Efforts for reviving Tourism industry: Meeting held for National Tourism Development

The Central Committee on National Tourism Development held its meeting (2/2022) at the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday with an address by Chairman of the Central Committee Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win.

At the meeting, the Vice Senior General said that the economic activities of the world's nations which have developed due to tourism industry have been unprecedentedly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and now the respective countries are making efforts to revive the tourism industries as the COVID-19 infection rate has declined. In Myanmar, as the number of COVID-19 infections are less than 1% for 20 consecutive days.

In accordance with the latest COVID-19 prevention and control instructions issued by the Ministry of Health, it needs to make an all-out effort for the development of tourism industries with added momentum. Now, more than 200 countries including Myanmar have reopened tourism businesses. Due to resuming, about 700 million tourists visited all over the world from January to September 2022 and the arrival of tourist is 133 percent more than the same period of the last year.

According to the statistics of the World Tourism Organization, it has returned to 65 percent of the period of 2019 before the outbreak of the COVID-19. Regional and state governments, professionals and hotel and tourism operators need to cooperate for development of MSME sector and manufacturing activities based on local products.

He also called for efforts to speed up the implementation of the Barrier Free Tourism development activities in regions and states, agri-based tourism and farm-based tourism and educational tourism as well as for convenience of tourists.

Countries that are close and have good relations with Myanmar and neighboring countries must be identified as main target markets initially. All concerned officials have to continue to promote unique travel products and services through digital platforms.

Through the embassies of Myanmar, Myanmar tourism businesses must be widely attracted, informed and invited. All the members of the Central Committee on National Tourism Development need to cooperate, he added. Also, attendees made discussions on tourism matters, implementation of the decisions made in the meeting 1/2022, reformation of regional tourism committees and efforts for development of tourism sector. And, the Vice Senior General coordinated the discussions.