Emerald Triangle Cooperation Framework

Background

The Emerald Triangle Cooperation Framework consists of three neighboring countries, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. As tourism can be an effective instrument for socio-economic development, the initial aim of this cooperation is to utilize the combined tourism resources of the sub-region for the mutual benefit of the participating countries. The strengths in the tourism industry of each member country will enhance the combined potential in this sector and promote tourism in this sub-region. Not only will the cooperation benefit the tourism industry, but it will also generate economic growth, reducing income disparity in the three countries and enhancing the well-being of people at the grassroots level.

This cooperation will complement existing regional and sub-regional frameworks such as the GMS, ASEAN and Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). Tourism is one of the strategic areas of cooperation in the Bagan Declaration and ACMECS Plan of Action adopted by the leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand in Bagan, Myanmar, on 12 November 2003. Tourism cooperation in the Emerald Triangle may thus be considered a showcase project for the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, also known as ACMECS or ECS.

Immediately after the first ACMECS Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, the Inaugural Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Emerald Triangle Cooperation on Tourism was held on 2 August 2003 in Pakse, Champasak Province, Lao PDR. At the Meeting, H.E. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Foreign Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia and H.E. Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, adopted the “Pakse Declaration on Tourism Cooperation in the Emerald Triangle.” The Declaration was an expression of the three countries’ political commitment and shared vision to promote tourism cooperation in the area where their borders are joined. It also provided practical guidelines for the three nations to achieve quick, tangible results.

The recent implementations

1. The first working group meeting of the Emerald Triangle Cooperation

To implement the Pakse Declaration, member countries agreed to set up a joint working group to formulate an Action Plan. The “Emerald Triangle Plan of Action” was drawn up at the first working group meeting of the Emerald Triangle Cooperation organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand in Ubon Ratchathani Province, 15 – 16 December 2003.

The meeting held wide-ranging discussions on possible areas of cooperation, such as joint marketing of tourism products, improvement of tourist attractions, and standardization of immigration rules and regulations to facilitate the movement of tourists among the member countries and tourists from other regions. The Emerald Triangle Plan of Action includes joint research, human resources development, joint marketing and promotion, exchange of personnel and expertise both in the public and private sectors, development of transportation and tourism facilities, and improvement of international border checkpoints.
The geographical coverage of the Emerald Triangle is northeastern Thailand, northwestern Cambodia and southern Lao PDR. Each country has identified two provinces as part of the Emerald Triangle: Ubon Ratchathani and Sisaket in Thailand, Preah Vihear and Odor Meanchey in Cambodia, and Champasak and Salavanh in Lao PDR.

2. The Emerald Triangle Tourist Information Center

At the Inaugural Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Pakse, H.E. Dr. Surakiat Sathirathai, Foreign Minister of Thailand, announced that Thailand would provide financial support for the setting up of a Tourist Information Center for the Emerald Triangle in Pakse District, Champasak Province, Lao PDR. This Tourist Information Center was completed in March 2004 and the opening ceremony was held during the Thai – Lao joint cabinet meeting on 21 August 2004. 

3.  The Emerald Triangle familiarization trip for the Diplomatic Corps and journalists

In addition, member countries agreed with Thailand’s proposal that the Emerald Triangle should start with a pilot project to promote tourism in the targeted area of cooperation. At the initial stage, member countries agreed that Thailand would organize a familiarization trip for the Diplomatic Corps and journalists from Thailand to visit unseen tourist attractions of the Emerald Triangle.

Familiarization trip for the Diplomatic Corps and journalists from Thailand, led by H.E. Dr. Sorajak Kasemsuvan, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, to visit the Emerald Triangle region was held between 11 – 14 March 2004. There are almost 50 diplomats from 30 Embassies and 18 journalists from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand participated in this trip. The Diplomatic Corps and journalists visited some of the tourism highlights in the Emerald Triangle. These include Pha Taem National Park in Ubon Ratchathani Province and Khao Pra Vihan Natioanl Park in Sisaket Province of Thailand, Preah Vihear Temple of Cambodia, the ancient Wat Phu Temple and the Khone Phapheng or the Niagara Falls of Southeast Asia in Champasak Province of Lao PDR. The trip has contributed to raising the profile of the Emerald Triangle as an international tourist destination. Further activities to reinforce the international public awareness of the Emerald Triangle will also be conducted by Cambodia and Lao PDR.

4. Survey Trip by World Tourism Organization (WTO)

In the first half of May 2004, Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) have jointly organized the survey trip to survey and collect the relevant data in the areas of cooperation in the three countries. This survey trip is aim to study in the fields of marketing and human resource development in order to prepare the marketing and HRD plan for the Emerald Triangle.

5. The third working group meeting of the Emerald Triangle Cooperation

The third working group of the Emerald Triangle Cooperation was held during 15 – 17 December 2005 in Champasak Province, Lao PDR. The meeting discussed on five issues of the action plan to be implemented namely (a) Facilitation of International Border Checkpoints; (b) Infrastructure and Tourism Facility Development; (c) Human Resource Development; (d) Tourism Marketing and Promotion; and (e) Environmental Consideration and Community Participation.

In this Meeting, statement on the sustainable tourism development – promoting pro-poor approach was addressed by Dr. H. Varma, Chief of Technical Cooperation of the World Tourism Organization (WTO). WTO representative informed the Meeting that WTO and UNDP are ready to support the human resource development projects and tourism marketing and promotion of the Emerald Triangle.

In this regard, Thailand will host a training course, with WTO and UNDP cooperation, on tourism management for local tourism officials from member countries. In addition, Thailand will organize a regional trilateral familiarization trip for private sector and journalists to promote and raise profile of tourist attractions in the Emerald Triangle.

Department of International Economic Affairs
Economic Relations and Cooperation Division
January 2006

 

 Pakse Declaration on Tourism Cooperation in the Emerald Triangle

 Statement by H.E. Dr.Surakiart Sathirathai Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand at the Foreign Ministers' Meeting on tourism cooperation in the Emerald Triangle, 2 August 2003 at Pakse District,Champasak Province, Lao PDR 

 Statement by H.E. Sontaya Kunplome at Foreign Ministers' Meeting on tourism cooperation in the Emerald Triangle, 2 August 2003 at Pakse District,Champasak Province, Lao PDR

 Report The First Working Group Meeting for Tourism Cooperation in the Emerald Triangle
15-16 December 2003 at Ubonratchathani, Thailand

 ACTION PLAN ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION IN THE EMERALD TRIANGL

 Welcoming Remark by H.E. Dr. Sorajak Kasemsuvan, Vice Minister for foreign Affairs of Thailand at the Emerald Triangle Familiarization Trip, on 11 March 2004 at Ubon Ratchathani Province

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