Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism attends St Petersburg International Travel Forum

2023 December

MYANMAR delegation led by Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Dr Thet Thet Khine left for St Petersburg, the Russian Federation on 11 December to attend St Petersburg International Travel Forum. The forum was jointly held by the Economic Development Ministry of Russia, St. Peters burg Government Committee for External Relations of Saint Petersburg, the St Petersburg Tourism Development Committee, the St Petersburg Convention Bureau, Roscongress and the tourism entrepreneurs’ Association from 13 to 15 December.

On 13 December, the Union Minister attended the discussion under the topic of Russia Friendly: Inbound Tourism in a Multipolar World at St Petersburg Business Hotel and discussed the progress in the tourism industry of Myanmar, potential bilateral cooperation in tourism and the Welcome Russia Programme in Myanmar for Russian tourists. Then, the representatives from Spain, Jordan, India, the UAE, Qatar and VietNam discussed implementing international and regional projects, visa and currency systems and promoting the tourism industry.

On 14 December, the Myanmar delegation attended the plenary session held at Four Seasons Hotel, and the Union minister talked about the promotion of Myanmar-Russia bilateral relations in the tourism sector, various tourism-related businesses being operated in the country as the visitors can visit Myanmar the whole year round, increase in numbers of tourist arrivals mostly from Thailand, China, Japan and Korea, the expectation to attract travellers from ASEAN countries, China, India and Russia, Myanmar-Russia direct flight, visa relaxation for Russian tourists, cooperation with St. Petersburg government to hold Myanmar-Russia Tourism Forum and willingness to work closely between governments and private sectors.

The Union Minister also attended the awarding ceremony of the MICE award in the same evening. On 15 December, the Union Minister and party visited The State Heritage Museum. They met Mr Vyacheslav Kalganov, Vice-Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg and Mrs Nana Gvichia, Vice-President of the St Petersburg Tourism Development Committee at Smolny Hall of St Petersburg Government. During the meeting, they openly discussed projects to be implemented under the MoU on tourism cooperation, promotion of Myanmar-Russia tourism and travel exchanges, development of human resources for Myanmar tourism industry, support of Russia, holding of Myanmar-St Petersburg virtual forum and launching of tourist packages between private entrepreneurs. The Myanmar delegation led by the Union Minister arrived back in Yangon on 17 December. The forum is a focal corridor for government and private sectors to draft projects considering the outcomes of accomplished actions within one year. Over 1,000 participants from over 40 countries attended the forum. — MNA/KTZH Source From: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Source: www.tourism.gov.mm