Tourism Federation expects increasing inbounds in upcoming season
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Khit/ Yoon (NP News) – June 26
Chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, Naung Naung Han, told that the inbound tourist rate is expected to be increasing in the upcoming summer if policies are relaxed.
Myanmar’s travel and tourism sector was dull and stagnant in previous three years since Covid 19 period. However, the pandemic is now under controllable status and therefore, tourism is hoped to reboot.
The domestic tourism businesses were reopened since April 2022. Again, in May 2022, airlines were resumed for hosting inbound tourism.
It was only in three digits the total number of travelers in the early period of resuming the tourism industry. However, the total number of foreign visits increased significantly in May 2023 when comparing to the previous year.
Currently, Myanmar has relaxed visa exemptions for those who hold the passports of Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, Lao, Philippines, Singapore, Thai and Vietnam since 1st September 2022.
It is also reported that the tourism federation demands to provide visa exemptions, not only for the ASEAN countries, but also for other countries that have direct flight schedules with Myanmar so as to promote the country’s tourism industry.
Naung Naung Han also told NP News that “Like granting the visa exemptions to the ASEAN countries, we also demand to grant visa free for the tourists who come from China, India and Korea.”
It is reported that foreigners are interested to pay a visit to Myanmar. Therefore, it has a very high potential to increase the number of foreign tourists if health insurance and other health-related restrictions were released.
“The tourists from India, China, and Korea will rush into the country if health-related restrictions were released. There are also potential tourists from other countries who are interested to pay a visit to Myanmar.” he continued.
Currently, foreign travelers from 47 countries including travelers from countries such as China, India, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and the United States have been entering Myanmar.