HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The MekongInnovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) will support 10 innovative travel andhospitality companies in 2018.

The programme, launched in 2016, is supported bythe Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Government and thesix-government Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

MIST aims to identify and support high-growthtravel and hospitality businesses that have the potential to contribute tolocal communities, economies and the environment.

It features a Startup Accelerator and the MarketAccess Programme.

The former teaches business fundamentals toearly-stage travel and hospitality start-ups while connecting them with theindustry and investors, and has chosen five entrepreneurs from Cambodia, Laosand Vietnam -- BambooLao, Ecohost, Go Explore, Sidesbag, and VDEs.

The finalists are attending the Mekong TourismForum to showcase their solutions and explore industry partnerships.

They will come together again in October at ITBAsia in Singapore to pitch to investors and compete for innovation grants of upto 10,000 USD.

The Market Access Programme invites innovatorsfrom around the world to resolve tourism and hospitality industry challenges inthe Greater Mekong Sub-region.

It helps innovators clear market entryobstacles, form local partnerships, and secure financing for proof-of-conceptpilots.

It has chosen five international travel andhospitality innovators: Adventoro, DidaTravel Technology, hereO, Moneybay, andMonkey Theory.

“There is no doubt that technology is rapidlytransforming travel,” Jens Thraenhart, executive director of the Mekong TourismCoordinating Office, said.

“The trick is to harness and accelerateinnovative business models that also positively transform lives, communities,and the natural environment.”

Dominic Mellor, senior investment advisor at theADB, said: “MIST has received more than 350 applications from all over theworld, demonstrating the Greater Mekong Sub-region’s dynamism as a destinationand its attractiveness to innovators.”–VNS/VNA