Page 55 - FoodFocusThailand No.169 April 2020

SURF THE AEC

Weaknesses Estimated numbers of travelers to Myanmar
• Despite some improvements, the road networks are yet to
cover every main destination. Airplanes continue to be the main Number: person 2019
mode of transportation that enables tourists to access different
destinations in Myanmar.
• The country’s sluggish bureaucracy is still behind that of its
neigbors.
Opportunities
• It is predicted that the number of tourists will rise to 3.7 million
in 2019 (an increase by 5.36% from the previous year) and will
continue to move upward by 4.6% until 2023 where it is expected
to reach 4.4 million. สหรััฐฯ
• Under the policies of Aung San Suu Kyi, the incumbent State China Thailand Japan South USA Singapore Malaysia India France UK
Korea
Counsellor, tourism is to be used as a tool to strengthen the
country’s relationship with its neighbors, especially Thailand, India,
China, and Japan, with the objective of offsetting the power of the may start with tourism development, but in the long run Thailand should
western world. Moreover, it will also act as an important means to also contribute to the improvement of the upstream industries that are
spur the economic growth and diversity. still lagging behind such as iron production and iron processing
• Most visitors to Myanmar mainly come from the countries in industries. Iron ores from India can be imported and processed in the
the same region. In the first quarter of 2019, the number of visitors economic corridor before being passed to the production lines in
peaked at 1.1 million, climbing up by 22.4% YOY, with Chinese Thailand. Many iron-based products are essential for Thailand to
and Thai travelers being the biggest contributors. become ASEAN’s hub of high-speed trains since iron wheels and rails
• Japanese holidaymakers are more likely to increase in are constantly needed for railway maintenance and expansion.
number because, at the beginning of 2019, Myanmar and Japan • Many Thai industries may benefit from the expansion of Myanmar
made an agreement to engage in joint efforts to promote tourism, tourism such as processed food, furniture/home decoration, souvenir,
especially by means of mutual exchanges of tourists. tourism/hotel, and jewelry/accessories industries because many of
• Thai hoteliers are confident in the expansion of Myanmar Myanmar’s service sectors are not yet prepared to support the country’s
tourism. Centara Group has signed an MOU with Myanmar’s KMA fast-growing tourism.
Hotel Group to build 3 new hotels and renovate 3 existing ones
under Centara brand.
• Myanmar’s Minister of Hotels and Tourism signed an MOU
with Cambodia to jointly develop the tourism of the combined World
Heritage sites “Bagan-Angkor Wat”.
• Myanmar’s manufacturing and service sectors such as food,
car, furniture, home decoration, souvenir, garment, home textile,
transportation, and medical industries, are not yet ready to support
the tourism industry’s growing needs. This is the opportunity for
Thai entrepreneurs to jump in.
Tourism Obstacles
• Western visitors are sensitive to news surrounding human
rights violation and travel safety. The violence in Rakhine State in
2018, for example, has led to the current decrease in western
tourists.
• Myanmar’s manufacturing/service sectors such as food and
transportation industries are not prepared to fully support the
country’s tourism industry.

Guidelines for Adjustment
• The “Thailand Riviera” policy should be integrated to
Myanmar’s tourism development in the Mergui Archipelago. Due
to the inconveniences caused by road-related problems, travelers
opt for air transportation instead. Such obstacles will be removed
by said integration. Additionally, western vacationers’ confidence
in Myanmar tourism will be boosted as the Mergui Archipelago is
far from conflict areas, but not too far from Phi Phi Islands. This
initiative will foment the collaboration and stability within the ASEAN
community as well.
• There should be a negotiation to expand the scope of the
tourism collaboration project of “Bagan-Angkor Wat” to “Bagan-
Sukhothai-Ayutthaya-Angkor Wat” in order to connect the World
Heritage sites of the three countries together for mutual benefits.
• Thailand should not overlook the opportunity to help develop
the India-Myanmar-Thailand economic corridor. Initially, Thailand
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