With destination expansions and promotions in the coming season, rising foreign tourist arrival in the last season could be further increased, said an official of the Myanmar Tourism Federation.
“In order to improve the tourism sector, we have to attract Chinese and Thais, who are the top visitors to Myanmar, in the coming tourism season. For example, Chinese citizens are interested in visiting Mandalay whereas Thais are interested in Yangon, Bago, and Kyaiktiyo. If we can develop them and make them safe, tourists will come. Thai and Chinese tourists want to visit Bagan, not just Mandalay. If the destination can be expanded for Thai tourists from Yangon and Bago to Bagan such as arranging direct flights from Bangkok to Mandalay or Bagan, the number of arrival will increase. We need to expand and promote the trips to safe places. Then, more tourists will come,” he said.
At present, foreign tourists to Myanmar are mostly from China, while the arrivals from Thailand and western countries decrease during the rainy season.
“The arrival of foreign tourists has generally decreased since the end of Thingyan. The number of Chinese tourists is still moderate, but the number of tourists from Thailand, western nations and other countries has decreased as usual. Chinese tourists are now the largest visitors. There are some arrivals from Thailand. Since they are Myanmar’s neighbours with a lot of business cooperation, there are many visitors from them,” he said.
Myanmar people mostly chose Thailand and Singapore as outbound destinations for visits as well as for business purposes.
“In outbound trips, most of Myanmar travellers go to Thailand. Some go to Singapore for visit and business. Some companies have little work during the rainy season, so they often go abroad with their families,” he said.
During the six-month period from October 2023 to March 2024 of the open season, there have been many tourist arrivals from China and Thailand to Myanmar, and the number of visitors from other countries has also increased, he said. — MT/ZN/ED
