presentation for link on 9 dec 09 (runjuan)

8/8/2019 Presentation for LINK on 9 Dec 09 (Runjuan)

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Promoting Subregional Tourism in the GMS

Lessons and Best Practices from Thailand

by

Runjuan Tongrut

Director of Policy Planning Division

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Leaders Networking for Knowledge (LINK)Alumni Lecture Series

9 Dec., 2009, Bangkok, Thailand

for

Buddhism Circuit Initiatives

Yuanton tem le in Kunnim Hor Pha kaew in Luang PrabangShwedagon Pagoda in Yangon

Angkor Wat in Cambodia The Temple of Literature in HanoiPhra Buddha Chinnarat in Phitsanulok


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Why

Buddhism is the major religious in this region.

Plent of Buddhism sites tem les and rites.

Inner retreat from todays increasing tension.

Buddhism is base on scientific and rational thinking.

The law of cause and effect.

.

Strength of potentials in the GMS. Look East Trend.

Objective

To Use religious tourism as a tool...

To increase tourism flows in the GMS.

To promote closer cooperation in the GMS.

To create understanding among the people

in the GMS.


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Pattern of Buddhist Tourism Activities

Pray for a blessing.

Appreciate the beauty of architecture and cultural

back round.

Practice meditation / Study the Core Concepts of Buddhism.

TAT Buddhism Circuit Initiatives focuses on

ay ng omage o sacre mages a ng a w sPraying for a blessing.

Appreciating the beauty of architecture and culture.


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Tachileik

Kyaing Tong

Bagan

Buddhist CircuitBuddhist Circuit1721 Februar ,2009

Practical Case: An Educational Trip between Thailand - Myanmar

CHAING RAI

Mae Sai

Mae Sai

Yangon

Tachilek Kengtung

Bangkok Yangon Bagan

Bangkok

Delegation

: TAT

: Travel writers

Total no. of participants: 22


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1. Coordinate well with Myanmars partners.

Procedure

2. Organize the trip along the route

Bangkok-Chiang Rai-Thachilek-Kengtung-

Bagan-Yangon-Bangkok.

3. Meet and exchange tourism information with

Myanmar, both public and private sectors.

3. Public relations both online and magazine; such as,

: TATs website www.tourismthailand.or

Procedure (Cont.)

: TTRs website

: MTCOs website

: TATs Magazine Osotho

: Kullastree Magazine

: Travellers Companion

4. Tour package.


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rgan ze e r p

Bangkok-Chiang Rai-Thachilek-Kengtung-

Bagan-Yangon-Bangkok

- ,

CHAING RAICHAING RAI


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CHAING RAICHAING RAI Mae SaiMae Sai -- TachilekTachilek

KENGTUNGKENGTUNG

Maha Myat Muni TempleMorning food donation

Kyaing Tong MarketKyaing Tong Market


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BAGANBAGAN

Noviciation Ceremony

BAGANBAGAN

Horse Cart Riding

Sunset at Bagan Myo


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A platform for both public and private sectors

to meet and exchange information

Tour packages


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Result

. .

2. Packages for sale.

3. Closer Cooperation

Articles


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Articles

MTCO joins Educational Buddhist Pilgrimage to Myanmar

As ASEAN member countries have been working to develop Buddhist Circuit/Pilgrimage Tourism for ASEAN and India, joint efforts to cooperate together intourism promotion and marketing within ASEAN have increased.

MTCO Executive Director Mason Florence

FIRST with the FACTS on Thailand and Mekong Region TRAVEL

Thai and Myanmar agree on Buddhist circuit 24 February 2009 14:28 Age: 7 days

Category: News

T e am s u r v e y s t h e s it e s a n d m e et s i n Y a n o n t o a r e e o n a p l an wa part an u ati na u i t i rimato the Union of Myanmar from February 17-21.Myanmar is one of the pilot countries that TAT

is enthusiastic to join hands with in promotingthe "Buddhist Circuit". Organised by theTourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) andfollowing the route from Bangkok-Chiang Rai-

Thachilek-Kengtung-Bagan-Yangon-Bangkok,22 participants in all were lead by Mr.Suraphon Svetasreni, TAT Deputy Governorfor Policy and Planning, together with other

representatives from TAT, the Tourism Councilof Thailand (TCT), the Association of ThaiTravel Agents (ATTA), the Chiang Rai TourismSociety, as well as travel writers

The journey was not only a part of the"Buddhist Circuit" route inspection survey, but

.

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

Government and private sector representatives from Thailand and Myanmar agreedto 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 agreedto develop Buddhist Circuit/Pilgrimage Tourism between Asean and India. Theproject 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 Thailanddeputy governor for policy and planning, Suraphon Svetasreni, and the Myanmar

Ministry of Hotels and Tourism director general, U Htay Aung, met in Yangon to finetune the project.

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

also an opportunity or the hai private sectorand travel writers to meet and exchange

information with their counterparts inMyanmar. On February 20 the group washosted for an informal gathering hosted by theDeputy Minister of Myanmar Tourism at theBagan Golf Resort. The following day, a larger-scale meeting was held at the InyaLake Hotel in Yangon with Director General of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism

and representatives from the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA).

Fruitful results of Thailand-Myanmar Buddhist Circuit packages and otheractivities for tourism promotion and marketing are a step forward that both

Thailand and Myanmar expected after the trip was completed. In addition to theupcoming hosting of a Buddhism Pilgrimage documentary film production team fromIndia, both countries are optimistic to welcome more cooperation from other ASEANmembers to enhance ASEAN-India Buddhist Circuit Tourism in the future.

Group photo at Shwezigon Pagoda

Prior to the meeting TAT led six travel agents and four travel writers to survey theroute, which runs from Chiang Rai overland to Keng Tung and south to Yangon. Thetrip 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 finallyapproved and publicised.

Participants noted that visa issue was an impediment while access between

Thailand, Myanmar and India was limited to infrequent air services. Overland travelto India is not yet permitted.

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

Meanwhile, the Association of Thai Travel Agents reports it will recruit agents thatspecialise in Buddhism tours to brainstorm the topic next week. It will establish aninformation centre at the associations office

Packages

1. N C Tours Travel Agents

2. PB Tours Thailand


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Close cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar.

Key success factors

Great support from Myanmar; such as,

: Visa applications.

: Facilitation for all checkpoints.

: Hosting the meeting in Myanmar.

e rou es mus e agreea e o o s es.

In trend. Network.

Buddhist CircuitBuddhist Circuit

Next Thailand and Lao PDR.

BangkokLuang

Prabang

Udon Thani

Nong Khai

Udon Thani

Nong Khai

Vientiane

Luang Prabang

Bangkok Bangkok


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Thailand and Vietnam

Buddhist CircuitBuddhist CircuitBangkok

Hanoi

Hue

Savannakhet

Hanoi

Savannakhet

Nakhon Phanom

Bangkok

Mukdahan

Nakhon Phanom

Hue

Mukdahan

Bangkok

Bangkok-Chiang Khong-Huay Xai-

Thailand and China

Boten-Jing Hong-Kunming-Bangkok

Bangkok Sra Kaeo Poi Pet Siem Reap-Sra Kaeo Bangkok

a an an am o a


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Active cooperation from all parties.

Recommendations / Suggestions

More networks (more parties are welcomedi.e. airline, hotel, community, NGOs etc.)

ADB support.- Survey Buddhism sites in the GMS.

- Handbook.

- Media Network.

presentation for link on 9 dec 09 (runjuan)

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