In his meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Myanmar President Thein Sein said his country never had nuclear cooperation with North Korea but did have deals with Pyongyang for conventional weapons, Lee’s presidential Blue House said in an announcement Tuesday.

For details go to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/south-korea-says-lee-wins-myanmar-promise-to-stop-buying-arms-from-north-korea/2012/05/15/gIQAGnlZQU_story.html

Source :http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com

McCain proposed that the United States, like the European Union, freeze sanctions on Myanmar for a set time period with the exception of the embargo on arms sales.

McCain, who has traveled twice to Myanmar over the past year, acknowledged that the country had more work to do on ending long-running ethnic wars but said President Thein Sein and his allies “are sincere about reform, and they are making real progress.”

Such concrete moves “should be met with reciprocal actions by the United States that can strengthen these reforms, benefit ordinary Burmese and improve our relationship,” McCain said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

For details go to:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/293290/mccain-urges-lifting-myanmar-sanctions

Source :http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com

The influx of foreign visitors over the past six months – not only tourists but also foreign dignitaries and businesspeople – has exacerbated a shortage in quality accommodation. This shortage is most acute in Yangon, which has only a handful of international-standard hotels, but is an issue at all major tourist destinations.

While many foreign and local businesses are exploring opportunities to invest in hotels, new projects are not expected to be up and running for several years.

In response to the shortage, mid-range and high-end hotels have increased room rates by as much as 300 percent, refusing to pre-negotiate rates with agents for package travellers and failing to honour contracts with agents, industry sources say.

For details go to:

http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/626/news62608.html

Source : http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com

Speaking to journalists on May 7 at the end of a three-day visit to Myanmar, UNWTO Secretary General Mr Taleb Rifai said President U Thein Sein had officially informed him that Myanmar wanted to rejoin the organisation.

“He informed me that Myanmar is very keen and very interested in joining UNWTO … Myanmar was a member of UNWTO in the past and it’s very easy to rejoin. I was very delighted by that and it will open the door [to] so many other things,” Mr Rifai said at a press conference at Yangon International Airport on May 7.

He said UNWTO paid special attention to developing countries because of the strong relationship between tourism and development.

“Tourism may help create jobs, infrastructure, trade, investment – all of these are part of tourism. Therefore, we believe the more countries pay attention to tourism the more sustainable tourism will flourish and growth in the country. In the case of Myanmar in particular, we are very optimistic. We feel that we can make together a success story for tourism in Myanmar. Myanmar has tremendous natural and environmental access. It is also located in a region that is booming,” he said.

During a meeting with Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Tint Hsan, Mr Rafai said he also discussed ways in which the UNWTO could contribute to the development of the tourism sector.

“We have discussed … specific plans on how to move forward on very important issues, such as on education and training, on promotion and branding and sustainable development growth. Each one of those lines were discussed in details with the minister and we briefed the president this morning and he was very supportive of our work and our collaboration,” said Mr Rifai.

“We would like to say UNWTO has made a commitment to support [the government] to ensure that tourism becomes a success story here in Myanmar.”

For details go to:

http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/news/626/news62609.html

Source : http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com

“Tourism is a major sector of the economy not only for Myanmar but also for
all countries around the world. It brings benefits to a country, boosts its
economy, and create employment opportunities,” said President Sein, “We,
therefore, request that our membership of UNWTO be restored so that we can
obtain the relevant knowledge to further promote and develop our tourism
sector.”

Meeting with President Sein, Mr. Rifai assured him that UNWTO stood ready
to support Myanmar in taking full advantage of its “tremendous tourism
potential.”

“Myanmar is a country abundant in natural and cultural resources, the
foundation of any tourism sector,” said Mr. Rifai, “Following talks with
the Minister of Hotels, Tourism and Sport, U Tint San, UNWTO will lend its
expertise in a number of areas, ranging from capacity-building to
sustainable tourism practices and travel facilitation, to responsibly
develop tourism for the benefit of all.”

During his visit, Mr. Rifai, presented President Sein with an Open Letter
from UNWTO and the World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC) on the importance of
tourism to global growth and development. Accepting the Letter, President
Sein stated that “tourism should be considered a ‘smokeless industry’” and
one that “boosts growth, creates job opportunities, conserves the
environment, and helps to maintain traditional arts and crafts.”

“Given the political support for tourism demonstrated today, Myanmar is set
to significantly enhance its tourism sector over the coming years,” said
Mr. Rifai, “At the same time, the international community has been greatly
encouraged by recent reforms in Myanmar, and this will no doubt be
reflected in an increasing numbers of tourists. These tourists will quickly
prove a vital source of jobs and economic growth, helping to secure the
country’s future prosperity. UNWTO is 100 percent committed to supporting
Myanmar, to make sure that its tourism development is a success story.”

David Scowsill, President and CEO, WTTC said: “I am pleased that the
significance of the travel and tourism industry is increasingly being
recognized by Myanmar. With its rich eco-diversity, natural, and cultural
heritage together with a commitment to responsible tourism, Myanmar is
increasingly harnessing its travel and tourism potential. In 2011, the
industry contributed MMK1435.4 bn to the GDP of the economy and contributed
726,500 jobs. By joining this global movement of heads of state and
government through this signing of the Open Letter, the President
demonstrates his commitment to support the growth and development of its
travel and tourism industry.”

According to UNWTO’s long-term forecast, Tourism Towards 2030,
international tourist arrivals to Asia and the Pacific will increase from
204 million in 2010 to 535 million in 2030. South Asia will be the fastest
growing sub-region in the world, growing 6 percent a year. “Asia and the
Pacific is the future powerhouse of global tourism, and Myanmar is in a
strategic position to receive a significant share of these arrivals,” said
Mr. Rifai.
MEDIA CONTACT: Principal Media Officer, Marcelo Risi, Tel: (+34) 91 567 81
60, Email: mr…@UNWTO.org , Web: www.UNWTO.org ; UNWTO Communications
Program, Tel: +34 91-567-8100, Fax: +34 91-567-8218, Email: c…@UNWTO.org

We are honoured to inform our friends that we plan to set up a new section “Selected Myanmar Short Stories” in our Enchanting Myanmar website pages soon.This section will be devoted to popular and widely read Myanmar short stories by well known Myanmar authors translated into English. This would enable, not only our foreign friends but also our Myanmar nationals in foreign lands, enjoy and appreciate our Myanmar writings and stories.

This new project is made possible mainly because of the huge popularity enjoyed by Enchanting Myanmar among its loyal followers and our wish to acknowledge this support.

Thank you guys!
Source :http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com

Patrick Murphy, the State Department’s deputy special representative for Myanmar, said Washington is deepening its engagement with the reformist government, looking at easing more sanctions and likely to appoint a U.S. ambassador “in coming weeks.”

“We embrace these changes that are taking place with eyes wide open,” he said in remarks at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank.

For details go to:

http://news.yahoo.com/u-says-eyes-wide-open-response-myanmar-changes-220750313.html

Source :http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com

For details to to:

http://www.president-office.gov.mm/briefing-room/daily-news/%E1%80%92%E1%80%AF%E1%80%90%E1%80%AD%E1%80%9A%E1%80%9E%E1%80%99%E1%80%B9%E1%80%99%E1%80%90-%E1%80%92%E1%80%B1%E1%80%AB%E1%80%80%E1%80%BA%E1%80%90%E1%80%AC%E1%80%85%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%84%E1%80%BA%E1%80%B8%E1%80%99%E1%80%B1%E1%80%AC%E1%80%80%E1%80%BA%E1%80%81%E1%80%99%E1%80%BA%E1%80%B8-reform-strategy

Source : http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com/

For details go to:

http://www.mrtv3.net.mm

http://www.myanmar-business.org/2012/05/myanmar-urges-millions-of-exiles-to.html

source:http://www.enchantingmyanmar.com