FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Myanmar 'no threat to Thai tourism'

Myanmar 'no threat to Thai  tourism'

Thailand will not lose its leadership among regional destinations from the opening of the tourism industry in Myanmar because of its quality facilities and professionalism, an expert said last week.

 

In contrast, Thailand stands to benefit because the young and fresh scenario of Myanmar will help boost regional travel by offering new products to increase tourist arrivals, said Steven Schipani, a social sector specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) based in Bangkok.
Thailand will still play a key role as the gateway to the region. The bank’s research found that 30 foreign travellers out of every 100 visiting the Asean bloc have seen two countries.
In his talk to The Nation, his message was clear that Myanmar would help create a “choice’’ for foreigners during their regional travel, and was not a threat to Thailand.
Myanmar is still far behind Thailand in development. Its infrastructure, such as road network, electricity and sanitation, is still poor. Hotel standards are not good. People working in the industry from chef to tour guide lack professionalism. Also, the hospitality of the local people leaves much to be desired, especially concerning unfair service.
The ADB is working with Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MOHT) to craft a tourism master plan. Tourism is considered as an important industry to build the country’s prosperity. Even Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, has said tourism was one of her first priorities to help drive economic activities.
The tourism master plan, with US$225,000 in support from the government of Norway, will draw on advice from specialists around the world on aspects such as tourism, the environment, cultural heritage and marketing.
The process has started. Six professionals are expected to be selected by August to work with the bank. The master plan will be completed next year and submitted to the MOHT to start taking action.
One of its ambitions is job creation to get rid of poverty and narrow the gender gap. Women will be allowed to work to augment their household income and play a more prominent role in the economy. Exploiting children for labour and women for the sex trade will not be allowed.
Neighbouring nations, especially Thailand, can offer tourism lessons from an environmental and social standpoint. The plan will also be in line with the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation, which is an effort to promote the subregion as a single tourism destination. The GMS countries are Cambodia, China, including Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
The cooperation is expected to bring progress to all nations in the fast-growing region. However, tourism in the six GMS nations is still out of balance. Last year, 38 million visited the GMS, but half of the trips were to Thailand, he added.

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