Myanmar Unveils Details of Three-Stage Tourism Recovery Plan

As countries around the world gradually ease travel and living restrictions, Myanmar has unveiled details of a three-stage ‘Strategic Roadmap for Tourism Recovery’.

The first stage, the Survival phase, involves relaxing taxes, license fees will be reduced, rental fees will be postponed and loans will be provided for hotels and tourism businesses. There will be more online training for tourism professionals and staff, discussing travel destinations and tourism market assessments organized by the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism.

Phase two of reopening will be short term and will be implemented in June, July and August. Standard operating procedures will be required for the health and safety of travelers and staff. Promoting domestic travel will be the focus as local travel destinations are opening in the month of June. Pagodas, museums and parks will also reopen in accordance with the national guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

The third phase will be implemented within six months to a year and includes launching new marketing campaigns and a long-term plan of reinventing Myanmar tourism. The government plans to create “travel bubbles” through bilateral agreements with Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam when the country reopens.

The Myanmar government has extended the entry ban on travelers from all countries until 15 June 2020.

Yangon International airport terminal remains operational for domestic and special relief flights.

“Myanmar Tourism Marketing is planning to launch a domestic tourism campaign together with the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism and other travel associations,” said Ms. May Myat Mon Win, Myanmar Tourism Marketing Chairperson. “We need to start with domestic tourism then will develop to open up to regional countries and follow by the long haul destination after the situation of the COVID19 eases.”

Myanmar welcomed 4,364,101 visitor arrivals in 2019, up from 3,551,428 in 2018. The statistics from 2019 can be downloaded in .pdf here.

Sourced: http://www.asiatraveltips.com/