From 8-9th May, Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), and Myanmar Responsible Tourism Institute (MRTI) co-hosted a second multi-stakeholder workshop on sustainable tourism in Ngapali. It was attended by the Union Minister of Hotels and Tourism, H.E. U Ohn Maung, Rakhine State Ministers for Finance and Planning U Kyaw Aye Thein, and Minister for Development Affairs, U Min Aung, Thandwe MP U Win Naing, newly elected Chairman of Myanmar Hoteliers Association, U Aung Myo Min Din, and around 80 local stakeholders and tourism experts, including government officials, hotel owners and managers, restaurant and shop owners, fishermen, local villagers and environmental experts and other civil society organisations.

Waste management was identified by both the Minister and workshop participants as the key challenge to be addressed, and thus most of the workshop discussion focused on this. Other environmental issues such as combatting sandmining and mangrove deforestation were also discussed, along with guesthouse licensing, human resources development, planning and destination management. MRTI briefed on their ongoing study of the risks of child sexual exploitation, with support from ECPAT, and with the approval of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.