December
21, 2017
Vice
President U Henry Van Thio called for exploring new traditional tourist
attractions nationwide while also developing sustainable tourism in Myanmar.
“Apart
from creating new tourism routes and new attractions including natural tourist
attractions, we need to combine innovation with the natural resources to create
more choices for tourists to visit in Myanmar,” said Vice President U Henry Van
Thio yesterday.
He
made the remarks as the Chairman of the Central Committee for the Development
of the National Tourism Industry (CCDNTI), at the coordination meeting of the
committee in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
He
said systematic plans should be laid down for development of the country’s
tourism sector, as it is blessed with abundant tourism resources compared to
neighbouring countries.
Despite
the abundance of natural scenery and tourist attractions, the number of
visitors to Myanmar still remained below expectations, U Henry Van Thio said.
More
than 2.9 million foreign visitors visited Myanmar in 2016, and as of the end of
October 2017, a total of 3.1 million foreign visitors had visited, an increase
of 20 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The
slow growth should be increased through retaining current growth momentum, and
all need to pitch in and do this, the Vice President said.
The
Asian countries of Thailand, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, the United States, and European countries including France,
Britain, and Germany are seen to have the highest numbers of visitors to
Myanmar. These countries need to be targeted especially so that more will come.
At the same time, countries from which not many visitors are coming but have
the potential to increase need to be selected and promoted with market
development works to raise interest in Myanmar so that there’ll be increase in
the number of foreign visitors.
“While
there is a need to promote Myanmar to the world as a place of interesting
places to attract tourists, there is also a need to provide convenient and safe
services and safe food to visitors when they visit Myanmar,” said U Henry Van
Thio.
He
also highlighted other important points, including availability of
visa-on-arrival at main entry airports, direct flights from international
countries, and visa-free entry to nationals of countries that are set as target
countries as the way to achieve success and development for a country’s tourism
industry.
He
also called on private sector to cooperate with governmental departments for
promoting the country’s tourism industry.
“Those
who are concerned with tourism are obliged to refute fake news that can damage
the image of the country, as the development of the tourism industry depends
upon the image of the country,” said U Henry Van Thio.
The
Vice President also stressed the need for stability to attract tourists.
Following
the address of U Henry Van Thio, U Yi Mon, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry
of Hotels and Tourism, suggested to announce the National Tourism Policy and to
take into consideration suggestions of the Hluttaw Tourism Law Drafting
Committee to the Draft Tourism Law. He also discussed policies related to the
sale of alcohol in the excise law, a tourism tax, issuing special visas to
tourists and establishing an e-tourism working group.
Union
Ministers U Kyaw Win, U Kyaw Tin, U Thein Swe, Thura U Aung Ko, U Ohn Win and
Dr. Myint Htwe, and deputy minister U Kyaw Myo, Permanent Secretary U Tin
Myint, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council and chief ministers of regions and
states, took part in the discussions at the meeting.
President
of Myanmar Tourism Federation U Yan Win also suggested that the government
supply funds for tourism development, open border entrances and give visa
exemptions to visitors from ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea.
Myanmar
News Agency
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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