VIENTIANE, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Mekong Tourism Forum concluded successfully, with Laos officially handing over a symbolic flag to Myanmar, the designated host for the 2026 forum.

The handover ceremony was led by Phonemaly Inthaphome, director general of the tourism development department under the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and received by U Maung Maung Kyaw, director general of Myanmar's Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Lao national TV reported on Sunday.

In her remarks, Phonemaly praised the active participation and collaboration of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries at the 2025 Mekong Tourism Forum. Held from June 24 to 27 under the theme "Travel Together, Grow Together," the event aimed to promote regional tourism development through solidarity, trust, mutual understanding, and respect.

Key activities included high-level conferences, tourism product exhibitions, and study tours promoting tourism, agritourism, sustainable travel, cultural heritage, and visits to key sites in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province.

Phonemaly also noted that the forum demonstrated growing collaboration between the public and private sectors in building sustainable tourism, enhancing services, and improving community well-being in the Mekong subregion. Enditem