CNI News
22 Nov 2022
To promote tourism between Russia and Myanmar, Russia tour agencies should be invited to Myanmar first, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.
He told the CNI, "We have given our advice to authorities. We told them that it would be convenient to invite tour agents to learn for themselves. We need government cooperation. Although we are inviting Russian tourists, it is difficult for Russian tour companies to attract their customers if they have never travelled to Myanmar. So, they need familiarization trips to Myanmar. If the government, hotels and tour companies cooperate for FAM trips, Russia tour companies will be able to learn about Myanmar and to attract their customers to visit Myanmar.``
Russian tourists at the parliament building in Myanmar. (Russian)
The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said on 18th November that it was cooperating with private organizations to promote tourism between the two countries.
Moreover, the ministry is taking measures to advertise tour destinations in Myanmar in the URAL Airline In-flight Magazine.
Myanmar is also planning to take part in a tourism fair in Russia in March 2023 to attract Russian tourists.
If Myanmar can advertise its tourism attractions to the international commumity, tourists not only from Russia but also from other countries will visit Myanmar, Chairman U Zaw Weit of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.
A road sign to the Mingun Bell.
He said, "We should publicize major destinations like Bagan, the Inle Lake, Mandalay and Kyaiktiyo and famous beaches like Chaungthar, Ngwehsaung and Ngapali beaches. We should take measures to advertise such destinations to people in tourism sectors in other countries. There are so many ancient pagodas, mural paintings and glazed bricks in Bagan. Only then, will Bagan be a tour attraction. When foreign tourist visit Bagan, they are sent to the Shwezigon, Arnanda and Thabbenyu pagodas. If we can show them mural paintings at the Payathonzu and Nandarmanya pagodas, they will be able to learn mural paintings that they cannot see in Thailand and Cambodia. We need to take such measures."
Moreover, he said other countries have lifted requirements for COVID-19 RDT tests for tourists and Myanmar has imposed such measures. He added that tourist arrivals will increase if such restrictions are lifted.
Some tour agencies said that it is necessary to launch direct flights between Russia and Myanmar to increase the Russian tourist arrivals.
An archway to Mandalay.
U Naung Naung Han told the CNI, "Private airlines will launch direct flights between the two countries only based on the number of passengers. Russia airlines will launch direct flights if they get enouch passengers. However, the number of passengers between the two countries is still low. It takes about nine hour to fly direct flights from Myanmar to Russia. Myanmar does not have such planes. If tourists have to take transit flights, it costs more money for airlines. So, they are taking everything into consideration. When all requirements are met, Russian tourists will visit Myanmar. Airlines will launch direct flights."
Only a few Russian tourists visited Myanmar in the past. About 5,000 Russian tourists visit Myanmar annually.
Myanmar has offered visa exemption for Russian tourists for one year as of July, 2022 in an attempt to attract more Russian tourists but tourist arrivals from Russia have been low, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
