Myanmar Tour Guides Association conducted a talks on conservation of the UNESCO named Bagan world heritage site and Yangon’s colonial buildings, at Padonmar Restaurant in Yangon yesterday.
 

“On behalf of tour guides, I would like to say that I am immensely proud that Bagan has been included in World Heritage List. The effort to include Bagan in the list has been now a pride to the country. If a tourist asked if Bagan is in world heritage list, we answer that we are working on it. Now we have definite answer,” said Chairman of Myanmar Tour Guide Association, U Aung Tun Oo.
 

Over 3 million tourists visit Myanmar yearly, and this year peak season, tour guides hope more will visit. This session of discussion is to find ways to preserve Bagan, in collaboration with Myanmar Tour Guide Association, as it is a nation heritage.
 

In the morning session, a representative of Myanmar Tour Guide Association, Daw Aye Nyein Thu, who attended 2019 session of World Heritage Committee in Azerbaijan, shared her experience.
 

International relationship officer of Department of Archaeology, discussed under the title of The Role of Tourism in Bagan World Heritage Site. She stressed that tour guides bear in mind to preserve Bagan.
 

In the afternoon session, Program officer of Yangon Heritage Trust, U Thurein Aung talked about colonial building and discussed art of preserving them under the title of Heritage Tourism in Myanmar.
 

Only if private organizations and locals cooperate with state there will be success in preservation ,and it is important to educated people on value of these building for effective preservation.
 

As tourism not only benefit tour guides and travel and tour companies but locals and the state, it is important to preserve heritage in the city and the world heritage site.
 

There are over 10,000 registered tour guides, and 2000 of them are based in Yangon. This session was held to add to tour guides’ knowledge as to preserving Bagan and art of preserving heritage building in Yangon and to prepare for more tourists as Bagan has been designated World heritage site.—Than Htike

(Translated byAlphonsus)