Japan held the ASEM Symposium on Promoting Tourism on 13 February 2017, at the Embassy of Japan in Yangon, Myanmar. The event was co-sponsored by the Government of Myanmar, the host country for the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM13) in 2017.
As the follow-up event of the ASEM Symposium on Promoting Tourism in Tokyo in 2015, it was aimed to further deepen the discussion on tourism promotion as a way of strengthening connectivity between Asia and Europe.
HE Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar, delivered the opening remarks. He was followed by U Ohn Myint, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar and Mr Yuji AMAMIYA, Director of the Asia-Europe Cooperation Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Sent as keynote speaker from Tokyo by the Government of Japan, Mr Yasuhiro WATANABE, professor of the Obirin University, School of Business Administration, Tourism, Hospitality and Entertainment Program, focused on the importance of tourism marketing by pointing out concrete examples, such as tourism branding and world heritage promotion.
The event was animated by a large number of participants representing different institutions, namely, the Myanmar Government officials, local business community, Japanese tourism industry community, and diplomatic delegation of the ASEM Partners in Myanmar.
At the Question & Answer session, they had a vivid exchange of views on attracting tourists between Myanmar and Asia and Europe, in order to gain a deeper understanding of promoting tourism.
