The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) held a four-day digital skills training workshop for women working in the tourism sector.

Titled Enhancing Digital Skills for Women in Tourism Communities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam – The Training of Trainers, the event was held in the Laotian heritage city of Luang Prabang from 24th to 27th September, and was done in cooperation with the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC), and the Lao PDR Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

28 participants from both public and private sectors attended the event, and the in-person workshop addressed key issues such as digital marketing analysis and planning, promoting community based tourism enterprises online, and developing digital skills training for community-based micro and small tourism businesses such as homestays, guest houses, restaurants, handicraft outlets and local tour services.

Participants also conducted field visits to community-based tourism enterprises, assessing their digital needs as real-life case studies. 

The workshop also held sessions on effective resource utilisation, planning, budgets, and setting goals for digital marketing.

A need for stronger digital skills

ASEAN-Japan Centre assistant director Naoko Fujikawa said that digital skills were crucial for marketing tourism products to the world. However, not many women in the tourism sector had opportunities to develop their digital marketing skills.

Fujikawa said: “By empowering these women with the knowledge to connect their local tourism products to the global market, we are not only supporting their personal growth but also nurturing the sustainable development of their communities.

Likewise,  Phonemaly Inthaphome, director-general of tourism development for Laos’ Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said: “Women have the potential to lead and innovate in tourism. By enhancing their digital skills, we are not just investing in individual capabilities, we are investing in the future of their communities.”

These sentiments were echoed by MTCO executive director Suvimol ‘Dee’ Thanasarakij who noted that women made up more than half of the tourism workforce in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. However, many were informal labourers with limited access to education and opportunities.

Thanasarakij said: “Through this training, we aim to empower women in local tourism communities with the digital skills needed to strengthen their businesses and gain greater exposure to the global market.”

Fujikawa added: “We believe these participants will become catalysts for change, passing on their knowledge and driving innovation in tourism across their regions.”

After the event, Thanasarakij concluded: “We hope this training will create a ripple effect, with participants passing on their knowledge and skills to others, fostering resilience and growth across the region.”