Tourism sector showing great promise in 2014: minister
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Myanmar's hospitality and tourism industry is likely to become the most promising sector as record numbers of tourists are expected this year, according to the minister of tourism.
Minister Htay Aung was speaking at the Myanmar Hospitality and Tourism Conference 2014 being held at the Traders Hotel, in Yangon on Tuesday and Wednesday. More than 300 delegates from around the world representing the hospitality industry are attending the event.
“The emergence of Myanmar as a new tourist destination with abundant cultural and natural heritage, friendly and hospitable people and spiritual values makes it an attractive destination for visitors and foreign investors,” said Htay Aung in his opening speech.
The tourism minister encouraged local and foreign investors to invest in hotels and other tourism-related businesses which show promise for the future.
He also urged all development partners and tourism businesses to participate in the country’s development and growth with full confidence to bolster Myanmar’s tourism industry.
“At the same time, I would like to encourage all the tourism stakeholders to contribute from your part to enhance social well-being of our people, conservation of cultural heritage and conservation of natural environment.”
Maung Maung Swe, Vice Chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, also welcomed foreign investors who are helping create strong economic growth and job opportunities for people in major cities as well as rural areas.
For the first time in its history, Myanmar received more than 2 million international visitors in 2013 with the growth rate of 93 percent as compared to the previous year.
Conference chairperson, Bill Barnett who is the managing director at C9 Hotelworks, based in Thailand, also acknowledged that Myanmar is an emerging market and will take time to develop.
“The market has already changed. I can see that there are also challenges. It’s gonna happen. But it will take time as well. While coming to Yangon and looking at the hotels, we wonder why pipelines and projects are taking longer than we expect. Again it is an emerging economy,” said Barnett.
The tourism minister admitted that there was much to be done to build capacity in the hotels and tourism sector and create a favourable environment for tourists who wish to enjoy the country’s beautiful climate and cultural heritage.
“We do not have sufficient trainers, training facilities and updated training curriculum for teaching hospitality and tourism. However, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism managed to start a BA in Tourism at the National Management College in Yangon and Mandalay Universities. We hope to narrow down the human resource gap in the tourism sector.”
The minister said that he hoped to expand in 2014 due to the country’s constructive engagement with the international community.
He added that he was happy to meet and discuss with international investors, insisting that Myanmar is ready to welcome an influx of international arrivals in the years to come.
“For instance, we have opened a border checkpoint along the Myanmar-Thailand border and allow visitors from Thailand who have valid passports to enter and exit the country from this checkpoint.”
The ministry is now reviewing the existing tourism law with the U.N. World Tourism Organisation to become more effective.
Singapore-based Sphere Conferences and Myanmar Tourism Federation organised the event allowing foreign investors interested in the country’s growing tourism sector to meet with local representatives and businesses.
