World Tourism Day 2023: SAC Chairman attends commemorative ceremony

A ceremony to commemorate World Tourism Day 2023 was held at the Myanmar International Convention Center-2 in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday, with the attendance of Chairman of the State Administration Council, Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

In his opening speech, the Prime Minister noted that due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, tourism-related businesses had suffered significant losses. However, the infection rate has decreased, leading to the resumption of inbound and outbound tourism worldwide.

In Myanmar, international commercial flights resumed operations on April 17, 2022, and e-visas were granted on May 20 of the same year. In 2022, over 200,000 foreign tourists visited Myanmar through various routes, marking 43% increase compared to 2021.

In 2023, over 600,000 tourists received from January to July, representing a six-fold increase compared to the same period in the previous year. The Prime Minister emphasized the government's commitment to the nation's economic development, with tourism being a prioritized sector.

He highlighted that the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is actively developing strategic plans to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. He expressed hope for continued growth in tourism, with the industry eventually returning to its pre-COVID-19 state, and called for harmonious efforts from all stakeholders to ensure the sustainable development of the tourism sector.

The ceremony included a screening of a video message by the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization. During the ceremony, prizes were awarded to the winners of the World Tourism Day commemorative photo contest, article and impromptu competitions, and essay competitions for higher and basic education levels.

After the ceremony, the Prime Minister and party toured displays featuring tourist destinations from various regions and states, as well as booths from the Myanmar Tourism Federation and the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs.

World Tourism Day is celebrated annually on September 27th by member countries of the World Tourism Organization to promote awareness of the importance of the tourism industry and the social, cultural, political, and economic benefits it brings. This year's theme for World Tourism Day is "Tourism and Green Investments."