Deputy H&T Minister calls for tackling climate change and environmental damage in tourism sector at 36th CAP-CSA meeting

Deputy Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Phyo Zaw Soe urged the Asia-Pacific community at the 36th CAP-CSA meeting in the Philippines on 28 June to prioritize investment in new technologies addressing climate change in tourism, emphasizing the need for measures to prevent environmental damage during tourist attraction development and the establishment of comprehensive policies and strengthened institutions.
A Myanmar delegation led by the deputy minister attended the 36th Joint Commission Meeting of the UN World Tourism Organization Commission for East Asia and the Commission for South Asia (CAP-CSA), as well as the First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific, held on 26-28 June 2024 in Cebu, the Philippines.
On 26 June, the deputy minister attended the opening ceremony of the First UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific, as well as a round-table discussion held at the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel in Cebu City, the Philippines. During the discussion, representatives from the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Thailand discussed promoting destinations, developing tourism attractions, and establishing important policies for gastronomy tourism, emphasizing the importance of local community participation in maximizing the industry’s benefits.
The delegates also discussed reducing food waste and using more local products, achievements in gastronomy tourism in Asia and the Pacific, as well as Cebu City’s efforts to develop gastronomy tourism. Similarly, representatives of the UN World Tourism Organization spoke about the FAO Mountain Partnership project, market intelligence, policies and measures for enhancing competitiveness.
On 27 June, the Myanmar delegation led by the deputy minister visited the villages that won the UN Tourism award for best tourism destination. — MNA/TH