Government officials have called for tourism companies to establish “sustainable” tourism products in the country’s southerly Tanintharyi Region, in part to tackle the rise in so-called zero-dollar tours from China, according to an article in the Myanmar Times. During a visit to the region, where they met with business leaders, U Thaung Tun, Chair of the Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, and U Ohn Maung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism, called on interested parties to ensure that their investments in the region’s tourism market benefited local communities. “The region has lots of potential and the government and private sector can collaborate to bring in more sustainable and quality investment for tourism,” said Thaung Tun. Tourism businesses have long been keen to explore the potential in Tanintharyi, particularly because of its close proximity to Thailand, as well as the fact that it hosts the picturesque, and largely untouched, Myeik Archipelago.