Tourism Sector: ASEAN-China Tourism Security and Safety Forum

ASEAN-China Tourism Security and Safety Forum and Travel Facilitation & Tourism Statistics Harmonization Workshop was held at Sedona Hotel in Yangon on 25th August.

Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism and Sports and Youth Affairs Jeng Phang Naw Taung attended the event and made opening remarks.

Jointly organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center (LM_LECC), the forum aims to foster collaboration for boosting tourism industry with better facilities for tourists and local communities as a whole.

Director General,Directorate of Hotels and Tourism,Maung Maung Kyaw said" Through this forum and workshop, we are making concerted efforts to establish a safe and seamless travel route and to attract more visitors to Myanmar. As a ASEAN member state, Myanmar is actively participating in ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) Meetings, ASEAN Ministerial Meetings and forums to improve tourism industry within ASEAN region, attracting visitors from across the world."

Local and International speakers from the relevant organizations shared experiences and explored ways to strengthen cross-border cooperation for safe, secure and sustainable tourism.

Police Lt. Colonel,Division Against Transnational Crime,Myo Thant Tin said " About 20 tourist police forces are deployed in popular tourist destinations across regions and states. There are 10 types of services that tourist police forces provide for the convenience of the tourists including health care service. As we offer necessary assistance for the safety of the tourists, tourists must consider the safety of local community as a shared responsibility. Preventing unnecessary problems such as cultural misunderstandings also involved in responsibilities of tourist police."

During the forum, attendees delivered insightful keynote speeches and engaged in panel discussions on various topics covering tourism security and safety for regional sustainable development, shared responsibilities, latest information of travel facilitation procedures, best practices in the development of tourism statistics, digital technology and information security.