2 December
IN a recent news report, Vice President U Henry Van Thio, chairman of the Ethnic and Public Affairs Management and Service Committee, was quoted highlighting the importance of inclusive participation in developing community-based tourism, which is a business friendly to both the environment and natural resources, at a conference in Kachin State.
Community-based tourism implies a business that ensures social progress and prosperity of residents through sustainable development of livelihoods and protection of traditional values, cultures, and customs, as well as natural heritage and resources. It is also a tourism enterprise, owned, operated, and managed by the local people, and where their voices and concerns are heard and addressed.
While implementing community-based tourism, locals will see an improvement in their living standards as their involvement in preserving and promoting the environment, their lifestyles, cultural traditions, and livelihoods is the core of the business, which will also generate jobs and reduce poverty. As they are the main operators and managers of the business, they will acquire skills and technological knowhow in one way or another.
Myanmar is bestowed with exotic natural landscapes and unique ethnic cultures, which are the foundations for the development of community-based tourism. Taneelalae and Panpet tours in Demoso Township in Kayah State won the ASEAN community- based tourism prize in 2017. The award is a harbinger of the development of the business in the near future as we have many promising areas which are waiting for proper and systematic utilization.
But, the principal requirement for the progress of community-based tourism is peace and stability and rule of law, which guarantee everything, including the task of protecting, preserving, and promoting traditions, and cultures along with the natural environment and resources.
However, the country has another problem, and that is weak discipline, especially in terms of discarding garbage. Many of the popular destinations are littered with trash and lack sanitation. We need to provide popular tourist spots with sufficient restrooms and a responsive sanitation system. We should also conduct public awareness campaigns to ensure a clean and green environment.
As our country already has a natural advantage for the business, we need innovative ideas and effective methods to attract more tourists through hospitality and better services and inclusive participation to ensure the development of community-based tourism.
GNLM
