What if tourism success were measured not only by how many people visit a destination, but by how it improves lives, strengthens communities, protects culture, and creates opportunities for future generations?

Those questions sat at the heart of two of the forum’s most engaging discussions: “People at the Centre of Tourism” and “Living Culture & Creative Expression.”

While the sessions explored different themes, together they painted a compelling picture of what tourism’s future could look like across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

One focused on people.

The other focused on culture.

Both arrived at the same conclusion. Tourism works best when communities remain at its heart.

Tourism begins with people

Moderated by Graham Harper, Director of Clickable Impact, the “People at the Centre of Tourism” panel brought together leaders working on the front lines of entrepreneurship, workforce development, accessibility, and community empowerment.

What made the discussion particularly compelling was that the panellists were not speaking from theory. They were speaking from experience.

As CEO and Founder of Women Transforming Myanmar, Thiri Aung works with a network of more than 5,000 women entrepreneurs across Myanmar.

Through mentoring, leadership development, networking, and business support, the organisation helps women build sustainable enterprises and stronger communities.

Drawing from that experience, Thiri argued that inclusion must extend beyond participation. Women need access to markets, finance, skills, and professional networks. They need a voice in decision-making. And they need opportunities to lead.

“Invest in women, when women thrive, communities thrive,” she said.

The conversation then turned to tourism’s next generation. Representing the Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality & Catering (ASSET-H&C), Ha Phan spoke about the importance of creating career pathways for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Operating through a network of vocational training centres and social enterprises across Southeast Asia, ASSET-H&C helps learners develop professional hospitality skills alongside communication, English language proficiency, digital literacy, leadership capabilities, mentoring, and career guidance.

For Ha, workforce development is about far more than filling vacancies.

“I often say that a job placement is an outcome, but a career pathway is an impact.”

Her remarks challenged delegates to think beyond employment statistics and focus instead on long-term human development.

“The future of sustainable tourism depends not only on where people travel, but on how we invest in the people who welcome them.”

The discussion then shifted toward inclusion.

In Kampot, Cambodia, Epic Arts has become internationally recognised for demonstrating how disability inclusion can be woven into everyday life through tourism, hospitality, arts, and community development.

Leading that work is Sokny Onn. As CEO of Epic Arts and a member of Yale University’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, Sokny challenged delegates to rethink how accessibility is discussed within tourism.

“Disability inclusion is a right, not a favour. It is not charity. People with disabilities are equal citizens, customers, workers, artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders.”

Through initiatives such as Epic Arts Café, Epic Creations, and Epic Arts Dance, people with disabilities are not treated as beneficiaries. They are professionals, artists, creators, and leaders.

For Sokny, people-centred tourism should create more than jobs. It should create dignity.

“Inclusive tourism is not only about making places accessible for people with disabilities to visit. It is also about creating pathways for them to work, create, lead, and be recognised as equal contributors to culture, community, society, and the economy.”

Her closing observation left a lasting impression.

“When people with disabilities lead, tourism becomes more than an industry. It becomes a platform for dignity, equality, and change.”

The final perspective came from Koko Tang, Founder of Colorful Earth and Head of Global Impact Measurement at the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

Working at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, local livelihoods, and tourism development, Koko challenged delegates to consider a simple but powerful question: Who gets a voice?

Drawing on her experience in Yunnan and biodiversity-based tourism initiatives, she argued that conservation and community empowerment should never be treated as separate goals. Culture, biodiversity, local livelihoods, and tourism are deeply interconnected.

She also encouraged destinations to rethink how success is measured.

“If we say tourism puts people at the centre, we need to measure not only who benefits economically, but also who has a voice, whether that voice is representative, and whether it actually influences decisions.”

For Koko, tourism should do more than market destinations.

“Tourism should not only promote places; it should help steward them as living landscapes.”

Taken together, the panel offered a powerful reminder that people-centred tourism requires more than good intentions. It requires opportunity, inclusion, leadership, participation, and long-term investment in communities.

Living culture belongs to people

If the first discussion explored who benefits from tourism, the second asked a different question: What are we trying to protect?

The author of this report, Dr Scott Smith of Assumption University, moderated the “Living Culture & Creative Expression” panel, which brought together speakers working in heritage conservation, community tourism, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.

The discussion featured Ohnmar Myo of SEAMEO SPAFA, Maulita Sari Hani of Planeterra, Thuy An Phan of Thai Hai Village in Vietnam, and Zhu Jinsheng (“Jason”) of Guilin Tourism University.

Together, they explored how tourism can support living culture rather than display it.

“Culture is not something we place behind glass,” said Dr Scott Smith. “It is something people live, share, protect, adapt, and carry forward. Tourism has a responsibility to support that process, not interrupt it.”

Ohnmar Myo emphasised that heritage is not confined to museums, monuments, or historic sites. It lives in communities. It survives through traditions, stories, skills, beliefs, and the people who pass them from one generation to the next.

Her contribution reminded delegates that cultural preservation depends not only on protecting physical assets but also on supporting the communities that keep traditions alive.

Maulita Sari Hani brought the perspective of Planeterra, a global organisation that supports community tourism enterprises worldwide.

Drawing from her experience working with local communities, she highlighted how tourism can create long-term social, environmental, and economic benefits when communities remain active participants rather than passive beneficiaries.

Her message reinforced a recurring theme throughout the forum: successful tourism development happens with communities, not to them.

Perhaps the most heartfelt contribution came from Thuy An Phan of Thai Hai Village, recognised by UN Tourism as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages.

Representing a community often described as a “Village of Love,” Thuy An spoke about the values that have shaped Thai Hai’s success.

Rather than focusing solely on tourism products or visitor experiences, she emphasised relationships: among people, with culture, and with nature.

“With love, we can do anything. Love creates our village. Love for nature can create meaningful tourism.”

The simplicity of her message resonated deeply. In a tourism industry often focused on growth, her remarks served as a reminder that care, connection, and community remain powerful foundations for sustainable development.

The discussion concluded with insights from Zhu Jinsheng (“Jason”) of Guilin Tourism University.

Drawing on his academic and professional experience, Jason emphasised the importance of ensuring that tourism remains rooted in local identity and community participation.

While destinations may evolve and visitor expectations may change, successful tourism must continue to respect the people, traditions, and cultural values that make places unique.

A shared vision for tourism’s future

Although the two discussions explored different themes, they shared a common thread.

The first focused on opportunity.

The second focused on identity.

One asked how tourism can benefit people.

The other asked how tourism can help preserve what communities value most.

Together, they offered a broader definition of tourism success.

Success is not measured only by arrivals and revenue. It is measured through opportunity, inclusion, dignity, stewardship, culture, and community voice.

An interesting observation emerged during the discussions. Seven of the eight featured panellists across both sessions were women. This was not a planned theme. Rather, it reflected the many women leading important work in entrepreneurship, accessibility, workforce development, cultural preservation, community tourism, and destination stewardship throughout the region.

As delegates departed Yangon, they carried with them more than notes and business cards.

They left with examples of people-centred tourism already taking shape across the Mekong region: women entrepreneurs building stronger communities, young people creating new futures, people with disabilities leading change, communities preserving culture through tourism, and destinations balancing conservation and development.

Different stories.

Different places.

One shared vision.

Tourism succeeds not simply when more people visit, but when more people have the opportunity to shape, benefit from, and take pride in its future.

(Author: Dr Scott Smith)

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Hosted by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, in collaboration with the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), the forum provided a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and regional cooperation to advance people-centred tourism throughout the region.

Held at the Pan Pacific Hotel from 16 to 18 June, the forum explored how tourism can contribute to community well-being, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and stronger regional partnerships.

Bringing the Mekong region together

The forum opened with remarks from  Union Minister of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, Maung Myint and Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism of Cambodia, who highlighted the importance of tourism cooperation and sustainable development across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Welcoming delegates on behalf of MTCO, Executive Director Suvimol “Dee” Thanasarakij emphasised the importance of collaboration among governments, tourism businesses, development agencies, educational institutions, and local communities in shaping a more resilient and inclusive future for tourism.

Throughout the forum, Suvimol leadership helped foster meaningful dialogue among stakeholders from across the region while reinforcing MTCO’s ongoing role in supporting tourism cooperation and knowledge sharing within the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Behind the scenes, the successful delivery of the forum was supported by MTCO Operations Manager Sasithorn Chantarklum (“Aey”), whose professionalism, attention to detail, and tireless dedication helped ensure a seamless experience for delegates, speakers, exhibitors, and partners throughout the event.

Exploring the future of purpose-driven travel

The forum’s keynote address was delivered by Masaru Takayama, Chairperson of the Global Ecotourism Network and Advisor to the Asian Ecotourism Network.

Takayama encouraged delegates to consider tourism through the interconnected pillars of Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce, highlighting the importance of balancing economic development with environmental protection and community well-being.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Head of Country Representative Thailand for AirAsia MOVE, explored evolving traveller expectations and the growing demand for authentic, meaningful, and purpose-driven travel experiences.

Drawing from both professional and personal experience, Chattan shared a memorable story from a visit to Yangon in which a ticket seller at Shwedagon Pagoda greeted him with the simple words, “Welcome, brother.” The story resonated strongly with delegates and illustrated the power of genuine hospitality and human connection in creating memorable travel experiences.

Community-based tourism expert Wanvipa Phanumat shared practical lessons from tourism initiatives rooted in local communities. At the same time, Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, President of the ASEAN Tourism Association, discussed the importance of connectivity, aviation, and regional cooperation in supporting tourism growth and development throughout the Mekong region.

Putting people at the centre of tourism

A key highlight of the forum was the panel discussion “People at the Centre of Tourism,” moderated by Graham Harper, Director of Clickable Impact.

The discussion explored inclusion, accessibility, workforce development, leadership, women’s participation, community empowerment, and equitable tourism development.

Panellists included:

• Thiri Aung, CEO and Founder, Women Transforming Myanmar;
• Phan Thanh Ha, Project Manager, Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality and Catering (ASSET-H&C);
• Sokny Onn, CEO, Epic Arts and Accessibility Advisory Committee Member, Yale University;
• Koko Tang, Founder, Colourful Earth and Head of Global Impact Measurement, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

Drawing on her experience leading a network of more than 5,000 women entrepreneurs, Thiri Aung highlighted the importance of access, voice, and opportunity for women within the tourism sector.

“Invest in women, when women thrive, communities thrive,” she said.

Phan Thanh Ha emphasised the importance of education, training, and workforce development in creating opportunities and supporting the growth of inclusive tourism.

Sokny Onn contributed an accessibility perspective, highlighting the need to ensure tourism opportunities and experiences are accessible to people of all abilities.

Koko Tang discussed the interconnections among biodiversity, culture, local livelihoods, and tourism, encouraging destinations to move beyond traditional economic measures of success.

“Tourism should not only promote places; it should help steward them as living landscapes,” she noted.

Together, the panel demonstrated that people-centred tourism requires meaningful participation, inclusive decision-making, capacity building, and long-term commitment to community well-being.

Celebrating living culture and creative expression

The forum’s second panel discussion, “Living Culture & Creative Expression,” examined how tourism can support the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of living culture.

Moderated by Dr Scott Smith, Senior Lecturer, Assumption University (and author of this report), the panel featured:
Zhu Jinsheng (“Jason”), Guilin Tourism University;
Thuy An Phan, Thai Hai Village, Vietnam;
Maulita Sari Hani, Planeterra;
Ohnmar Myo, SEAMEO SPAFA.

The discussion explored how communities can remain at the centre of cultural tourism while ensuring traditions, heritage, creativity, and local identity continue to thrive.

Ohnmar Myo highlighted the importance of community knowledge and heritage stewardship, while Maulita Sari Hani shared lessons from community tourism initiatives that create long-term social, environmental, and economic benefits.

Representing Thai Hai Village, recognised by UN Tourism as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages, Thuy An Phan spoke passionately about the role of love, community, and connection in sustaining culture and creating meaningful tourism experiences.

“With love, we can do anything. Love creates our village. Love for nature can create meaningful tourism,” she said.

Zhu Jinsheng reinforced the importance of people-oriented tourism and the role of communities, educators, entrepreneurs, and residents in shaping authentic visitor experiences.

Showcasing the culture and creativity of the Mekong Region

Beyond the conference sessions, delegates explored the region’s cultural richness through the GMS Gastronomy Tourism Exhibition and the Art for Tourism exhibition.

The gastronomy exhibition showcased culinary traditions, local products, food entrepreneurs, and cultural experiences from across the Greater Mekong Subregion. Through food, delegates experienced the stories, traditions, and identities that continue to shape the region’s tourism offerings.

The Art for Tourism exhibition, curated by Jaffee Yee and featuring works by Myanmar artists Arkar Myo, Sai Pyae Sone Aye, and Aung Htet Lwin, presented artistic interpretations of iconic destinations including Shwedagon Pagoda, Bagan, Inle Lake, and Mandalay Palace.

Together, the exhibitions demonstrated how food, art, culture, and creativity can enrich visitor experiences while supporting local communities and preserving cultural heritage.

Experiencing Myanmar beyond the conference

The forum also included a technical tour to Bago, located approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Yangon.

As the former capital of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom, Bago offered delegates an opportunity to explore Myanmar’s rich cultural heritage while examining how tourism can contribute to heritage preservation and community development.

The visit connected many of the forum’s discussions with real-world examples of cultural tourism in practice.

Throughout the week, delegates also experienced Yangon’s hospitality and the professionalism of the Pan Pacific Yangon.

Under the leadership of General Manager Hasitha Manthriratne, the hotel team played a key role in creating a welcoming environment for participants. Special recognition was also given to Mr Kaung Min Khant, whose exceptional guest service and attention to detail left a lasting impression on many delegates.

Looking ahead to MTF 2027

The forum concluded with a symbolic handover ceremony held at Pan Pacific Yangon.

Representing the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, Khaing Mee Mee Htun, Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, formally presented the Mekong Tourism Forum flag to Witchanee Vuthipongse, Expert on Tourist Attraction Development and Acting Director of the Division of Tourism Professional Development, representing Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

The handover officially marked the transition from Myanmar, host of MTF 2026, to Thailand, which will welcome delegates to Chiang Rai for the Mekong Tourism Forum 2027.

As participants departed Yangon, they carried with them new partnerships, fresh ideas, and a renewed commitment to advancing tourism that benefits people, communities, culture, and the environment.

The discussions, experiences, and relationships built throughout the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 reinforced a shared vision for the future of tourism across the Greater Mekong Subregion, one that places people at the heart of travel and purpose at the centre of tourism development.

(Source: Dr Scott Smith, Senior Lecturer, Assumption University, Bangkok)

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The change occurred on 10 April, following the 2025–2026 elections, and a subsequent Union Government ministerial reshuffle that concluded in April. Culture, which had been under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture since 2016, moved from religious affairs to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Meanwhile, the country’s religious portfolio reverted to a standalone Ministry of Religious Affairs.  

Myanmar International TV noted that the shift expands the role of the hotels and tourism ministry from hotel licensing, travel service regulation, and tourism marketing, to also overseeing Myanmar’s cultural and heritage assets.

“Its unified mandate now explicitly focuses on driving cultural tourism by integrating the management of the private hospitality sector with the preservation of local traditions, fine arts, and heritage conservation,” said Myanmar International TV.

Heading the newly restructured Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture (MHTC) is Union Minister U Maung Myint, who took office in April 2026 following the post-election ministerial reshuffle.

(Source: Ministry of Information, Myanmar)

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Organised in conjunction with the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 and supported by Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture, the exhibition will convene at Pan Pacific Yangon from 15 to 18 June 2026 and at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon from 20 to 30 June 2026.

Curated by travel consultant and art curator Jaffee Yee, the exhibition features the work of three contemporary Myanmar watercolour artists: Arkar Myo, Aung Htet Lwin and Sai Pyae Sone Aye.

Through a collection of watercolour paintings, visitors are invited to experience some of Myanmar’s most iconic destinations, including Shwedagon Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, Inle Lake, Bagan and Hpa-An.

For Yee, the exhibition demonstrates how art can inspire travel and cultural understanding.
“Art captures the spirit of a place,” said Yee. “We hope these paintings encourage visitors to discover more of Myanmar’s culture, heritage and people.”

Its connection with the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 further highlights the importance of culture as a driver of sustainable tourism. The MTF brings together tourism leaders and industry professionals from across the Greater Mekong Subregion to explore opportunities for collaboration, innovation and responsible tourism development.

About the artists

• Aung Htet Lwin
  Aung Htet Lwin was born in 1991 in Pantanaw, Myanmar. He is a full-time professional artist known for his atmospheric urban landscapes and expressive contemporary watercolour paintings. He graduated from the National University of Arts and Culture (NUAC), Yangon, specialising in painting. 

• Sai Pyae Sone Aye
  Sai Pyae Sone Aye was born in 1980 in Khamti, Sagaing, Myanmar. He is an acclaimed professional watercolour artist. Recognised for his deep mastery of the medium, he is highly celebrated for capturing the unique qualities of light and atmosphere, with a particular focus on urban scenes, vivid landscapes, and natural scenery. 

• Arkar Myo
  Arkar Myo was born in 1992 in Mandalay, Myanmar. He began studying fine art under a private instructor at the age of seven, training diligently for six years. During his childhood as an aspiring artist, he actively participated in numerous national and international competitions. 

About the author 
Andrew J Wood is a respected travel writer, tourism lecturer and hospitality consultant with more than four decades of experience in Southeast Asia’s tourism and hotel industry. A former hotel general manager and regular contributor to regional travel publications, he is widely recognised for his insights into tourism development, destination marketing and sustainable travel.

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Themed “Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose,” the event is organised by the Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture of Myanmar and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

Taking place at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Yangon, this year’s programme will feature keynote presentations, industry insight sessions, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and technical visits in and around Yangon.

Ahead of the main forum, a practical pre-forum workshop on evidence-based destination marketing and tourism insights will focus on practical approaches to tourism intelligence, destination marketing, and cross-border collaboration. 

MTF highlights both international experts and changemakers from within the Mekong region itself — spotlighting practitioners, community leaders, social enterprises, researchers, tourism innovators, and local champions whose work directly shapes tourism across Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The forum will open with a keynote address by Masaru Takayama titled “Tourism for People: From Principles to Lasting Impact,” exploring tourism through the framework of Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce. 

Speakers across the programme will include representatives and experts from organisations such as AirAsia MOVE, Planeterra, Asian Ecotourism Network, Clickable Impact, ASEAN Tourism Association, and Local Alike. 

“Tourism is one of the few sectors where local communities can directly benefit from human connection, cultural exchange, and shared experiences. MTF 2026 is built around the belief that tourism should serve people and places first,” said the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office Executive Director Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij.

Complimentary registration for the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 is now open. To sign up and view the full programme, visit www.mekongtourism.org. 

About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office

Established in 2006, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is a tourism collaboration framework for the six governments of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) — Cambodia, China (Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. MTCO’s work programme is guided by the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG), composed of senior representatives of the National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) of the six member countries.

(Source: Mekong Tourism Cordinating Office)

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MAI flies the route twice weekly on Monday and Friday using an ATR72 with 70 seats.

First reported by NP News based in Yangon, the Mandalay-Chiang Mai route is the first to be added to MAI’s international network in 2025 and the fourth route that the MAI will operate from its Mandalay International Airport hub.

Flight schedule

8M374 departs Mandalay at 1410 and arrives in Chiang Mai at 1600.
8M375 departs Chiang Mai at 1630 and arrives in Mandalay at 1720.

Meanwhile, the airline confirmed it would start a new service on 2 April, from Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, to Danang, a port city in central Vietnam. Flights are scheduled twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday. The airline will deploy an Embraer EM190 to serve the route. 

Flight schedule

8M454 departs Yangon at 1630 and arrives in Danang at 1900.
8M455 departs Danang at 2000 and arrives in Yangon at 2130.

In addition to MAI’s daily Yangon-Kuala Lumpur trips, the airline will introduce a direct flight from Yangon to Penang, Malaysia, operating every Monday and Thursday, effective 10 April 2025. The airline will deploy an Embraer EM190 for the two-hour flight. The starting roundtrip fare is pegged at USD274.

Flight schedule

8M505 departs Yangon at 1445 and arrives in Penang at 1815.
8M506 departs Penang at 1915 and arrives in Yangon at 1945.

Penang Island is MAI’s second destination in  Malaysia and is famed for its historical and cultural heritage, reflecting colonial heritage in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed George Town. Penang is famous for its street food, art and beaches.

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MAI introduced additional daily flights between its home base, Yangon in Myanmar and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), effective 20 January. It raises flights to 35 weekly (five daily using A320s with 180 seats on the route).

Earlier this month, the airline also increased flights between Yangon and Chiang Mai in northern Thailand from three to four weekly, deploying an ATR72 with 68 seats (departing Yangon at 1150 on Tuesday) and an Embraer 190 with 98 seats (departing Yangon at 1230 on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday).

MAI also introduced a fourth weekly flight from Yangon to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, every Monday, effective 15 January 2025. The additional flight departs for Phnom Penh at 1640 and arrives at 1910. The Monday, Wednesday, and Friday flights use an Embraer 190 with 98 seats. The Sunday flight departs an hour earlier at 1540 and uses an ATR72 with 68 seats. 

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MAI will initially offer a twice-weekly direct service between the two Southeast Asian cities on Tuesday and Thursday. The airline conducted a test flight on 3 April this year, but scheduled flights will start on 25 June.

The airline is actively promoting the new service on its Facebook page, offering a one-way fare on the route for USD159. Flight time is one hour and 30 minutes using the two-class Embraer 190 aircraft, which has six business class seats and 100 in economy.

Flights are bookable on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Trip.com, with Skyscanner quoting a round-trip fare of USD308.

Flight 8M470 will depart Yangon at 1700 and arrive in Vientiane at 1900 on Tuesday and Thursday.
Flight 8M471 will depart Vientiane at 2000 and arrive in Yangon at 2100

Meanwhile, Myanmar Airways International confirmed this week that it has concluded 40 codeshare and interline agreements with international airlines serving Southeast Asian cities, such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, and Dubai in the Middle East.

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The submission calls for Italian authorities to investigate Htoo Htwe Tay Za, alias Rachel Tayza, for her alleged “involvement as a shareholder and director of companies that are part of the EU-sanctioned Htoo Group of Companies, and, where appropriate, to freeze her assets and to remove her from Italy.”

The submission alleges that while residing in Italy, Tayza continues to hold shares and act as director of at least seven Htoo Group companies, including ones formed after the military’s coup in February 2021 and those in direct business with the Myanmar army.

It points the finger at the tourism and hospitality company Ayeyarwaddy Resorts and Lodges Company Limited as one of those identified companies. Justice for Myanmar alleges it has build-operate-transfer contracts with the Myanmar army’s EU-sanctioned Office of the Quarter Master General regarding a multipurpose commercial project, including a hotel, luxury residence towers and a shopping mall on 22 acres of land in Yangon. 

The US, UK, Canada, and the EU have extended sanctions against the Htoo Group. On 31 January 2023, the US sanctioned Rachel Tayza for her active role in the Htoo Group of Companies and for being the adult daughter of the Htoo Group chairperson, Tay Za. The EU, USA, UK, and Canada also sanctioned her. Rachel’s brothers, Pye Phyo Tay Za and Htoo Htet Tay Za, are also sanctioned by the USA, UK, and Canada.

In its reasons for sanctions, the EU noted: “Htoo Group of Companies has acted as an intermediary for the provision of military equipment which was used against civilian populations protesting against the 1 February coup, all across the country and in particular in areas with ethnic minorities.”

Justice for Myanmar describes Htoo Group as a “key node in the Myanmar military’s international network of businesses” that provides it with funds through its network of more than 60 businesses in Myanmar and Singapore. 

One of the enterprises, Aureum Palace Hotels and Resorts, operates 11 hotels in Myanmar that are promoted and bookable on various online travel agency websites. International booking websites that accept payments in USD and Euro through credit cards could breach US and EU sanctions.

Another company, Myanmar Treasure Resorts, is under Htoo Hospitality operations, while Htoo Trading closed two airlines, Air Bagan in 2015 and Asian Wings Airlines in 2019. According to a Justice For Myanmar investigation, Rachel Tayza has been residing in Milan, where she recently completed her studies at a fashion school supported by proceeds from the Htoo Group of Companies.

Justice For Myanmar urges the EU to impose sanctions on the whole Htoo Group network of companies and individuals, including Rachel Tayza, as well as all other Myanmar junta cronies and brokers.

Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung says: “Weak sanctions enforcement by Italian authorities has allowed Tayza to do business in Italy that funds an illegal and illegitimate military junta.   

(Source: Justice For Myanmar)

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The new route, Yangon-Chiang Mai, will be served by a 95-seat Embraer E190 (E90) jet aircraft, which will offer three weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Flight 8M370 will depart Yangon (RGN) at 1215 and arrive in Chiang Mai (CNX) at 1345.
Flight 8M371 will depart Chiang Mai (CNX) at 1445 and arrive in Yangon (RGN) at 1515.

The airline is pitching the introductory one-way fare on the route at USD119.

MAI flies four daily flights on the Yangon-Bangkok (BKK) route and from Mandalay to Bangkok (BKK) daily. It also flies daily from Yangon to Bangkok (DMK).

It will face stiff competition on the Yangon-Chiang Mai route from Myanmar National Airlines (UB), which flies four times weekly using the 70-seat ATR72. Flights are scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Flight UB09 departs Yangon at 1720 and arrives in Chiang Mai at 1910.
Flight UB10 departs Chiang Mai at 2015 and arrives in Yangon at 2105.

The average roundtrip fare on UB is USD250, with a low of USD185 in March and rising to around USD223 in April. Travel to Myanmar is restricted. Visa-free travel has been suspended for all foreign visitors, and the only way to enter the country is to join a tour package sold by authorised travel agencies.

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