Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses World Tourism Day-2021 ceremony
Nay Pyi Taw September 27
World Tourism Day-2021 was observed at the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Nay Pyi Taw through video conferencing this morning with an address delivered by Chairman of Central Committee for National Tourism Development Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win through video confer-encing.
Present were union ministers, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw council, chief ministers of regions and states, members of the central committee, presidents of tourism federations, representatives of roundtable talks and officials.In his address, the Vice-Senior General said the 27th September is an auspicious day for the tourism sector and expressed pleasure and honour for the opportunity to address the occasion.
Human beings love travelling and they have the wish to explore various places of the world. So tourism is created for happiness of entire mankind. This year’s theme “Tourism for Inclusive Growth” is much suitable for the tourism business as it can generate a lot of socio-economic benefits.
Many economic sectors including the tourism industry is facing a lot of losses due to COVID-19 global pandemic. The pandemic that started at the end of 2019 lasts for nearly two years. Moreover, it has variants and already hit the world in three waves. Infection of the fourth wave has started in certain countries.As Myanmar strive with might and main to contain the delta variant of the third wave, infection rate dropped to just 8.32 percent on 26 September 2021. The country is also extending the vaccination program and planning to produce vaccines locally to reduce the infection rate to less than 5 percent and then to zero percent.
The country is launching its vaccination program with the goal of giving vaccines to at least 50 percent of the population of 18 and above at the end of December this year. It is planning to vaccinate high school and middle school students by the end of December 2021 to reopen the schools at the earliest date and save an academic year from losing. Systematic supervision is in progress to strictly observe the SOPs which including social distancing and mask and face shield wearing.
Myanmar needs double or triple efforts than other countries to resume tourism as the country is suffering not only from the impacts of COVID-19 but also the consequences of the current situation. To resume the tourism industry with momentum as soon as possible, three sectors such as the government, private entrepreneurs and the local people are required to make concerted efforts.
Moreover, it is necessary to coordinate with countries that are interested in tourism in Myanmar including neighbouring and ASEAN countries to take measures in accordance with international standards in issues including visas and vaccination certificates to resume inbound tourism depending on international flight operations and reopening of international entries. Moreover, effective measures must be taken for marketing, promotion and public relations(PR) to enable international tourists to comprehensively understand that tour destinations in Myanmar are COVID safe destinations.To be able to do so, it is necessary the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, which is the focal ministry, to implement short-, mid- and long- term strategies and tasks stated in the Myanmar Tourism Strategic Recovery Roadmap–MTSRR 2021-2025 which can be carried out currently as much as possible depending on the current situation.
In conclusion, the Senior General expressed his wish that all round development be achieved through tourism in accordance with the theme of World Tourism Day: Tourism for Inclusive Growth.
Then, the video message of Secretary General Mr Zurab Pololikashvili of World Tourism Federation was screened.
The ceremony successfully concluded with the message of gratitude of Union Minister for Dr Htay Aung.