6th Tourism Sector Working Group Meeting

Well attended Working Group Meeting – depicting the venue where a presentation to “Destination Management Planning” just took place

HSF

The meeting was opened with a speech by Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism, H. E. U Ohn Maung and followed by a keynote address by U Tint Thwin, Director General of the MoHT.

After the official opening, several actors involved in the tourism sector presented their work. In a following roundtable discussion, questions were raised and suggestions given to the MoHT.

The questions showed, that several participants were unclear about the priorities of the ministry and asked for a more holistic approach to tourism development, that also involves the cooperation of other ministries. Clear and transparent regulations are crucial in the further development of the sector, a participant stated.

“How do we regulate development?” another participant asked. The Tourism Master Plan could help in this endeavor. If continuously updated, it can balance social and economic development, while protecting the environment.

Minister of Hotels and Tourism (MoHT), H.E. U Ohn Maung answered the diverse questions of the participants.

HSF

Most participants agreed, that Community Based Tourism (CBT) has huge potential. U Ohn Maung, highlighted the strength of CBT: “CBT can do more for remote, poor areas.” In the villages, CBT can help young people and women in their empowerment, he concluded.

The TSWG Meetings date back to the year 2013 where the first TSWG was held. It is a biannual multi-stakeholder meeting for development actors involved in the tourism sector, such as international development agencies, NGOs and INGOs, to discuss and coordinate activities with the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MoHT).

Furthermore, the actors provided recommendations to the MoHT and divided and reviewed responsibilities and collaborative actions in the tourism development in Myanmar.

The aim of the various actors is to improve the well-being and livelihoods of all Myanmar people through a strengthening of the tourism sector. Therefore, a special focus is on helping to guide responsible and sustainable tourism development in Myanmar while protecting natural and cultural sites.

We would like to thank the MoHT and in particular H.E. Union Minister U Ohn Maung as well as all the participants to make this event a significant meeting in the coordination of the tourism sector in Myanmar.

We would also like to appreciate Sedona Hotel, Yangon efforts to make the event eco-friendly by avoiding plastic bottles!