Government continues to push capital as a tourism destination for event holders
Government continues to push capital as a tourism destination for event holders
Myanmar Times, 04 Oct 2016
URL: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/22885-government-continues-to-push-capital-as-a-tourism-destination-for-event-holders.html
The government has again announced a series of initiatives to help draw tourists to Nay Pyi Taw, including stepping up its efforts to lure foreign travellers looking for a destination to hold events and conferences.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital on September 28, on the eve of World Tourism Day, U Tint Thwin, director general at the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, said Nay Pyi Taw had a lot to offer both foreign and local tourists.
A marketing team is to boost efforts to promote the capital as a location for MICE – meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, he said.
“International tourists can come to attend a meeting and then they can visit the rest of Myanmar,” said U Tint Thwin.
“Now hotels are reducing their room prices competitively, without needing to be urged by us,” she said, adding that the average price of rooms had dropped by about 20 percent.
There are more than 50 hotels with over 5000 rooms, she said, with the industry working together to promote the area.
But not everyone agrees with the capital’s tourism potential.
“Nay Pyi Taw is like a dead city,” said U Aye Kyaw, managing director of Ruby Land Tourism Services.
It takes more than a few conference halls, he said, to lure foreign visitors to a MICE destination.
“There needs to be facilities with shopping spots and restaurants too,” he said. “And we can’t compete with Thailand and Vietnam on hotel room prices, even though they said they have lowered prices.”
“Tourists have told us that there is no place to go when the events are finished,” she said. “It is not enough to have only lower hotel room prices, but we need better transportation and other facilities to promote a tourism industry in Nay Pyi Taw.”
Speaking at a press conference in the capital on September 28, on the eve of World Tourism Day, U Tint Thwin, director general at the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, said Nay Pyi Taw had a lot to offer both foreign and local tourists.
A marketing team is to boost efforts to promote the capital as a location for MICE – meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, he said.
“International tourists can come to attend a meeting and then they can visit the rest of Myanmar,” said U Tint Thwin.
“Now hotels are reducing their room prices competitively, without needing to be urged by us,” she said, adding that the average price of rooms had dropped by about 20 percent.
There are more than 50 hotels with over 5000 rooms, she said, with the industry working together to promote the area.
But not everyone agrees with the capital’s tourism potential.
“Nay Pyi Taw is like a dead city,” said U Aye Kyaw, managing director of Ruby Land Tourism Services.
It takes more than a few conference halls, he said, to lure foreign visitors to a MICE destination.
“There needs to be facilities with shopping spots and restaurants too,” he said. “And we can’t compete with Thailand and Vietnam on hotel room prices, even though they said they have lowered prices.”
“Tourists have told us that there is no place to go when the events are finished,” she said. “It is not enough to have only lower hotel room prices, but we need better transportation and other facilities to promote a tourism industry in Nay Pyi Taw.”