YANGONscratch1.0, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has launched the "One Tourist One Tree" campaign allowing international tourists to plant commemorative trees to encourage sustainable and responsible tourism, an official from the Tourism Promotion Department told Xinhua on Monday.

The initiative, jointly launched by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, aims to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters, he said.

The campaign encourages the tourism sector to contribute to preserving the natural environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with tourism, he added.

The campaign will take place annually from June to November in key tourist destinations such as Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, archaeological site Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, Ngwe Saung Beach, and Chaungtha Beach, the official said.

In the first four months of this year, Myanmar welcomed over 430,000 foreign tourists, with the majority coming from China, followed by Thailand, through visa arrangements.■