Remarkable Journey :: The opening of the Tourism & Hospitality Market in Myanmar - A Discussion with May Myat Mon Win in Yangon

from Gaming and Leisure Magazine

www.gamingandleisuremagazine.com

Spring 2013

Shortly after his successful reelection, President Obama made a historic trip to Myanmar (still officially referred to as Burma by the American government).   On 19 November 2012, he became the first sitting US president to visit the country.

During his visit, President Obama met separately with President U Thein Sein and Nobel Peace

Gaming & Leisure Magazine
Spring 2013

Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi at the lakeside villa where the pro-democracy icon spent years under house arrest.  During his short visit, Obama also fit in speech at the University of Yangon

Met by throngs of Burmese looking to greet him as he passed in the streets of Yangon, Barack Obama used the stop to encourage the once repressive regime to remain on it’s positive direction toward political and economic reforms starting in 2011.  The hospitality industry in Myanmar is one of the industries benefiting from “flickers of progress that we have seen.”

I have had the pleasure to discuss the state of the hospitality industry with May Myat Mon Win, Assistant General Manager (Marketing & Operations) at the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.   She is a very experienced hospitality executive within the Myanmar hotelier industry.

[G&L]  You have quite a solid background in sales & marketing at 5-star hotels in Myanmar.  Could you give us a brief summary of your hotelier background?

[MMMW] I started my hotelier career at Summit Parkview Hotel as Confidential Secretary at the end of 1994. Then I changed my career to Sales & Marketing in the middle of 1995 as

May Myat Mon Win
Assistant General Manager (Marketing & Operations) 

Sales Manager handling all round of Sales & Marketing functions for the Summit Parkview. Myanmar had received rapid increase in Demand during the years of 1995 to 1997 due to Visit Myanmar Year 1996. I joined Hotel Nikko Royal Lake Yangon at the end of 1998 as Senior Sales Manager, as Director of Sales in year 2000, Director of Sales & Marketing in year 2004 till end of 2010.  Nikko was rebranded as Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon in 2008. I am currently performing duties at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon as Assistant General Manager taking responsibilities for Marketing & Operation functions of the property. I have done Executive MBA degree at Yangon University, Hospitality Marketing Course by Education Institute of American Hotels & Lodging Association, Sales & Marketing Management course by Singapore Productivity and Standard Board during my career.

[G&L]   Democratic and economic reforms were recently by President Thein Sein, and  have been seen as providing significant opportunities for growth.  Have you seen, or do you expect to see these reforms impacting the Myanmar hotel sector?

[MMMW] Yes. Undoubtedly, Myanmar has been going through a remarkable journey of Change and Reforms with the leadership of President U Thein Sein. 2012 has been such a remarkable year for Myanmar’s history. It would be even hard to dream of what’s happening now in last 12 months ago. The reform process has opened significant opportunities for business, investment and human capital in the country.  One of the first industries benefiting from the growth is Hotel & Tourism sector.

[G&L]  Myanmar will host the World Economic Forum and the SEA Games in 2013 and the ASEAN Summit in 2014.  There appears to be significant international interest in Myanmar as a conference & leisure destination.  Is Myanmar’s hotel sector able to adequately meet the short-term growth demands with rooms that are considered “suitable for tourists”?

[MMMW] There are various significant big events lining up for 2013 and 2014 including World Economic Forum Asia Pacific Annual Meeting in June 2013, South East Asia Games in December 2013 and several ASEAN Meetings including ASEAN Summit. In addition, we

Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

expect many International conferences will be hosting in Myanmar. As of leisure, we expect to see significant increase from new markets such as America, Canada, Australia and Scandinavians in 2013 and 2014. In the short term, say for  1- 2 years period, hotel sector especially in Yangon and Mandalay will most likely face challenge to accommodate the increasing demand if some local hotel supply cannot upgrade the quality.  On the other hand, new hotel projects have been approved and development is underway.

[G&L]  Aside from improving social & economic conditions, how can the government ease restrictions to improve conditions for international hotel investment?

[MMMW] Major challenge for foreign hotel investment is the availability of land and property prices.  Recently, the Government has approved new FDI law.

[G&L]  You are also an Executive Committee Member of the Myanmar Marketing Committee.  This is the marketing arm of the Myanmar Tourism Federation.  How does MMC assist the hotel sector?

[MMMW] Myanmar Marketing Committee (MMC), the marketing arm of Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF) supports the destination marketing activities abroad. MMC selects target markets and promotes the destination by participating Travel Shows, organizing Road Shows, organizing Fam Trips and Media Trips.

May Myat Mon Win greeting former US President
Jimmy Carter in April 2013

[G&L]  Addressing the city of Yangon specifically, where are most of the inbound tourists coming from?  Do you expect a higher percentage coming from Europe and the Americas in the coming years?

[MMMW] In the past few years, traveling to Myanmar has always been a contradicting issue by some inbound markets. But the perception has been totally changed along with the reform process and positive changes happening in the country.

For 2012 until November, most of inbound travelers are coming from Asia region (66% of total) – Thais 29%, Japanese 15% and Chinese 12%, followed by Europeans (22% of total) -  French 28%, British 21% and Germans 20%, and American (10% of total).  Accordingly to the market trends, we expect that there will be significant increase of inbound travelers from Americas and Europe (especially Northern Europe) for 2013 and 2014. Myanmar is such a great destination with vast diversities of nature, culture, heritage and very hospitable and friendly people. This is perfect time to visit the country whether it is for business or pleasure.

I’d like to thank May Myat Mon Win for her contribution to this article.   As the Asian hospitality & tourism market is expecting to continue leading the global market in tourism and hotel expansion, it is my hope that the market in Myanmar can share in that growth.