MoHT Union Minister provides insights on women’s empowerment in tourism at UN Tourism Conference in Indonesia

Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Dr Thet Thet Khine shared Myanmar’s experience regarding the capabilities of women working in the tourism sector, along with the successes and difficulties encountered, at the 2nd UN Tourism Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific on 2 May in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia.
The UN Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia co-hosted the conference from 2 to 4 May at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), with the theme “Woman-Led Initiatives Shaping the Future of Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism”, aiming to identify opportunities and programmes that women can lead in the tourism sector.
At the conference, officials from UN Tourism discussed the involvement of women in the tourism sectors of countries in the region, and the roles of women therein. Officials from the Macao Tourism Department and private tourism organizations from Indonesia, Singapore, and India discussed the promotion of women’s role in developing sustainable and inclusive tourism industries.
Additionally, officials from Australia, Japan, Korea, Viet Nam, as well as from universities, colleges, and educational institutions in Malaysia and Indonesia, discussed the impact of education and training on women’s participation in tourism sector.
On the second day of the conference on 3 May, officials from private tourism companies from Australia, India, Indonesia, and Korea, along with the Asia-Pacific regional director of UN Tourism, emphasized safe participation of women in tourism. On the evening of the second day of the conference, the Union Minister and party attended a mangrove planting programme aimed at reducing carbon emission, where they planted mangrove saplings.
On 4 May, the Union Minister visited the ARMA Museum in the Ubud area of Bali, Indonesia. There, they witnessed traditional Balinese cultural dances, crafts, sculptures, as well as works by ancient masters of painting, including practical demonstrations of oil and watercolour techniques. The Union minister arrived back in Yangon yesterday morning. — MNA/TH