Myanmar hosted the Mekong Tourism Forum from 14 to 19 June in Yangon, and the national tourism authorities and representatives from Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, and international experts attended the event. The experts discussed cooperation in the tourism sector and proper measures to promote that industry. Here is the interview with the responsible persons of Myanmar.
U Maung Myint (Union Minister, Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture)
We organized the Mekong six-country forum to promote tourism. During the forum, participants exchanged information, discussed future cooperation plans, and explored opportunities for collaboration in the tourism sector. Myanmar and Cambodia also signed an agreement on bilateral tourism cooperation. Similar initiatives were undertaken before, but they were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now resuming these efforts, and there are promising prospects for success through cooperation among travel agencies.
Global tourism can be divided into European and Asian. In Europe, tourism has declined due to economic downturns and fuel-related challenges, which have led to the cancellation of many flights. In Asia, Myanmar has experienced a 50 per cent decline in tourist arrivals from China. To address this, we plan to produce tourism promotional videos and present them in China to showcase Myanmar’s peaceful and beautiful tourist destinations. In 2019, there were 14 to 15 direct flights from China to Bagan. We are working to regain that level.
Before the President’s visit to the People’s Republic of China, discussions with Chinese diplomats included tourism-related matters. We believe tourism can significantly contribute to Myanmar’s economy, and we expect tourism promotion to be among the topics discussed during the visit. Tourism has also declined in Thailand and Malaysia. Therefore, it is not surprising that Myanmar’s tourism industry has experienced a downturn as well. However, the important question is how we can recover. We are conducting awareness campaigns among hotelier, travel agencies, and the public. We are also working with local authorities to promote tourism through cultural development and destination marketing. Previously, the tourism sector relied on international visitors. Today, domestic tourism is playing a greater role, and efforts are underway to revitalize destinations such as Bagan. If Myanmar cooperates with neighbouring countries in promoting tourism, the country’s tourism industry will undoubtedly experience a revival.
U Aung Aye Han (Director-General, Directorate of Hotels and Tourism).
As part of the Mekong six-country meeting, we first held discussions to exchange experiences and share national tourism initiatives so that participating countries could learn from one another and strengthen cooperation. The forum followed these preliminary discussions. As Tourism is for everyone, its benefits should be enjoyed by all segments of society — from large business owners to small and medium-sized enterprises, tour guides, and household-based entrepreneurs, and we held the forum with such objective. Next fact is that the forum was held to raise awareness among travellers about preserving natural resources, cultural heritage, and traditional customs, in addition to enjoying leisure travel.
In promoting tourism cooperation among the six countries, we are working step by step, beginning with two-country and three-country tour packages and eventually creating a unified six-country Mekong tourism destination. Our primary focus remains on destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay, Inlay Lake, and Bagan, which are currently attracting domestic travellers.
Hosting the forum in Myanmar provided participants with experience of the country’s stability and development. It also offered an opportunity to counter misinformation by presenting the true situation on the ground. Myanmar’s tourism industry is built upon its natural resources and cultural heritage, which form the foundation of its tourism products.
U Yan Win (President, Myanmar Tourism Federation)
The tourism sector can only be successfully promoted through cooperation between the government and the private sector. If we gradually expand cooperation from bilateral initiatives to a six-country tourism destination, all six participating countries will benefit from increased tourist arrivals. We try to operate a direct flight to Cambodia first. Because Cambodia receives a large number of tourists annually. Angkor Wat alone attracts four to five million visitors each year. If direct flights between Cambodia and Myanmar are operated, many of those travellers could also visit Myanmar. If direct air services are introduced as part of a Myanmar-Cambodia-Thailand tourism promotion initiative, Myanmar’s tourist destinations are likely to become more vibrant during the coming open season with both domestic and international visitors. The six-country cooperation framework offers proper potential for tourism growth.
To develop tourism, we know how other countries conduct tourism promotions and raise funding for marketing activities, and so we are making efforts to implement similar strategies in Myanmar. Continuous promotional campaigns are essential for sustainable tourism development. I believe Myanmar’s tourism sector will develop significantly in the near future. Cambodia has long benefited from direct international air connections, which help maintain a steady flow of visitors. Easy travel arrangements, visa exemptions, and convenient banking and payment systems encourage tourists to spend more, increasing foreign earnings. Myanmar should adopt similar measures. As Myanmar reaches a more stable period and hosts the Mekong Forum, we now have an opportunity to announce to ASEAN and the world that both Myanmar’s tourism sector and the wider Mekong six-country tourism region are moving toward greater development. A bright future is emerging for Myanmar’s tourism industry, and I would like to assure every visitor that they will receive warm hospitality when they come to Myanmar.
Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH
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