Myanmar to promote community based tourism

Shwe Oo Min Cave, Pagoda

U Henry Van Thio, Second Vice President of Myanmar, has reiterated the need for development of community-based tourism industry in Danu Self-Administered Zone in eastern Shan state, as reported by Myanmar News Agency.

The Second Vice President, who is also the chairman of the Central Committee for the Development of the National Tourism Industry, stressed the need for necessary preparation for providing better tourism services in view of the recent decision of the government to relax visa rules for Asian travellers starting from October.

In view of increasing inbound tourists, the government has decided to grant visa exemption to Japanese and South Korean visitors as well as visa-on-arrival to visitors from China including Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions starting from 1st October 2018.

The Vice President has visited Shwe Oo Min Cave, a green tea factory, a coffee farm and a coffee mill in Pindaya and Ywangan townships covered by the zone as well as an elephant camp in Kalaw Township in southern Shan state.

The elephant camp, Located at Meikhtila-Taunggyi road,  has been promoted into a green business, generating job opportunity for elephant workers and turning the camp into a public vacation and education center. The move has encouraged public involvement in the environmental conservation activities, promoting eco-tourism and protecting the elephants.

Meiktila-Taung Gyi Elephant Camp

The vice president urged to give all the possible efforts to exploit the full potential of the camp that has already become a popular tourist destination within a short period of time.

As per the statistics provided by the Hotel and Tourism Ministry, the country could host over 1.72 million foreign visitors in the first half of this year and targets over 7 million visitors by 2020.

The country is also striving to promote eco, cultural and community-based tourism to utilize the abundant resources of the country, such as historical landscapes, rivers, lakes, beaches, islands and forests.