Myanmar Releases Strategic Roadmap for Tourism Recovery

The Government of Myanmar released a Strategic Roadmap for Tourism Recovery that aims to establish ‘new normal’ conditions to help tourism make  a comeback.  

Mr. Ohn Maung, Union Minister of Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, provided guidelines for implementation of the plan. It includes three phases:  

Survival 

• Taxes will be relaxed, license fees will be reduced, rental fees will be postponed, and loans will be provided for the hotels and tourism businesses.  Online training will be provided for tourism professionals and staff, discussing travel destinations and tourism market assessments organized by Ministry of Hotels & Tourism. 

Reopen 

• Phase two of the plan will focus on short term short term measures, such as health and hygiene and domestic tourism. This will be implemented in June, July, and August. Standard operating procedure (SOP) will be required for the health and safety of travelers and staff. Pagodas, museums and parks will also be reopened in accordance with the national guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports. 

Relaunch 

• Phase three focuses on sustained relaunching of travel content over six months to a year. A new marketing campaign and a long-term plan that will reimagine Myanmar tourism. The government plans to create “travel bubbles” through bilateral agreements with Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), Thailand, and Viet Nam during this phase. 

Earlier, the Myanmar government also said it would work with its neighbors, including Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam, to help revive Myanmar’s tourism industry.