The strategy is expected to boost arrivals and earnings for the Mekong region by 2015 to 52 million tourists spending US$52.40 billion (euro43.4 billion). International tourist arrivals totaled 16.37 million in 2004, bringing in US$14.78 billion (euro12.25 billion).

The strategy will be implemented through 29 projects involving tourism development in poor areas, marketing, human resource development, heritage and social impact management, and the building of tourism-related infrastructure, said the ADB, which provided financial assistance.

"It will create a more equitable distribution of tourism benefits by increasing the share of total arrivals in less-developed subregional countries," said Alfredo Perdiguero, an economist at ADB's Mekong Department.

The estimated cost of the projects for the year 2006-2010 has been set at US$440.8 million (euro365.4 million). They will be financed by a mix of government funding, loans from financial institutions and private sector participation.

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