Myanmar's domestic travel increases to nearly 11 mln despite low international arrivals
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Eain/ Cherry (NP News) - Jan 21
While inbound tourism in Myanmar remains low, domestic travel has seen a significant increase, according to U Aung Aye Han, deputy director general of the Department of Hotels and Tourism under Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, in a statement to The NP News.
"According to our current press releases, the number of international tourist arrivals has slightly decreased. However, domestic travel has increased. Domestic travel has been increasing year after year. Before COVID, domestic travel was roughly—I don't have the exact figures—over five million. From that over five million, currently, if we look at the end of 2024, domestic travel has reached over ten million, almost eleven million—an increase of more than double. Currently, there are people traveling to Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, and also to Shan State. There are also people traveling to Kyaiktiyo and Hpa-An. There are also people passing through Bago, so they are also visiting the Bago region. In the near future, places like Shwesettaw and others will also likely see increased travel," he said.
"There are three routes: air travel, land border crossings, and sea travel. While foreign visitor arrivals by air and sea have increased, those arriving via land borders have decreased by about 20 percent compared to 2023," he said.
It is reported that even with terrorist activities affecting some regions and states, domestic tourism thrives in Myanmar thanks to its diverse attractions.
"Myanmar is a large country with many places to visit. In fact, all 14 states and regions have many places to see and explore. So, even if some four or five places are inaccessible, there are still many other places to go. Therefore, both due to human nature and the situation in Myanmar, there are many places to stay, visit, and explore. Because there are so many places to visit, people think, 'If I can't go to this place, no problem, I'll go to another.' That's how they're traveling. When people travel like this, sometimes places become very crowded, like Bagan, Kyaiktiyo, or during the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing festival, especially when holidays coincide. This can lead to difficulties like hotels being fully booked. These kinds of challenges naturally occur. However, overall, it's manageable. There aren't any major difficulties or crises," said U Aung Aye Han.
Additionally, the ministry is taking action to address the dissemination of fake news that may cause public anxiety regarding travel by issuing awareness and cautionary notices through its respective departments.