Myanmar Ecotourism Policy and Management Strategy 2015 - 2025.
Country
Type of law
Policy
Abstract
The Myanmar Ecotourism Policy and Management Strategy 2015 - 2025 implements 14 key objectives set out under six strategic programmes as follows. Strategic Programme 1: strengthen Institutional Arrangements; develop an ecotourism planning and management framework; strengthen the legal and regulatory environment for ecotourism; develop an Ecotourism Partnerships Framework. Strategic Programme 2: strengthen Ecotourism Planning in and around Protected Areas; build human resource capacity in ecotourism planning and management; design ecotourism management plans for protected areas. Strategic Programme 3: engage Local Communities; raise community awareness of ecotourism and protected area issues and opportunities; promote business opportunities for protected area communities; build private sector knowledge of good practices in engaging protected area communities. Strategic Programme 4: invest in Infrastructure and Responsible Business Models; improve infrastructure in and around protected areas; promote innovative business models for protected areas; promote responsible practices in elephant tourism. Strategic Programme 5: strengthen Research and Monitoring Frameworks; deepen knowledge of the tourism and protected areas relationship. Strategic Programme 6: strengthen Marketing and Interpretation; raise national awareness of Myanmar ecotourism; develop and align a Myanmar Ecotourism Marketing Plan within the broader tourism marketing strategy (pags. 1 and 2).
Vision: ecotourism turns Myanmar a better place to live in to provide more employment and greater business opportunities for all people, to contribute to the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage and to share with rich cultural diversity. The 2013-2020 Myanmar Tourism Master Plan is aligned with the National Comprehensive Development Plan, and sets out an inclusive wide-ranging framework to strategically develop the country’s vast tourism potential. To promote green growth, mitigate the effects of climate change, avoid irreversible damage to Myanmar’s flagship habitats and at the same time diversify the tourism economy, Key Objective 4.2 of the Master Plan advocates for the development of an ecotourism management strategy for Myanmar’s protected areas (pag. 1). Ecotourism drives force to strengthen the management of Myanmar’s expanding protected area network. The aim is to engage all stakeholders to implement ecotourism policies, business models and management approaches that protect the unique ecosystems of our country, and celebrate indigenous groups that have made these special areas their home (pag. 20).
This policy and management strategy is focused upon the tourism and protected areas relationship. In Myanmar, the term ecotourism refers to tourism-related activity in and around its protected areas, that focuses upon management tools, systems and processes to deliver three elements: biodiversity and ecosystems conservation; education and learning to enable hosts and visitors to understand and engage with management approaches to protect the natural and cultural assets of these areas; and economic and social benefits to communities in and around protected areas to: a) reduce and eliminate unsustainable practices, and b) engage them in collaborative approaches to protected area management (pag. 20).
Ecotourism programmes, projects and activities will support and align with 10 guiding principles designed to raise awareness of key messages among all stakeholders, and to ensure ecotourism delivers net benefits to protected areas. The 10 guiding principles for Myanmar ecotourism are to: align with protected area objectives and management plans to ensure resource conservation is the first priority; support and respect zoning systems that restrict visitor use of core areas to conserve key species and habitats; increase awareness among all stakeholders of the value and benefits of protected area networks, especially with regard to climate change mitigation; form destination management organizations to embed ecotourism plans in district and state/region planning, and develop synergies with the UN Goals; engendering respect and responsible use; promote responsible business models that wherever possible engage and benefit local people, reduce over-harvesting of natural assets and deliver conservation benefits; provide income sources to sustain and protect Myanmar’s protected area network; use baseline data and monitoring programmes to assess and minimise negative impacts on nature, culture and host communities; attract world-class investments, promote innovative architecture and infrastructure that harmonize with nature and cultural landscapes, and minimize energy consumption; and provide models of good practices to help protect natural and cultural assets outside of national protected areas (pag. 21).
Ecotourism drives force to strengthen the management of Myanmar’s expanding protected area network. The aim is to engage all stakeholders to implement ecotourism policies, business models and management approaches that protect the unique ecosystems of our country, and celebrate indigenous groups that have made these special areas their home (pag. 20).
Vision: ecotourism turns Myanmar a better place to live in to provide more employment and greater business opportunities for all people, to contribute to the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage and to share with rich cultural diversity. The 2013-2020 Myanmar Tourism Master Plan is aligned with the National Comprehensive Development Plan, and sets out an inclusive wide-ranging framework to strategically develop the country’s vast tourism potential. To promote green growth, mitigate the effects of climate change, avoid irreversible damage to Myanmar’s flagship habitats and at the same time diversify the tourism economy, Key Objective 4.2 of the Master Plan advocates for the development of an ecotourism management strategy for Myanmar’s protected areas (pag. 1). Ecotourism drives force to strengthen the management of Myanmar’s expanding protected area network. The aim is to engage all stakeholders to implement ecotourism policies, business models and management approaches that protect the unique ecosystems of our country, and celebrate indigenous groups that have made these special areas their home (pag. 20).
This policy and management strategy is focused upon the tourism and protected areas relationship. In Myanmar, the term ecotourism refers to tourism-related activity in and around its protected areas, that focuses upon management tools, systems and processes to deliver three elements: biodiversity and ecosystems conservation; education and learning to enable hosts and visitors to understand and engage with management approaches to protect the natural and cultural assets of these areas; and economic and social benefits to communities in and around protected areas to: a) reduce and eliminate unsustainable practices, and b) engage them in collaborative approaches to protected area management (pag. 20).
Ecotourism programmes, projects and activities will support and align with 10 guiding principles designed to raise awareness of key messages among all stakeholders, and to ensure ecotourism delivers net benefits to protected areas. The 10 guiding principles for Myanmar ecotourism are to: align with protected area objectives and management plans to ensure resource conservation is the first priority; support and respect zoning systems that restrict visitor use of core areas to conserve key species and habitats; increase awareness among all stakeholders of the value and benefits of protected area networks, especially with regard to climate change mitigation; form destination management organizations to embed ecotourism plans in district and state/region planning, and develop synergies with the UN Goals; engendering respect and responsible use; promote responsible business models that wherever possible engage and benefit local people, reduce over-harvesting of natural assets and deliver conservation benefits; provide income sources to sustain and protect Myanmar’s protected area network; use baseline data and monitoring programmes to assess and minimise negative impacts on nature, culture and host communities; attract world-class investments, promote innovative architecture and infrastructure that harmonize with nature and cultural landscapes, and minimize energy consumption; and provide models of good practices to help protect natural and cultural assets outside of national protected areas (pag. 21).
Ecotourism drives force to strengthen the management of Myanmar’s expanding protected area network. The aim is to engage all stakeholders to implement ecotourism policies, business models and management approaches that protect the unique ecosystems of our country, and celebrate indigenous groups that have made these special areas their home (pag. 20).
Attached files
Web site
Date of text
Entry into force notes
2015 - 2025
Repealed
No
Source language
English
Legislation Amendment
No