Myanmar held the 52nd Meeting of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region Tourism Working Group and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office Board Meeting via a hybrid system at Mingala Thiri Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
During the meeting, Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Dr Thet Thet Khine said that the Greater Mekong Sub-Region is a world-renowned region due to its diverse culture and attractive destinations, as well as its ability to continuously attract international tourists.
“It is an attractive region for visitors from all over the world due to its abundant tourism resources. Tourism development plays an important role in the economic cooperation and development goals described in the Greater Mekong Sub-Regional Strategy 2030. The strategy aims to promote sustainable and inclusive development and to strengthen connectivity and cooperation among member countries.
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2019, 73.6 million tourists entered the Greater Mekong sub-region and earned US$101 billion. Although there are challenges due to the pandemic, the member countries made efforts to revive the tourism sector and to recover the international tourism industry”, the Union minister added.
She expressed that the meetings to be held today will build strong relations and cooperation between the member countries and create a brighter future for the tourism sector in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region. In addition, she believed that it would contribute to balanced and sustainable development among member countries.
The director-general of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism acted as the chair and discussed the development of the tourism sector among the member countries, digital tourism and destination areas, issues related to infrastructure development, and issues that will continue to cooperate with the Greater Mekong Tourism Sector Strategy 2030.
In the evening, the Union minister attended the welcome dinner hosted for the representatives of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, delivered a speech and warmly greeted the leaders and representatives of the Tourism Authority. The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office Board Meeting will continue today. — MNA/KZL
