MT News
The government disbursed over Ks-21 billion for the development of Tourism sector, Chairman of the State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said at the ceremony to mark the World Tourism Day 2022 held on 27 September.
Since start of the infection by the pandemic, the government allotted 3 to 4 percent of the State budget to be spent on COVID-19 economic relief plan. Up to now, Ks-21.4 billion was disbursed to 244 tourism companies and 339 hotels and lodges. Leasing charge was suspended to six months for State-owned hotels and leasing charge reduced to 50 percent for the period from April 2020 to December 2021. Moreover, licence fees for hotels, motels, tour agencies and tour guides were exempted for one year.
In order to resume the local and international tourism services, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism prioritizes vaccination of COVID-19 to tour operators and some 300,000 persons related to the tourism sector across the nation. So as to respond to the impact of COVID-19 upon the Myanmar’s tourism sector, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is implementing the strategic roadmap for Myanmar tourism recovery (2021-2015) comprising 18 strategies and 93 detailed action plans for achieving success in short, medium and long term goals, Chairman of SAC said.
At present, as the pandemic can be placed under control to some extent, more than 100 countries resumed tourism industries including Myanmar. In doing so, it can be seen that e-visa processes are still different among these countries. As such, more than 250 million international tourists paid visits to global countries from January to May 2022, exceeding 173 million of the corresponding period last year, according to the statistics of the WTO, accounting for 225 percent.
Myanmar faces lesser infection rate from October 2021 and local tourism services see progress. As of 17 April 2022, the international airlines were allowed to land and take off from Myanmar. So, good prospect for resumption of tourism industry were seen, and e-visa was allowed for international travellers till 20 May 2022. Inbound and outbound tourism results can be seen, and Myanmar expected to increase the number of internal and international tourists in open season. As such, it is necessary to make preparations for the tourism industry, Chairman of SAC continued.
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