YANGON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar Second Vice President U Henry Van Thio called for more efforts to attract intra-ASEAN travelers to the country, Myanmar News Agency reported Wednesday.

Addressing the opening of the the Myanmar Tourism Conference in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday, U Henry Van Thio urged for targeting Eastern countries of China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand for the largest number of tourist arrival in Myanmar and so do western countries such as the United States, France, Britain and Germany, for the development of the country's tourism industry.

He said that arrangement is underway to relax the visa requirement to increase visitors from countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as China, Japan and South Korea.

He stressed the need to conduct more market promotion and make international advertisement to make the world know more about Myanmar as a travel destination, saying that hotel and transport rate should not be above the international rate and the services provided should be valued for costs to the visitors.

"When new travel destinations are being created, care should be taken to retain our culture and natural resources," he warned however.

He called for ensuring balanced development for the safety and security of the travelers and business.

Myanmar has been exerting efforts to create new tourist destinations to promote the country's tourism market.

It is also striving to promote eco-tourism, cultural tourism and community-based tourism (CBT) in resource-rich areas, including historical landscapes, rivers, lakes, beaches, islands and forests.

Foreign tourists visit Myanmar mostly through three international airports, the border checkpoints as well as via luxury cruise liners.

The country's Mandalay, Yangon, Bagan, Inle, Kayin and Mon state, Myeik archaeology, Chin Hills and beaches such as Chaungtha, Ngwe Saung are famous for its tourist attractions.

Myanmar attracted over 3 million tourist arrivals in 2017.