Tourism Development: 11th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism

Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Dr Htay Aung attended the 11th World Congress on Snow and Mountain Tourism organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Thursday.

The two-day event, held from 23 to 24 March, discussed issues of sustainability and digital transformation, rules and regulations to be followed by tourists in resuming tourism activities at the congress, conservation of tourism resources, and health tips and tourism innovation.

The Mayor of Canilla from Andorra, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization and Andorra’s Minister of Tourism and Communications gave opening remarks.

The attendees discussed mountainous tourism restoration and prospects, post-COVID-19 tourism strategies for the long-term development of mountainous destinations, challenges of each country in terms of prospects for tourism in the future including tourist destination, issues of The International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022, requirements for sustainable development of mountain tourism attractions and activities, implementing the training programmes to provide quality services, equipment needed for snow and mountain trekking, infrastructure and investment issues, and issues related to the adaptation of snow and mountain tourism to natural resources, ways to Build a Ski Resort, requirements to work with relevant tour management agencies to improve service quality issues at ski resorts, climate change and its impact on the environment and benefits of tourism to local communities.

The meeting also discussed to provide information on the use of Big Data in tourism sustainability activities in mountainous areas as well as transformation of digital technology and the widespread use of technology in the tourism sector.

They also made discussion on the review of the World Tourism Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Sustainable Mountain Tourism Report as well as food tourism and food security issues.

The attendees also shared innovative experiences in tourism, job creation and capacity building, management and development of responsible tourism destinations.