Mekong Tourism

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) -comprising Cambodia, Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam- was the fastest growing subregion in Asia and the Pacific in 2013, showing a 17% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to 2012. This was more than double the growth rate in Asia and the Pacific and significantly higher than the 11% increase in ASEAN.Since 2002 international tourist arrivals in the GMS have grown at an average annual rate of about 12%. By country, international tourist arrivals are growing fastest in Myanmar a result of the extensive political and economic reforms that began in 2011. While Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have a modest combined share (about 15%) of international arrivals, it is important to note that each received over 200 million domestic visitors in 2013. The number of annual domestic trips in Thailand (over 100 million) and Viet Nam (over 35 million) is also significant. In 2013 the GMS welcomed 51.7 million international tourist arrivals, representing a 3% share of the global market. Over 60% of international visitors originate in Asia and the Pacific, led by China, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In 2013 China was the first or second largest source market for Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and the third largest source market for Laos. Thailand was the top source market for Laos and Myanmar, and visitors from Viet Nam formed the largest share of international tourist arrivals in Cambodia. Long haul source markets from Europe comprise approximately 20% of international tourist arrivals and those from the Americas about 7%.