YANGON, May 21 (Xinhua) -- An international food and hotel expo is scheduled to take place in Myanmar's commercial city of Yangon in June, aimed at developing the country's tourism industry, according to the organizer Tuesday.
The three-day Food and Hotel Myanmar (FHMM)-2019 is the 6th event of its kind to be held at Fortune Plaza from June 5 to 7 to showcase food and drink, hotel, bakery, restaurant and food service equipment, supplies and services.
Over 80 exhibitors from 18 countries including South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and the United States will participate in the event which is expected to draw 7,500 visitors.
The expo will provide a chance to get new ideas and new business opportunities by exploring products, services and equipment for coffee and tea, wine and spirits, hospitality and retail, spa and lifestyle, and also food and beverage products and ingredients.
The expo will also help educate entrepreneurs from the hotel industry on food preparation and related technology.
With the increase of tourist arrivals in Myanmar every year, the country's hotel business is developing at a rapid rate.
According to the Myanmar Hotelier Association, Myanmar has about 1,312 hotels including 1,286 private hotels and 26 foreign joint venture ones, with over 70,000 rooms.
There are also about 19 hotel zones in Myanmar including northern and southern Shan state, Ngwesaung and Chaungtha beach resorts in Pathein Zone, Mandalay Zone, Bagan Zone, Sagaing Zone and Inle Zone.
A total of 3.5 million tourists visited Myanmar in 2018 and the country targets an annual tourist number of seven million by 2030.
