THE response to familiarisation trips arranged for foreign travel industry representatives has been very positive, the chairman of the Myanmar Marketing Committee of the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board, Mr Raymond Bragg, said last week.

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The trips play a valuable role in creating greater interest in Myanmar as a travel destination, said Mr Bragg, the general manager of Traders hotel.

The trips, for tour agents and travel writers and photographers, are held from April to September.

The price for the eight-day, seven-night familiarisation tour package this year is US$421. The itinerary and accommodation for the trips is arranged by travel agencies and hotels that are MMC members, which offer the lowest possible prices.

“The purpose of the trips is to offer a comprehensive tour of Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake,” said Mr Bragg. “That’s the best way to show what Myanmar has to offer as a tourist destination; it truly is seeing is believing,” he said.

Mr Bragg said the MMC launched the trips in 2001 in response to enquiries from travel agents who wanted to take part in organised tours similar to those in other countries.

A feature of the trips is a debriefing session for participants held at the Strand Hotel the day before they leave the country at which they provide feedback to the MMC.

“The agents give us ideas on how to improve our marketing and also suggest benchmarks in terms of the standards we should be aiming for,” said Mr Bragg.

He said the strong interest shown in Myanmar was demonstrated by the fact that some agents bring their reservation staff on the trips.

“This can only mean they are really serious about selling Myanmar as a destination,” Mr Bragg said.

Another advantage of the trips was that they allowed Myanmar travel agents to meet foreign counterparts.

“We receive more contacts and gain more awareness [about our activities],” said Daw Su Su Tin, the managing director of MMC-member company, Exotissimo Travel.

About 20 people have taken part in the two trips arranged so far this year and another 20 were booked for August and September. A trip was also possible in July.

Mr Bragg said this year’s first trip in early May had generated business, with a Bangkok-based travel agent arranging visits by Dutch tourists, with the first group due to arrive in October.

The most recent trip, from late May to early June, attracted eight travel agents from companies in Thailand and Germany.

One of the participants, Mr Jack Van Lieshout, the product manager of Greed Wood Travel in Thailand, was enthusiastic about Myanmar’s appeal, saying it offered a “pure” travel experience.

Mr Van Lieshout said he was also impressed by the warmth of the Myanmar people and the fact that the country was safe for tourists.