By Peter Semone
It seems like an eternity since the tsunami tragedy of December 2004. I had the good fortune to visit Khao Lak and see how my friend Reid Ridgway has progressed with his Ecotourism Training Center (ETC). I remember in the weeks following the tsunami, when I was still sitting in the corporate seat at PATA, Reid used to visit my office and share his vision for how to help young people affected by the tsunami. Through the PATA Foundation, we were able to provide a small contribution in support of the ETC with the purchase of a top of the line compressor for tank fills. Over the past three years, Reid has done incredible things having trained nearly 100 young people in diving. Graduates of the ETC have gone on to get jobs with leading dive operators in Phuket and Khao Lak. Reid has stood by his commitment to make a difference in post tsunami Khao Lak. He has also developed a meaningful model for sustainable tourism that makes a real difference to the local community and the natural environment. Learn more about the ETC
Patrick Moran is a friend who resides in Ho Chi Minh City. He is a fascinating gentleman: a well travelled successful entrepreneur who has chosen Vietnam as his place of retirement. During my tenure as Team Leader of the ADB funded Mekong Tourism Development Project (MTDP) I often asked for his input on our projects in Tien Giang and An Giang Provinces in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Below are some of his very logical thoughts on tourism development in South Vietnam and along the Mekong River in general. Continue reading →
Mekong Tourism Marketing Plan
By Peter Semone
In late January the Tourism Ministers of the MEKONG countries met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Tourism Fair (ATF) which was held in Bangkok, Thailand. At this meeting, the Ministers approved a three year subregional marketing plan which I was asked to prepare during the last quarter of 2007.
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By Peter Semone
Last week the World Economic Forum released its Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report (TTCR) entitled Balancing Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability. This is the second year running that this study has been conducted with the intent of exploring the factors driving travel and tourism industry competitiveness in 130 economies. The full report can be downloaded here. Continue reading →
