TODAY

Myanmar is going to host the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015 from 22 to 29 January in Nay Pyi Taw, aiming to help ensure the country’s tourism industry growth and deliver broad and equitable social, economic and environmental benefits to its people.

This will be the first time the forum takes place in Myanmar since its inauguration in 1981, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

A total 1, 500 visitors from 40 countries, including tourism ministers and officals, ASEAN exhibitors and international buyers, and international and local media are expecte to visit the 34^th edition of this annual event, the ministry added.

During the Forum of ASEAN Tourism 2015 which is due for eight days, ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, Ministerial Meeting on Tourism between ASEAN and the dialogue partners, ASEAN Tourism Authorized Persons’ Meeting and related meetings including seller-meet-buyer and buyer-meet-seller sessions will be held at Myanmar International Convention Centre I and II in the new capital of the country.

The first ASEAN Tourism Forum was hosted by Malaysia in 1981 to provide a platform for the selling and buying of tourism products of ASEAN member countries. Thanks to its amalgam of diverse cultures, the region has become known for its enchanting sights, breath taking natural wonders and unforgettable destinations welcoming more hordes of globe trotters year after year

Regional tourism statistics show 99.2 million of 1,087 million international tourists travelling the world in 2013 visited ASEAN.

With its significant progress in tourism since 2012, Myanmar’s tourism industry is growing at and impressive pace as the country welcomed 2.04 million foreign visitors with the 93% growth in 2013 and it hit 3 million visitors mark with the total number of tourists visiting Myanmar up to 28 December 2014 at about 3 million.

Ref: New Light of Myanmar