LOCAL BUSINESSES TAKE STEPS IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE AND DIGITALLY SMART HERITAGE TOURISM IN BAGAN, MYANMAR.

Trade and Investment Facilitation ,Sustainable Energy and Environment
On March 13, 2023, Mekong Institute (MI) joined with Myanmar Voyages in organizing a hybrid workshop titled “Bagan Roadshow on Sustainable and Smart Tourism Development”. Approximately 50 local businesses in Bagan attended the half-day event which aimed to enhance key stakeholders’ knowledge on sustainable and smart tourism practices, highlight business opportunities and serve as an exchange platform among Bagan businesses in the tourism sector. The event also introduced a new mobile application as a push towards digitally smart heritage tourism.
Prior to this, MI hosted similar roadshows in four other UNESCO heritage sites of Mekong Countries, namely Ayutthaya, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, and Hue. The Bagan roadshow was the fifth and final roadshow event.

Bagan has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the political instability in Myanmar. While we are now taking steps toward recovering local businesses, this initiative plays a crucial role in accelerating the process. Through digital presence and increased direct exposure to target markets, local businesses will have the opportunity to improve both their competitiveness and environmental sustainability. Therefore, I believe this project will greatly benefit Bagan's economic recovery efforts and the tourism industry's resiliency in Myanmar as a whole.

Travelers are increasingly concerned about the environment, prompting all stakeholders in the tourism sector to make sustainability a priority. Therefore, in this journey, we must join hands to meet the growing demand for sustainable tourism so that Bagan will be recognized as a sustainable tourism destination.

Today’s activity is part of a ‘Sustainable and Smart Tourism Development in the Mekong Region’ project. It is aimed largely at those in the hotel and resort sector with sustainability as a core business, including tour operators with a focus on ecology and community, producers of handicrafts and souvenirs, artisans and culinary providers, as well as associations promoting local fine arts and musical instruments, eco-friendly accommodation providers, and digital media outlets dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism

Another highlight was the exhibition by Bagan local businesses around the event’s grounds, inviting guests and participants to visit the booths. Showcases ranged from the handmade goods and food, tourism services, cultural and traditional arts, visual arts, and community-based tourism experiences and activities which are on offer.  

To help improve the travel experience and promote knowledge exchange, a new mobile application is underway. Dr. Sangwon Park, Kyung Hee University, who is behind the development of the digital tool, took to the stage to present the app to the audience: “The new application will increase access to information on sustainability practices of the local businesses and help promote their products at selected heritage sites. Through the app, sustainable and smart heritage tourism best practices from various heritage sites in Mekong Countries will be shared.”

Two other experts provided insights on sustainable tourism, namely Ms. Catherine Germiel-Hamel, CEO, Destination Mekong, who talked about the Point of Interest (POI) data used to create attractive content for the mobile app, and Ms. Daisy Park, a project consultant, who gave an insightful presentation on Korean travelers, market opportunities and the potential of digital technology in sustainable tourism promotion.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.