People - Destination Mekong

Destination Mekong

The Team

Our Leadership Team

Jens Thraenhart

“As the role of Destination Marketing and Management Organizations evolves, so must its business model. The public and private sectors must collaborate. Together, these two forces can achieve greatness. This is especially vital preparing for a sustainable and balanced tourism recovery.”

Gerrit Kruger

Partner

During my travels in the region I am always amazed about the variety of experiences it offers. Even within one country, the regions provide different environments, cultures, and vistas. The Khao Yai National Park in Thailand is very different from Chon Buri. The Mekong Delta in Vietnam is different from the central parts of the country. Luang Prabang is different from Vientiane. What excites me is learning about the life stories of the people, especially those, who want to make an impact. There are many things to learn from them on how they overcame adversities and what gives the strength to build a life for their families and support their communities.

Special Advisors

Daisy Park 박재아

Special Advisor (Korea-Mekong Cooperation)

“Diversity a Key for unlocking sustainability”is my faith in work. Mekong is the most accessible and manageable region from Korea and its level of diversity is above our imaginations. As a traveler, I am a strong believer that we can minimize the economic leakage of a country by staying at local-owned hotels, eating at local restaurants, and finding local tour operators.

Jens Uwe Parkitny

Special Advisor (Strategy)

CEO at Oway Group (Myanmar)

In December 1999, on a private trip to Myanmar, I underwent a transformation though. I am not sure what triggered it: The light, the people, the slow pace of life or the spiritual mood that surrounded me as I moved among a 1,000 year old Buddhist temples and shrines. The landscapes I saw through my eyes somehow seem to reflect my inner landscape. Since then I came back and crisscrossed the region by foot, by boat, by plane, by car and on bicycle. The adventures and experiences I had along the way have all been extraordinary – sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but always fulfilling for the people I encountered and myself.

Neal Bermas

Special Advisor (Social Enterprise)

Founder & Chairperson, STREETS International

I want to be part of realizing the possibilities beyond a conventional RMO (regional marketing organization) to being a bona fide leading tourism organization that stands for responsible, sustainable tourism and travel. There are development threats but also opportunities to collaborate with local communities.

Shinobu Hayama

Special Advisor (Japan-Mekong Cooperation)

I believe the Mekong Region and Japan carry diverse similarities and differences in their environment, society, economy and their people. This also means a vast opportunity to learn from each other, transform and redefine together a healthy balance. Issues of another country are not just theirs, our nature and neighborhoods are intertwined, and I believe the Mekong River is a breathing symbol of this. I am motivated to explore and discover lasting cooperation through movements of people, knowledge and practices amongst the countries, one step each towards a collective impact.

Sophie Hartman

Special Advisor (Training)

Opportunities, dynamism, resilience… These three words come to my mind every time I think of this place that I have called home for almost seven years. Over time, people in the Mekong countries have demonstrated their ability to accommodate change and external influences, while not allowing these to utterly transform their societies. The tourism sector can become a strong inclusion lever for underserved populations, as long as they are provided with the necessary productive and transversal skills, and sustainable employment opportunities. This requires coordinated efforts across the industry.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt

Special Advisor (China Outbound)

The paradigm of Meaningful Tourism is a powerful tool to we developed during the pandemic to achieve more quality, benefits and satisfaction for all stakeholders in tourism. With trainings, publications, consulting, workshops and research I look forward to help the region to move away from Arrival Numbers as main KPI towards a concentration on a form of tourism, which cherishes quality more than quantity and give more people a chance to benefit from it.