Colliers International has weighed in on foreign interest in Myanmar's Myeik Archipelago, calling on the government to ensure any growth in tourism comes with the development of technology and infrastructure in the region.

Severely underdeveloped in the past, a considerable number of investors have been eyeing to spur the growth of tourism in the Myeik Archipelago, a collection of more than 800 pristine islands in southern Myanmar.

The Irrawaddy reports that business owners from Thailand have expressed interest to invest in tourism in Kawthaung and the Myeik archipelago, with Director-General U Thant Sin Lwin of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) saying that tourism is "springing up in the region".

At a glance: 

•  Business owners from Thailand have expressed interest to invest in tourism in Kawthaung and the Myeik archipelago, in Tanintharyi Region in southern Myanmar, according to Director-General U Thant Sin Lwin.
• According to data from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, 36 hotels offer 1451 rooms now in the archipelago, with 10 hotel projects underway with 438 new rooms to be added in the future.
• Colliers International believes the growth in tourism must be matched with the development of technology and infrastructure in the region.

According to data from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, 36 hotels offer 1451 rooms now in the archipelago, with 10 hotel projects underway with 438 new rooms to be added in the future.

Amongst these projects underway, the Amata Holding will introduce between 30 and 80 rooms at the Poni and Balar islands in the archipelago.

But Colliers believes that opportunities lie beyond hotels and resorts.

Source: Depositphotos

Senior Analyst Paul Ryan Cuevas said the regional tourism industry is still in its inception, meaning investors should  be able to "comprehensively explore" different angles.

"The archipelago still lacks technology and infrastructure, and investment in these areas is still instrumental for the development of the tourism industry as a whole," he said.

"As private sector interest grows in the region, it is the responsibility of the government to simultaneously come up with a comprehensive developmental masterplan so that social costs such as environmental degradation and loss of local businesses can be minimized.

"Colliers also recommends developers to focus on integrating eco-friendly practices all the way through from the design and construction process to operations."

Sources: The Irrawaddy

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