Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 to Spotlight : People-Centered Tourism in Yangon

The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter

Tourism leaders, destination experts, community tourism practitioners, educators, hospitality professionals, and regional partners from across the Greater Mekong Subregion will meet in Yangon from 16–18 June 2026 for the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 under the theme “Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose.”

Organized by the Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture of Myanmar and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, the annual forum will focus on how tourism can create more meaningful benefits for local communities, preserve living culture, strengthen regional connections, and respond to the evolving expectations of today’s travelers. Taking place at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Yangon, this year’s program will feature keynote presentations, industry insight sessions, panel discussions, gastronomy experiences, networking opportunities, and technical visits across Yangon.

Ahead of the main forum, a practical pre-forum workshop on evidence-based destination marketing and tourism insights will focus on practical approaches to tourism intelligence, destination marketing, and cross-border collaboration. MTF highlights both international experts and changemakers from within the Mekong region itself — spotlighting practitioners, community leaders, social enterprises, researchers, tourism innovators, and local champions whose work directly shapes tourism across Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The forum will open with a keynote address by Masaru Takayama titled “Tourism for People: From Principles to Lasting Impact,” exploring tourism through the framework of Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce. Speakers across the program will include representatives and experts from organizations such as AirAsia MOVE, Planeterra, Asian Ecotourism Network, Clickable Impact, ASEAN Tourism Association, and Local Alike. Sessions will address topics including community-based tourism, cultural preservation, inclusion, hospitality workforce development, and regional cooperation.

Beyond the conference sessions, delegates will experience Yangon through cultural activities and technical visits reflecting the city’s heritage, spirituality, architecture, hospitality, and artisan traditions. The forum will also feature a regional gastronomy exhibition celebrating culinary traditions and food culture from across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

“Tourism is one of the few sectors where local communities can directly benefit from human connection, cultural exchange, and shared experiences. MTF 2026 is built around the belief that tourism should serve people and places first,” said Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij, Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.