YANGON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government has vowed to take steps to decentralize tourism sector by forming three committees at different levels, according to the National Tourism Development Central Committee (NTDCC) on Wednesday.

Vice President U Henry Van Thio, who chaired the first NTDCC meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, said the old tourism law, enacted in 1993, allowed only the government to manage hotels and tourism services.

The new tourism law, promulgated in September 2018, allows the private sector to operate hotels and tourism services, giving regions and states including the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, power to manage the sector's services.

The newly-formed NTDCC comprises of several intellectuals and private sector representatives.

U Henry Van Thio called for greater cooperation and coordination between the government departments and the private sector for the development of tourism.

Myanmar has been granting visa exemption to visitors from Japan and South Korea as well as visa-on-arrival to those from China and India.

The vice president said tourist arrivals in Myanmar in 2018 exceeded 3.55 million, an increase of 3.5 percent compared with 2017 when it showed 3.44 million.

The vice president also urged the regional and state authorities to promote community-based tourism, ensure sustainable development of existing tourist attraction, explore more travel destinations, invite more local and foreign investment into the sector, lay down and promote traditional food and healthcare and security.