Tourism leaders, destination experts, community tourism practitioners, academics, hospitality professionals, and regional partners from across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) will gather in Yangon, Myanmar, from 16–18 June 2026 for the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) 2026.
Organized by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture, this year’s forum will be held under the theme “Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose,” emphasizing how tourism can generate meaningful benefits for local communities and livelihoods throughout the region.
Ahead of the event, Suvimol Thanasarakij, Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, spoke about participation levels, regional cooperation, and the multiple challenges -including politics- facing tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
About a strong regional participation at MTF 2026
According to Thanasarakij, organizers currently expect between 100 and 120 participants at MTF 2026. This represents a good level of participation due to Myanmar difficult political environment.
“We currently expect approximately 100–120 participants at MTF 2026, including representatives from the GMS member countries, development partners, tourism organizations, academia, private sector stakeholders, and international tourism partners,” she said.
Most delegates are expected to come from the Greater Mekong Subregion, ASEAN member states, and other parts of Asia.“Registration and participation have been progressing steadily,” she noted.
Navigating Myanmar’s Challenges
Myanmar continues to face international scrutiny and travel restrictions, raising questions about whether visa limitations and political concerns have complicated efforts to attract overseas participants.
Thanasarakij acknowledged that organizing any international event today requires adaptability and close coordination.
“As with many regional and international events, organizing MTF 2026 requires close coordination and flexibility from all parties involved,” she said. “Our focus remains on facilitating practical tourism dialogue and regional cooperation across the Greater Mekong Subregion.”
She stressed that the forum’s objective is to provide a platform for tourism stakeholders to exchange ideas and collaborate on sustainable tourism development regardless of wider geopolitical challenges.
Oil Prices Not Shaping the Agenda
Asked whether rising fuel costs and the broader oil crisis could affect attendance or influence the forum’s agenda, Thanasarakij emphasized that the event’s primary focus remains unchanged.
“This year’s forum will focus strongly on people-centred tourism, inclusion, culture, and community-based tourism,” she explained. “One of the key messages of this year’s forum is the importance of ensuring that tourism creates meaningful benefits for local communities and livelihoods across the region.”
While economic factors inevitably influence travel decisions and tourism performance, the forum’s content remains centered on long-term sustainable tourism development and regional cooperation.
Cambodia Remains Engaged
The current tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have also raised questions about regional cooperation, particularly given that MTCO is headed by a Thai executive.
Thanasarakij said that all GMS countries continue to engage through established regional mechanisms.
“All GMS member countries, including Cambodia, continue to participate in GMS tourism cooperation activities and regional dialogue through the GMS framework,” she said.
She emphasized that MTCO’s role is strictly focused on tourism collaboration rather than political issues.
“MTCO’s role remains focused on tourism cooperation, knowledge exchange, and practical collaboration in the tourism sector.”
A Platform for Regional Dialogue
Although the forum is not designed as a political platform, MTF 2026 will bring together tourism stakeholders from across the region at a time when cross-border cooperation is increasingly important.
By focusing on community benefits, cultural preservation, inclusion, and sustainable tourism development, organizers hope the event will reinforce the value of tourism as a tool for regional understanding and shared prosperity.
For Thanasarakij, the message is clear: tourism should ultimately serve people first.
“The importance of ensuring that tourism creates meaningful benefits for local communities and livelihoods across the region remains at the heart of this year’s forum,” she said.
