1. This Law shall be called the Myanmar Tourism Law.

2. The following expressions contained in this Law shall have the meanings given hereunder

Basic Principles

3. Tourism industry shall be operated in accordance with the following basic principles: -

1. prevention of infringement of the sovereignty and security of the State;
2. betterment of the interests of Myanmar and its citizens;
3. contributing to the friendship, understanding and unity of the national races through tourism industry;
4. preservation and development of ancient historical sites and monuments, traditional arts and custom of the national races, which are the cultural heritage of Myanmar;
5. preservation and development of natural scenic beauty and natural environmental heritage of Myanmar;
6. contributing to international friendship and understanding through tourism industry;
7. development of technical knowledge relating to tourism industry and opening up of more employment opportunities;
8. providing security and satisfaction of tourists.

Formation, Duties and Powers of the Commission

4. The Government shall, by notification form the Myanmar Tourism Commission

5. The duties and powers of the Commission are as follows: -

1. laying down the policies of Tourism;
2. causing the implementation of the systematic development of the to tourism industry;
3. designating of areas in which cultural and natural heritage exist as tourism zones;
4. giving guidelines for international relations with regard to the tourism industry;
5. giving guidelines for improving the quality and raising the standard of tourism industry and dissemination of technical knowledge relating thereto;
6. determining an economic enterprise operating any of the services such as health, knowledge, recreation, and entertainment for tourists as a tourism industry;
7. submitting to the government from time to time the activities carried out;
8. carrying out the duties and powers assigned from time to time by the Government.

Application for License

6. A person desirous of operating any of the following businesses of tourism industry for international tourists or foreign visitors shall apply for a license to the Directorate in the prescribed form-

(a) Tourist Enterprise;

(b) Hotel Business;

(c) Lodging-House Business;

(a) Tourist transport Business;

(e) Tour Guide Business;

(f) Businesses prescribed from time to time as a Tourism Industry by the Commission.

7. The Directorate may prescribe the types of business to be operated under a license for domestic tourists from among the businesses contained in section 6.

Duties and Rights of the License-holder

8. The license-holder shall pay the license fee and other duties and taxes prescribed by the Directorate.

9. The license-holder shall abide by the conditions contained in the license.

10. The license-holder shall abide by the order, notification and directives issued from time to time by the Commission or the Directorate,

11. The license-holder dissatisfied with the order or decision of the Directorate relating to the license has the right to file an appeal to the Minister of the Ministry concerned.

12. In order to operate the Tourism Industry systematically in accordance with the provision of this Law, the government shall form a Directorate

13. The duties and powers of the Directorate are as follows: -

1. carrying out in accordance with the policies laid down by the Commission;
2. implementing for the systematic development of the tourism industry;
3. carrying out for the promotion of the tourism industry;
4. carrying out to improve the quality and to raise the standard of tourism industry and to disseminate technical knowledge relating thereto;
5. supervising the tourism industry in accordance with the provisions of this Law;
6. prescribing and revising the license fee and
7. other taxes and duties;
8. issuing, refusing, suspending, revoking or canceling the license;
9. appointing Inspectors to inspect the tourism industry;
10. carrying out the duties and powers assigned from time to time by the Commission and the Ministry concerned.

14. The Directorate may, in consultation with the departments concerned stipulate conditions relating to foreign currency earned by the license-holder from the tourism industry.

Inspection and Taking of Action

15. The Inspector shall carry out the following duties: -

1. inspecting the tourism industry within the area for which he has undertaken responsibility or within the area specially assigned and investigating as may be necessary;
2. taking action in accordance with the procedures against a person who has violated any prohibition contained in this Law;
3. carrying out duties assigned from time to time by the Directorate.

16. The powers of the Inspector are as follows: -

1. calling for and copying records, accounts and other supporting documents relating to the industry, and inspecting articles relating to the industry in order to examine whether or not a license-holder has complied with the conditions of the license;
2. having the right to examine in accordance with this Law any building, vehicle or person relating to the tourism industry.

17. The License is invalidated when any of the following events occur:

18. If the Directorate finds after investigation that the license-holder has discontinued his business, the said license may be deemed to have become invalidated.

19. The license-holder shall surrender the license invalidated under section 17 to the Directorate or the State/Division, Township Zone or Township Office of the Directorate within 15 days from the date on which it was invalidated.

Appeals

20. An applicant for a license or a license-holder dissatisfied with the order or decision passed by the Directorate may file an appeal to the Minister concerned within 30 days of the receipt of such order or decision.

21. The decision of the Minister concerned shall be final.

Prohibitions

22. No one shall engage in any tourism industry under section 6 or section 7 without a license.

23. A license-holder-

24. No one shall interfere or obstruct the Inspector in the discharge of his duties.