CNI News
27 Jan 2023
Causing injuries and deaths of domestic tourists amid instability while they were travelling is likely to hinder tourism, tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers told the CNI.
Last year, some pilgrims suffered casualties due to explosions and shooting. While efforts were being made for recovery of domestic tourism, a bus carrying pilgrims to the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda was hit by a heavy weapon fire on 25th January, 2023.
If such incidents have tarnished the image of the country in the international community, the situation of the tour industry of Myanmar is likely to be exacerbated, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tour Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.
A passenger bus to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda comes under attack
He said, " The ASEAN tourism fair is going to be organized soon. As the fair is focused on the ASEAN region, Thai tour companies may ask us questions over such incidents and raise concerns. Therefore, Myanmar companies that are participating in the fair will not be able to enjoy as much benefit as they should. We are worried about such issues because Thai citizens account for the largest number of tourists to Myanmar. And then, Chinese tourists are visiting our country soon. Tourists from both countries usually go on pilgrimage to the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. Tourists from Thailand visit Yangon and then continue to the pagoda without fail. The incident will have an impact on such markets, especially on the Thai market."
A heavy weapon round hit a passenger bus carrying pilgrims to the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda on 25th January, 2023, killing one passenger and injuring seven others, according to a press release of the True News Information Team of the SAC.
Moreover, three women were killed and 19 others were injured in an armed conflict at the bus terminal at the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda on 12th October, 2022.
Domestic and foreign tourists
Attacks on innocent tourists will tarnish the image of the country and if victims of such attacks were foreign citizens, their countries will take appropriate measures against Myanmar, Chairman U Zaw Zaw of the Shan State North Hoteliers Association told the CNI.
He said, "No country will tolerate when their citizens are in danger in other countries. They will take appropriate measures. Their reactions will vary depending on negotiations between the two countries. The best way is to avoid such incidents. Even when we go abroad, we take our safety into consideration. They will also think in the same way as us. It will be difficult to attract foreign tourists in 2023."
As a result, relevant authorities should take security measures for the most popular domestic tour destinations in the same ways as other countries, according to tour operators and holeliers.
Domestic tourists on U Bein Bridge
A tour operator told the CNI, "There are unsafe destinations all over the world including in India because of car bombs, ambushes and explosions. However, authorities take necessary security measures and tourists continue to visit such destinations. However, the situation is different in our country and such incidents have impacts on tourism."
Although tour operators expected that there will be more foreign tourists in 2023 than the previous year, the incidents do not bode well for tourism.
Although Chinese citizens accounted for the largest number of tourists to Myanmar in the past, Thailand surpassed the country this year.
