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4th National Conference on Communities and Tourism 2019
Community-centred planning, multi-stakeholder coordination and transparency needed to ensure responsible tourism development in regions
The 4th National Conference on Communities and Tourism 2019 was successfully held in Loikaw, Kayah State from 6-8 June 2019. It brought together almost 350 participants representing tourism businesses and associations, community-based tourism (CBT) groups, government and civil society orgaisationss (CSOs) from across Myanmar with a particular focus on those working in tourism in Kayah State. The conference was organized by Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), Myanmar Responsible Tourism Institute (MRTI), and International Trade Center (ITC) with the cooperation of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Kayah State Government.
At the closing ceremony, Chief Minister U L Phaung Sho said:
"The responsible development of the tourism sector in Kayah State has great potential to support overall state development. The state welcomes all responsible investments which will also benefit the people of Kayah. We acknowledge that we will need to coordinate with all stakeholders including community members, local entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, development partners and the government. The new Tourism Law has been passed and the Kayah State Tourism Committee has been formed. We promise that we will continue coordination efforts and increase transparency. We will not shy away from reforms where necessary and we will make sure these are well-suited to the Kayah context. We are aware that the Government cannot do this alone. We welcome coordination with relevant stakeholders to ensure regional development."
At one of the panel discussions titled “New Tourism Legal Framework and Decentralization in Myanmar” panelist U Nay Moe Aung from 9 Generation Force Tour Operator said:
“As a local entrepreneur and member of the community, I welcome the new Tourism Law and formation of the Committee. However, I believe that a more transparent and better coordinated process is needed to ensure that this regional committee recognises relevant needs within Kayah State and adopts measures which will support job creation, SME development and properly conserve cultural and natural environment.”
The panel discussed the importance of decentralisation in supporting regional development. Regarding licensing and permit application requirements, the panel pointed out that processes need to be decentralised and adapted to respective needs in local states or regions which should be the objective of the law.
In his key note speech, Pascal Khoo Thwe author of “From the Land of Green Ghosts” and a native Kayan highlighted the importance of a community centred planning approach for regional development and the conservation of cultural and natural environment. He said:
“Local communities should always be at the centre of the process. Without proper understanding of their ways of life, needs and habitat, business activities are likely to negatively impact the community, which is something we must avoid. We must ensure that community participation is at the heart of the conversation. The more emphasis that is placed on the role of communities, the less challenges the government will face while working towards regional development without compromising cultures and the environment.”
In his key note speech titled Tourism and the Peace Process, Mr. Leon di Riedmatten, Consultant for the Hanns Seidel Foundation emphasised the impact stakeholder inclusive community tourism development can have towards supporting sustainable peace in fragile ceasefire agreement areas.
Daw Khin Sithu, Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Loikaw welcomed participants and also emphasised the importance of community participation and cultural preservation. She also stressed the urgency of multi-stakeholder coordination including parliaments, government, businesses and grass-level communities to ensure responsible business in the region. She said:
“Whatever the project is, it will be critical to prioritise the voices of local ethnic communities. Only with that will businesses be effectively supporting regional development in this state”.
On the first two days of the conference panel discussions were held on topics such as Responsible and Sustainable Tourism in Myanmar with last year’s MRTA Winners, the New Tourism Legal Framework and Decentralization, Waste Management, Environmental Conservation in Tourism, Adventure Tourism Experiences: Opportunities and Challenges and Community Tourism Projects in Myanmar.
The third and final day gave participants the possibility to learn from national and international experts in workshops on:
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Storytelling through Digital Marketing
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Food Waste Management
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A Participatory Approach to Developing DMOs
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Tourism Hubs as Support to SMEs
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Innovation in Tourism
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Sustainable Product Development: Creating an Experience
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Community Based Tourism: Model and Implementation (“Fresh from the Field”)
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Eco-tourism possibilities and chances in Myanmar
MCRB, HSF and MRTI previously organised a third National Conference on Communities and Tourism in Kalaw in June 2018.
