Bagan,29 November
H.E. U Htay Aung, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of 28th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Tourism Working Group Meeting, Travel Symposium, GMS Travel Exhibition and Spectrum of Myanmar Photo Expo at the Banquet Hall of Aureum Palace Hotel, Bagan in the morning of November 29.
Deputy Minister said that in 2009 Ministry of Hotels and Tourism hosted 22nd GMS Event in Nay Pyi Taw for the first time. It is with pride and delighted that this time Myanmar can host prestigious and various tourism events with assistance of Myanmar Tourism Board, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, and sub-regional member countries.
“It is a great platform for tourism cooperation between Myanmar and GMS member countries as well as between ADB, PATA and Development Partners. I do hope that this significant event will provide a great opportunity for us to take further steps to work together with member countries and our development partners,” he said.
He said ideas, exchanged knowledge and experiences that share in the meeting among professional guest speakers and participants will be very helpful in a way to attempt for the enhancement of tourism as well as in implementing GMS Tourism Sector Strategy within the GMS region.
H.E. U Htay Aung said that he thanked Asian Development Bank (ADB) and development partners for providing technical and financial assistance to implement the priority projects of the GMS tourism sector strategy.
“I am pleased to note that the members of GMS Tourism Sector have made some progress like promoting the sub-region as a single destination, developing infrastructure, improving human resources training program, developing pro-poor community based sustainable tourism, encouraging private sector participation in GMS tourism sector and facilitating the movement of tourists to and within the GMS region by means of rendering assistance from ADB and our development partners,” he said.
Deputy Minister said that although Myanmar has participated in 21 GMS projects out of total 29 projects, the country was not given privilege to take the leading role.
“We do hope that in future we will also have a chance to perform as a leading role in implementing GMS programs that will lead to parallel development in all member countries in putting efforts to fulfill the objectives of socio-economic development and poverty alleviation through tourism in the region,” he said.
He said he would like to urge all the tourism stakeholders to promote realistic and achievable regional cooperation to generate the tourism development in the region.
“As for Myanmar, the world is knocking our door. At current, the door is a little bit Jam and heavy. With the kind support of international institution like Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), ADB and development partners and MTCO, it can be easily opened in a few while.
He also suggested that to encourage and assist the private sector and the people in the community to participate in all areas of tourism related activities.
Representatives from GMS countries, ADB, PATA, Government officials from ministries, Myanmar Tourism Board, Myanmar Hotelier Association, Myanmar Travel Association, Myanmar Restaurant Association, Myanmar Transport Association and related associations attended to the closing ceremony.