Myanmar presents tourism in Yunnan, eyes market potential in China

A presentation titled “Explore Tourism Myanmar” took place in Kunming, Yunnan Province on November 18, as a sideline of the on-going 2017 China International Travel Mart (CITM). 

 

 

A promotional event, the presentation attracted Myanmar and Chinese tourism officials, business elites and others.   

 

U Yee Mon, permanent secretary of the Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, said Myanmar plans to boost various destinations to draw in more international tourists, especially the Myelk Archipelago of 800 pristine islands in south Myanmar’s coastal region.

 

Noting Myanmar is home for 135 distinct ethnic groups, Yee Mon said 183,886 Chinese residents visited Myanmar via Yangon Airport in 2016, and in the first nine months of 2017 Myanmar received 602,530 cross-border visits by Chinese nationals.

 

Now China is the second largest tourist market for Myanmar Tourism after Thailand, with a market share of 14.45 percent.

 

Mentioning the first Myanmar-China Tourism Cooperation Forum, which was co-hosted by Yunnan earlier this year in Naypyidaw, Yee Mon stressed besides commercial purpose Myanmar tourism development is intended to achieve better understanding between local communities and people of different cultures. 

 

 

U Soe Paing, consul-general of Myanmar in Kunming, said tourism is a “non- smoking industry” because it helps create job opportunities, while preserving the environment and cultural heritages.

 

Soe Paing observed that the Belt and Road Initiative is supported by international community including Myanmar, which is doing all-round cooperation. “China and Myanmar belong to sceneries with breathtaking views, and tourism cooperation can benefit both.”

 

U Yan Win, chairman of Myanmar Tourism Federation, said every year Myanmar participates in the CITM. This year, five tour companies join the event, including Explore Myanmar, Pink Lotus, Beloved Myanmar, foremost Star and Unit Paragon International.

 

As an top Asian professional exhibit starting in 1998, the mart attracts over 3,000 exhibitors from 105 countries and regions.

 

 

Citing the outbound trips worldwide will rise to 23% in 2021 from the current 15%, Yan Win proposed to tap the China-Myanmar tourism cooperation potential: First, assign a Myanmar fight conductor to the Chinese provinces that have direct air-flight connections with Myanmar; and second, launch charter flight service for tourists in the Chinese provinces otherwise.  

 

Liu Wei, chairman of Myanmar-China Culture and Tourism Promoting Council, briefed on major Myanmar scenic attractions, including Yangon, Mandalay, Inlay and others.

 

“Inlay Lake is a scenic highland lake in Shan State, and it is accessible by air planes from Yangon, Bagan or Mandalay to Heho Airport,” said Liu Wei.

 

By Eric Wang and Zhang Yinglin