An innovative art exhibition titled Art for Tourism will be presented in Yangon this June, highlighting the role of visual art in promoting tourism, preserving cultural heritage and creating meaningful connections between travellers and destinations.
Organised with the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 and supported by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture of Myanmar, the exhibition will be held at Pan Pacific Yangon from 15 to 18 June 2026 and at Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon from 20 to 30 June 2026.
Curated by travel consultant and independent art curator Jaffee Yee, the exhibition features the work of three contemporary Myanmar watercolour artists: Arkar Myo, Aung Htet Lwin and Sai Pyae Sone Aye.
Through a collection of watercolour paintings, visitors are invited to experience some of Myanmar’s most iconic destinations, including Shwedagon Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, Inle Lake, Bagan and Hpa-An.
For curator Jaffee Yee, the exhibition demonstrates how art can inspire travel and cultural understanding.
“Art captures the spirit of a place uniquely,” said Yee. “We hope these paintings encourage visitors to discover more of Myanmar’s culture, heritage and people.”
The exhibition reflects the growing global interest in creative tourism, where travellers seek authentic cultural experiences and more in-depth engagement with local communities.
Mandalay Palace by Arkar Myo
Its connection with the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 further highlights the importance of culture as a driver of sustainable tourism. The Forum brings together tourism leaders and industry professionals from across the Greater Mekong Subregion to explore opportunities for collaboration, innovation and responsible tourism development.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism welcomed the initiative.
“Art offers a powerful way to share Myanmar’s heritage and creativity with the world,” the spokesperson said. “It helps build understanding, appreciation and interest in our destinations.”
By presenting Myanmar’s cultural treasures through the eyes of contemporary artists, Art for Tourism aims to generate greater international interest in the country and support efforts to attract culturally motivated travellers.
The exhibition is open to hotel guests, art collectors, tourism professionals, media representatives and members of the public.
By: Andrew J Wood – © 2026.
Read Time: 2 minutes.
About the Author.
Andrew J. Wood has spent a lifetime in travel, though he’d likely tell you it simply unfolded that way. Born in Yorkshire and trained in Edinburgh, he began in London before heading overseas, first to Hilton Paris, then further afield.
Thailand became home in 1991 when he joined the Shangri-La in Bangkok. What followed was a long run through the upper floors of hospitality, with senior roles across well-known hotel groups and, eventually, general manager posts where the responsibility sat squarely on his shoulders.
Alongside it all, Skål ran, giving more time than most, rising through the ranks and earning its highest honours.
These days, Andrew writes and lectures, sharing a lifetime’s worth of experience with a steady voice, thoughtful, measured, and grounded in the realities of the trade.
