Post on 27-Jul-2020
1
UNWTO CONFERENCE TOURISM – A CATALYST FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE
- 11-14 JULY 2016
PASSIKUDAH, SRI LANKA
WWW.MEKONGTOURISM.ORG / SOCIAL MEDIA: @TOURISMMEKONG
UNWTO CONFERENCE ON TOURISM & PEACE
UNWTO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOURISM & PEACE
11-14 JULY 2016
PASSIKUDAH, SRI LANKA
2
WWW.MEKONGTOURISM.ORG / SOCIAL MEDIA: @TOURISMMEKONG
3
ABOUT THE GREATER MEKONG SUB-REGION (GMS)
4
Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)
• Cambodia • China
• Guangxi • Yunnan
• Laos • Myanmar • Thailand • Vietnam
• Greater Mekong is home to more than 95 different ethnic groups
• Each have distinct customs and traditions, culture, language and beliefs
• All reliant on the Mekong River as a life-source, but interact with the environment in many different ways
Economic Cooperation Program
Initiated in 1992
Asian Development Bank supported
Aims ◦ To facilitate sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty by strengthening economic linkages among the six member countries
Vision: ◦ Prosperous, integrated and harmonious subregion
Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)
Multi-lateral Collaboration
Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand
Core operations are financed by contributions from its owners, the six Mekong countries.
Tasked with: ◦ Coordinate the Tourism Working Group (TWG)
◦ Coordinating the priority programs of the GMS Tourism Sector Strategy
◦ Implementing joint marketing activities
◦ Promoting the “Mekong” as a single destination
◦ Convene the annual Mekong Tourism Forum
10
Experiences of a lifetime
MYANMAR
11
W
12
Interviewing: HE Yee Mon - Permanent
Secretary, Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and
Tourism &
Owner Myanmar Hill Lodges
13
14
ISSUES: • 135 TRIBES > UNITED MYANMAR • CONFLICT ZONES BETWEEN MYANMAR
ARMY AND TRIBES •NEW GOVERNMENT > AGREEMENT
BETWEEN MILITARY AND CIVIL
15
CONFLICT AREAS:
1. Kachin Conflict
2. Rohingya Conflict in Rakhine State
3. Shan Conflict
4. Chin, Karen (Kayin) and Mon Conflicts
NORTHERN MYANMAR: KACHIN STATE & PUTAO
17
18
THAILAND
19
20
21
SITUATION: • CONFLICT ZONE: KACHIN STATE • PERCEIVED CONFLICT IN THE NORTH,
BUT PUTAO IS CONFLICT FREE • TRAVEL ADVISORY DON’T ENDORSE
TRAVEL TO THE NORTH OF MYANMAR
22
23
CHALLENGES: • PEACE AGREEMENT NOT SIGNED YET •GOVERNMENT CANNOT GUARANTEE
SAFEGUARD TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS • INTERNATIONAL FUNDING NOT USED
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
CASE STUDY: MYANMAR HILL LODGES & PUTAO LODGE
24
Hkakaborazi National Park is the home to South East Asia's highest peak. Protecting one of the
region's most bio-diverse tracts of forest.
CASE STUDY: • PUTAO LODGE BUILT IN 2007 • REVENUE GENERATING IN 2009 & 2010 • CONFLICT ERRUPTS IN 2011 IN KACHIN STATE • CLOSING OF THE LODGE IN 2012 • RE-OPENING OF THE LODGE IN 2013
• SLOW START DUE TO PERCEIVED CONFLICT • DOMESTIC TOURISM INCREASING – EUROPE AND NORTH
AMERICA STILL SLOW (PERCEIVED CONFLICT) • PRIOR TO CONFLICT 80% INTERNTIONAL / 20% DOMESTIC
– NOW 60%/40% (NOW ONE FLIGHT PER DAY AVAILABLE)
30
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHERN MYANMAR
31
DEVELOPMENT: • NO DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT PEACE AGREEMENT • ONCE PEACE AGREEMENT, RAPID DEVELOPMENT IS EXPECTED • NO TOURISM POLICY OR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN
PLACE • ABSENCE OF PEACE AGREEMENT PROTECTS THE
“PURE TOURISM EXPERIENCE” • NO INVESTMENT STALLS DEVELOPMENT
• ROAD FROM MYITKYN (KACHIN) TO PUTAO DESTROYED DURING CONFLICT
• BRIDGES IN MOUNTAINS USED FOR TREKKING (TOURISM) NOT USUABLE
LOCAL COMMUNITY: • TOURISM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT,
REVENUES, AND GENERATES HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY • TOURISM IS AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY • IF NOT ENOUGH TOURISM, LOCAL RESIDENTS ENGAGE IN
ACTIVITES THAT HARM THE ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE MONEY FOR SURVIVAL • HUNTING: DEER, MONKEYS, RED PANDA, MOUNTAIN GOATS • PICKING WILD ORCHIDS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS • PANNING GOLD IN RIVER BANKS – KILLS FISH POPULATION
(MERCURY)
Thank you
JENS THRAENHART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MEKONG TOURISM COORDINATING OFFICE (MTCO)
TEL: +66 2612 4150 – 1 FAX: +66 2612 4152
EMAIL: JENS@MEKONGTOURISM.ORG
WWW.THRAENHART.COM
38
WWW.MEKONGTOURISM.ORG / SOCIAL MEDIA: @TOURISMMEKONG