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Developing Sustainable Tourism in the Myeik Archipelago and Tanintharyi Region
Vicky Bowman delivered a presentation on sustainable tourism and Tanintharyi to the Union Minister of Hotels and Tourism, H.E. U Ohn Maung, senior officials from the Ministry and other tourism stakeholders and development partners at the 6th Working Group for Development Partners on Tourism at Sedona Hotel, Yangon on 24 March.
The presentation highlighted the immediate follow-up actions which MCRB and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) are taking following December’s multistakeholder workshop in Dawei.
These include the development of a draft coastal zonation plan by FFI with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) and the Tanintharyi Regional Government; and the compilation of appropriate environmental and social protection standards for the tourism and hospitality sector, including coastal and island regions, by MCRB on behalf of MONREC. These standards, based on both Myanmar law and international standards, will be an important references point for environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and permitting of hotel and other investments, and will draw on MCRB’s findings in the Tourism Sector-Wide Impact Assessment.
Vicky highlighted the important of a precautionary approach to investment in the archipelago, based on an understanding the market, and the carrying capacity of the area, including water resources, as well as the pressing need for development partners to provide support to the Tanintharyi Regional Government. Wouter Schalken, regional tourism expert from the World Bank/International Finance Corporation (IFC) also outlined the support which IFC could offer to the national and regional government on destination management and sustainable tourism in Tanintharyi.
Serge Pun, Chair of the Tanintharyi Tourism Development Committee outlined the Committee’s priority to develop a master plan in support of the government’s objectives to promote the destination, which should prioritise environmental conservation, drawing on advice from the IFC, MCRB, FFI, Oikos and other experts, and address the requirements for connectivity and accessibility.
FFI/MCRB plan follow-up workshops in Myeik and Kawthaung in mid-May to discuss these issues with local stakeholders, including government.
