Outlook bright for tourism industry
May 28, 2010 No CommentsFOREIGN travellers are coming back to Myanmar and the outlook for the industry is positive, a leading tourism body said last week.
At the annual general meeting of the Myanmar Marketing Committee, an organisation of tourism industry companies, memb-ers heard that tourist arrivals have recovered from a series of setbacks in 2007-8.
Recent positive developments included the introduction of direct Vietnam Airlines flights between Hanoi and Yangon, the Air Bagan service to Chiang Mai, the launch of upgraded railway facilities by Myanma Railways to Bagan and, most recently, the introduction of a genuine visa on arrival system.
The MMC has also taken steps to boost the local industry, committee chairperson Daw Su Su Tin told the May 14 meeting.
“We have initiated plans to organise Myanmar Inter-national Tourism Exchange Yangon (MITEY), where we will host a tourism show to showcase Myanmar’s various attractions that visitors can explore with ease and affordable value,” she said.
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism director general U Htay Aung said the visa on arrival system, which was introduced at the start of May, would provide a further boost to tourist arrival figures. “Arrivals in 2009 were up by 25 percent compared to 2008. The new visa-on-arrival system is very useful for future tourism in Myanmar, though we still need to improve the service,” he said.
MMC organised several fundraising activities in 2009-2010, including a fun run, musical, golf tournament and sports day.
Daw Su Su Tin said with the strong support of sponsors and industry colleagues, their project team successfully raised the funds required to continue with industry promotion activities. Further expenditure on marketing and promotion would attract more tourists to the country, she said.
Members elected Dr Aung Myat Kyaw as chairman, U Phyoe Wai Yarzar as vice chairman, Daw Phyu Phyu Mar as secretary, and Daw Rita Myint as treasurer.
By Zaw Win Than and Pan Eiswe Star
May 24 – 30, 2010
SOURCE: http://www.mmtimes.com/2010/travel/524/travel001.html
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