Myanmar tourism to take off

Norway gives money and expertise

Norway-backed tourism master plan for socially and environmentally aware tourism edges closer

Norway will give US$225,000 to help the government draw up a tourism master plan, which is expected to be finalised by the end of March.

Norway was one of the first countries to withdraw its advice to its nationals not to visit Myanmar, said the minister, who has visited this country three times. This was done "in the belief that greater contact with the rest of the world would have a positive effect on a country that had been closed for a long time," he said.

The tourism master plan, which will guide the environmentally and socially sustainable development of the sector, will be drawn up by a team from Thammasat University’s Centre of Innovation in cooperation with the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Asian Development Bank.

Team leader Dr Paul Rogers said on November 5 the team will submit the draft tourism master plan on January 31, 2013 and finalise it by the end of March.

The announcement follows a four-week fact finding trip in which the team consulted more than 150 people in Nay Pyi Taw, Inle Lake, Tachileik, Kengtung, Kawthoung, Yangon and Kyaikhtiyo.

Mr Eide said Norway is also supporting conservation work at Inle Lake that is being carried out by UNDP, the Institute of International Development, and UN-HABITAT.

In the first half of 2012, international tourist arrivals increased by more than 30 percent compared to the same period last year, making Myanmar one of the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations.

"Rapid tourism growth presents the country with many opportunities and challenges," Mr Eide said. "Tourism is a labour-intensive industry that can quickly create jobs across all levels of society, help to strengthen economic ties across borders, promote international friendship, and foster greater appreciation of Myanmar’s rich cultural and natural heritage."

At the same time, damage to the environment and negative social impacts can occur if tourism development takes place in an unplanned and uncoordinated manner.

A sustainable tourism policy would rely on less energy-intensive forms of transport with fewer emissions, Mr Eide said, adding that the tourism industry also had a responsibility to help conserve the country’s cultural heritage.

Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Htay Aung stressed the need to manage tourism responsibly and to avoid "killing the golden goose".

"We’re very conscious of the challenges of long-term sustainable tourism development," he added.

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