Speaking at the forum, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Pham Tu called on GMS countries to improve tourism service quality and infrastructure to meet holiday-makers’ increasing demands.

He said the region, which covers 2.5 million sq.km and has a population of more than 300 million, has great potential for tourism development, with 14 UNESCO-recognised World Heritage sites and monuments. In 2005, GMS received more than 20.5 million visitors, accounting for 11 percent of the total number of visitors in the Asia-Pacific region. It also earned US$16 billion from tourism services and generated more than 4 million jobs. 

As the number of foreign tourists to the region is predicted to rise to 50 million by 2015, GMS countries should boost cooperation to put forth suitable policies to support enterprises involved in building tourism infrastructure, Mr Tu said.

Senior Consultant at the Thai Institute for SME Development Kamol Ratanavirakul suggested that the International Finance Cooperation (IFC), the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) provide more support to SMEs in the region.

“That could be done by setting up a tourism development fund providing low-interest loans to SMEs involving in tourism,” said Mr Ratanavirakul.

Delegates discussed opportunities and challenges facing SMEs in developing the tourism industry in a sustainable manner.