Promoting inclusion of small and medium enterprises in Myanmar’s tourism industry.
Project implemented: August 2016
To identifying and develop small businesses in Myanmar that can deliver tourism services to meet market demand.
The public-private partnership supports the Australian Government aid objectives for economic growth and responding to key donor interests towards public-private partnerships for the delivery of aid.
To agree on how the partnership would work, roles, agendas, time frames and methodologies.
Identified and validate perceptions on gender gaps, training gaps, tourism demand, product gaps, local training partnerships
Conducted information sessions, reviewed applications, set selection criteria, selected successful applicants.
Participants partook in business training with the aim to present business case to Hub partners.
Ongoing support, mentoring and kick start of successful applicant businesses.
Expansion in to other parts of Myanmar. Information session run in Bagan.
BPP partners, Intrepid AVI and DFAT have understood that the success of the program rests on the ability to leverage the different skills and expertise each partner brings to the to the table and to work collaboratively in identifying priorities, assigning responsibilities, making decisions and problem solving. Hence they set up a Project Working Group (PWG) from the beginning which was key to the implementation to ensure timely decisions and broader operational support.
The Hub is providing business advisory services and skills development to small and medium sized tourism enterprises, focusing on people who would otherwise face significant barriers to participation in the tourism market in Myanmar, such as women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. This partnership is designed to meet increasing demand for sustainable, local experiences in the Myanmar tourism market.
Intrepid Travel, Australian Volunteers International and the Australian Government have formed a collaborative partnership (BPP) to improve tourism suppliers’ skills to boost economic growth to meet consumer demand. The initiative has trained 28 candidates in sustainable tourism management and selected 10 businesses to develop their tourism products to take to market. Successful products include bags and jewellery made from recycled materials, a demonstration of traditional tea making at a tea shop in Myanmar and cooking classes that employ housewives to teach tourists how to cook traditional home-cooked meals. Since selection, the participating SMEs have further developed their individual business plans, received support from student volunteers (see below) and received coaching by the Business Coach according to their individual business needs. The top five businesses received additional coaching by Phandeeyar, a start-up tech/social company.
