PHUKET,(NNT) – High ranking officials from Thailand and Myanmar plan tourism and investment promotion opportunities for both countries’ tourism and services sectors.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Pongpanu Svetarundra, along with the Governor of Phuket, Chokchai Dejamornthan, have welcomed Myanmar’s Minister of Hotels and Tourism Ohn Maung for a conference held at the Naka Phuket hotel, which was attended by officials and delegates from the private sectors of both countries.
The permanent secretary has said the main agenda for this conference is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning tourism promotion and information exchange between the two countries, as well as mutual development of resources, the promotion of maritime tourism, and the extension to the ASEAN Connect policy for a mutual sustainable development model.
Thailand and Myanmar are seeking to promote maritime tourism in the Andaman Sea, especially at marine tourism destinations in the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Trang. It is hoped that this will lead to more business opportunities such as cruise ships and yacht tourism, to establish a sustainable development model and to attract more income for both countries.
During the conference, Myanmar also proposed to upgrade the connectivity between the two countries, including transportation by land, sea, and air, especially with the debut of air routes connecting Kawthaung-Myeik with Bangkok, as well as Myeik-Dawei and Bangkok. Currently the route is still limited as Myeik airport’s service capacity can only facilitate small aircrafts.
The permanent secretary reported that the outcome of the MOU signing and this conference will lead to the establishment of a working group composed of delegates from both countries’ private sectors, and it is expected to start working immediately.
He has said that Thailand’s private sector is willing to work with Myanmar and said that Thailand recognizes Myanmar’s high development potential which can be realized from investment support, especially in human resources development.
Source: Pattaya Mail
