Thai and Myanmar agree on Buddhist circuit

Team surveys the sites and meets in Yangon to agree on a plan.

Thai and Myanmar tourism authorities have agreed to co-operate and fine tune a new Buddhism tour circuit featuring sites in both countries.

Government and private sector representatives from Thailand and Myanmar agreed to improve tourism by linking attractions in northern Thailand with Myanmar, through a Buddhism circuit that will ultimately link with sites in India.

The action follows an Asean meeting, 6 to 10 July 2008, held in Manila that agreed to develop Buddhist Circuit/Pilgrimage Tourism between Asean and India.  The project was subsequently endorsed by an Asean Meeting, last month, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Last week, a team from the two countries led by Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor for policy and planning, Suraphon Svetasreni, and the Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism director general, U Htay Aung, met in Yangon to fine tune the project.

The meeting brought together 20 representatives from airlines, hotels and tour operators in Myanmar, TAT representatives and tour operators.

Prior to the meeting TAT led six travel agents and four travel writers to survey the route, which runs from Chiang Rai overland to Keng Tung and south to Yangon. The trip combined minibus transfers and flights to Bagan and Yangon.

Government and private sector representatives agreed to conduct a detailed route study and generate suggestions from both sides before the route was finally approved and publicised.

Participants noted that visa issue was an impediment while access between Thailand, Myanmar and India was limited to infrequent air services. Overland travel to India is not yet permitted.

Details of the final plan will be presented at an Asean Tourism Marketing meeting in April in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Association of Thai Travel Agents reports it will recruit agents that specialise in Buddhism tours to brainstorm the topic next week. It will establish an information centre at the association’s office to sell the packages once they are finalised.