CBT Program: Preparations For Tourism Industry In The Post COVID-19 Period

Tourist arrivals in Myanmar are likely to fall this year amid the global coronavirus outbreak and the impact of the disease can be felt a lot the local tourism industry.

Preparations are being undertaken to survive rapidly again the tourism industry in the post COVID-19 period through the Community Based Tourism depending on the Ayeyawady Dolphins in Si The village in Singu Township, Ayeyawady Region.

The program aimed to achieve and sustain the community based tourism in Mandalay Region and to be ready for the post COVID-19 period, according to an official of Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.

Assistant Director, Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, San Yu said “The program is based on dolphins and we have arranged to upgrade tourism products. It directly benefits to the people. Currently, the numbers of foreign visitors are declining because of the virus. There are two villages of community based tourism in Mandalay Region. We expect that the calamity will be changed in the post period and so, we have prepared this program for tourism industry. “

Through this program, it intends to prepare giving better quality services for the visitors and to move better forward to the future tourism industry.

Operation Manager, Harrison Institute, Aung Toe Khine said “Due to the COVID-19, visiting of foreign visitors has declined and we are now trying to seek local markers. Through recycle process, we make dolphin figures from drifting woods and lap-top bags and shopping bags from the old rice bags. If one item is sold, the profits will be used for regional development, conservation of dolphins and maintenance tasks in percentage.”

The community based tourism (CBT) is being implemented with the ASEAN norms. One of the locals said it supports to the improvement of  local communities.

Local, San San Swe said “Due to the CBT, the villagers have improved a lot. They earned reasonable incomes. The numbers of visitors are on the decline now because of coronavirus and so also, our incomes decrease.”

The infectious disease has brought concerns to employers and employees of SME sectors, especially CMP garment factories along with hotels and tourism. The hotels and tourism industry is undertaking measures to survive again tourism sector through the recovery plans and actions.