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Myanmar suffers slight dent in visits

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YANGON, 25 July 2018: Myanmar saw tourist arrivals contract 2% during the first half of the year to reach 1.722,049 visits, according to the latest update by Hotel and Tourism Ministry released earlier this week.

Tourist arrivals during January to June 2017 reached 1.75 million.

Thailand remains the top source market, but China is fast catching up.

Other important source markets are Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Vietnam and Malaysia. However, Malaysians still need to apply for a visa, the only remaining ASEAN nation that has not been awarded visa-free status.

During the winter months, November to March, Europe is a major source market delivering high-yield tour group business, but the continuing Rohingya crisis depleted bookings since October 2016. Top European markets are France, Britain, Germany and Italy.

According to the ministry’s half-year update, airline arrivals reached 651,986 counted at the country’s three international airport; Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw.

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism data showed 682,100 visitors entered the country on visas, while another 1,039,949 were border pass travellers (Thailand, China and India).

Total arrivals from all sources reached 1,722,049 during January to June.

The country targets over 7 million visitors by 2020. Last year it welcomed 3,443,133 tourists an increase of 18%.

In 2016 arrivals reached 2.9 million, which represented a massive 38% drop from a peak of 4.68 million visitors in 2015.

Ministry officials at the time attributed the decline to the adoption of new data collection parameters that excluded day trippers with border passes.

Tourists can enter the country through three international airports in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw and through overland checkpoints Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthoung and Hteekhee.

Passport holders from 100 countries are eligible to apply for an eVisa for tourism purposes and businessmen from 52 countries can apply for an eVisa Business.

Myanmar has 1,666 licensed hotels with 66,913 rooms up by over 510 over the past three years.

Yangon city has the largest number with 399 hotels (20,845 rooms), followed by Mandalay with 215 (8,940 rooms), Taunggyi/Inlay with 148 (4,483 rooms) and Bagan/Nyaung with 85 (2,919 rooms).

Through to the end of June, the ministry issued 2,773 tour licences, out of which one is owned by a foreign company and 41 jointly owned by local and foreign companies. The ministry has also issued 2,569 tour-related transport licences and 4,404 tour guide licences plus 3,579 local tour guide licences.

Out of the 14 states and regions in Myanmar, Yangon Region, Mandalay Region and Shan State attract the most international tourists.

1 COMMENT

  1. Bad news for Myanmar tourism!

    Times for all stakeholders and hoteliers to wake up and help themselves in international promotion and marketing especially the CHINA market instead of solely relying on the understaffed and under-budget government agencies!!!

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