U Phyo Zaw Soe: Myanmar has prioritized health and safety...

U Phyo Zaw Soe: Myanmar has prioritized health and safety measures to ensure the well-being for tourists

On September 15, The "International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA) Annual Conference and Dialogue among World Famous Mountains 2023" opened in Xingyi City, Guizhou Province. Gathering over 200 participants, including IMTA members, renowned international organizations, relevant national cultural and tourism departments, leaders and officials from Guizhou Province, professional tourism organizations and enterprises, world-famous mountain and mountain tourism destination institutions, media and other esteemed guests. The Conference was themed with "Mountain Tourism Resource Innovation and Destination Construction." Simultaneously, the Dialogue among World Famous Mountains explored the theme "World Famous Mountains Empower the Wellness of Mountain Tourism." Discussions revolved around cutting-edge strategies for mountain resource protection, innovative utilization, and development, fostering an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere.

U Phyo Zaw Soe, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, presented at the Annual Conference and delivered a speech.

Source: IMTA

The following is the full text of the speech:

First and foremost, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to each one of you on this auspicious occasion of the IMTA Annual Conference 2023. On behalf of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, I am delighted to express my sincere gratitude and profound appreciation to all the participants of this meeting.

As you are well aware, Myanmar is a year-round destination with geographically spread tourism products including diverse and rich cultural and historic assets. The whole country has interesting places and things to explore starting from the highest snowcapped mountain North parts to untouched islands in Southern part.

Source: Internet

In Myanmar, cultural tourism draws the majority of visitors, and our tourism industry revolves around culture and nature. Nature enthusiasts will find a wealth of options among Myanmar's 21 designated ecotourism sites, offer a unique attractions, including exotic wildlife such as wild elephants, leopards, tigers, gibbons, 2 turtles, and rare birds. There are valuable asset for the developing ecotourism industry. Indeed, Myanmar is an enchanting destination for international visitors.

Source: IMTA

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on Myanmar's tourism industry, and it will take time to fully recover to prepandemic levels. In 2019, Myanmar welcomed 4.36 million arrivals, generating tourism receipts of 2818 million USD. Myanmar has taken steps to reopen to international tourism, facilitating business travel since April 17, 2022, and issuing e-visas to tourists since May 20. Myanmar has also prioritized health and safety measures to ensure the well-being of travelers as a top priorities.

Scene of the IMTA Annual Conference 2023

China, as one of the world's largest outbound travel markets, holds great significance for Myanmar's tourism sector. Myanmar received 1.5 million tourists from China in 2019, accounting for 34% of the market share. In 2022, we welcomed over 233,000 visitors, including 23,298 Chinese tourists. In 2023, from January to July, we received over 123,000 Chinese tourists. I am pleased to announce that starting October 1st, 2023, we plan to relax visa exemption policies for Chinese passport holders, further enhancing our tourism ties.

Myanmar has been working to facilitate travel for Chinese tourists, including Visa on Arrival (VoA) at Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw International Airports since October 1st, 2018. These efforts have contributed to an increase in visitor arrivals, with China becoming the largest source of tourists to Myanmar in 2019. The Ministry is collaborating with relevant authorities to extend the visa on arrival scheme for China and India. We are planning to develop in border tourism between Myanmar and China through this collaboration.

Scene of the IMTA Annual Conference 2023

As neighbors, Myanmar and China share natural and cultural assets and common values. I encourage you to explore more destinations and attractions, including the nearby city of Bagan, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, Inlay Lake, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and eco-tourism hotspot, and our stunning beaches. On behalf of the people of Myanmar, I extend a warm welcome to visitors from around the world to experience the of our country. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the privilege of addressing this esteemed gathering. I wish each one of you great personal and business success and a highly productive meeting today.

Editor Ⅲ: Liu Guosong

Editor Ⅱ: Wu Dan

Editor Ⅰ: Rao Juan