries to spread out people to visit.

Vietnam; Changes the itineraries. Ministry of Health and Tourism conducts “safety” first policy. Domestics customers only travel on weekends. Discount tours, flights and hotels especially on weekdays. Ha Long Bay, Hoi An have domestic travelers on weekdays.

Thailand: No shift for itinerary differences. Smaller travelers, tailormade, remote location tourist destinations even before COVID-19. Exploring lands. Now people less willing to make a que and wait for taking pictures of famous tourism destinations.
China: Hiking trails, take people into small areas but also bring money into these villages.
He lives in Yunnan? Paradise.

Question from audience
Marketing: How do I communicate during this time?
How do we keep these expereinces in destinations in top of our mind?

#Mekong Memory
(Photo contests, share memories with hashtag) anyone in these regions can participate. #Travel tomorrow. Work with travel agencies and do travel campaigns for all past customers.

Deceits Tourism
Subsidies to boost tourism in Thailand.
Plans for marketing internationally, tourism authorities lead by Thailand
OTAs have various skims, This point focuses on domestic but at the same time get ready for international tourism once open for international tourism.
Great opportunity to look back what the “travel tomorrow” looks better.