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A tanintharyi development committee, operating under the tourism
ministry and chaired by local tycoon Serge Pun, is seeking assistance
from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the upgrade of
infrastructure in Myeik archipelago to boost sustainable tourism, a
committee member told The Myanmar Times.
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The Myeik archipelago is made up of a cluster of more than 800
largely untouched islands that hold huge potential as a draw for
international visitors.
“Tanintharyi region is quite big and wide
and the infrastructure is not good yet, such as the airport facilities
and transport to and from the islands. These are very important in the
tourism development. Hence we need the assistance from international
financial organisations such as the IFC. We also need to cooperate with
local investors as well,” said U Khin Aung Htun.
The committee’s
chair, Serge Pun, is the chair of Yangon-listed First Myanmar Investment
(FMI) and Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic Holdings.
FMI is
involved in both tourism and island development. Yoma Strategic and FMI
are in the process of spinning off their tourism businesses into a
separate Myanmar-tourism focused firm that is likely to be listed on the
Singapore stock exchange. FMI also entered into a joint venture last
year with Manaung Public Company Limited – which is majority-owned by
Manaung Island residents – to develop that island’s infrastructure.
They
will invite international investors who are interested in the Myeik
tourism industry and its infrastructure development, U Yan Win, chair of
Myanmar Tourism Federation told The Myanmar Times.
“The
Tanintharyi tourism development committee will also invite investors
from other countries. We will always accept people if they invest
according to the law.
“The government has already opened up places such as Yangon, Mandalay
and Bagan for tourism investment. According to the ASEAN economic
policy, people can feel free to invest if they want to,” he explained.
Of
the hundreds of islands across the Myeik archipelago, the Myanmar
Investment Commission has only opened 12 islands to local developers.
Some have started to work on the projects. Others have simply acquired
the rights to develop but have not started the projects so far.
The
current hotel and hospitality capacity is not adequate for the demand
from visitors. In response, the committee had decided to prioritise
which islands should be allocated for hotel or resort projects, and
which ones should be for conservation instead of tourism, U Khin Aung
Htun said.
“The room number is not enough if they want to truly
develop tourism. We need more rooms, diving camps and training schools
for diving.
“Generally, travellers will tour around the area,
visiting numerous islands and appreciating the scenery. Some will go
fishing and undertake other activities. Many employment opportunities
will be created as a result,” he added.
In January 2017, The
Myanmar Times reported that the committee was drawing up a master plan
for sustainable tourism in the region.
U Khin Aung Htun told The Myanmar Times that they will implement the master plan and are negotiating with the related ministries about upgrading the Kawthaung airport.
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