CNI News
28 Feb 2023
The tourism sector of Myanmar at present has to mainly rely on domestic tourists as foreign tourists rarely come to the country, tour operators and hoteliers told the CNI.
At present, it is difficlt for the tourism sector of Myanmar to recover quickly like other countries to the level before COVID-19 and it is still struggling to survive, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.
Pilgrimages to the ShweDagon Pagoda.
He said, "At present, the main driving force of the tourism sector is domestic tourism, which has been supporting hotels and local businesses. Therefore, we should focus on domestic tourism at present. Domestic tourism is likely to boom further. Foreign tourists come to Myanmar occasionally as international flights have resumed but their arrivals have not been high. Domestic tourism will increase when schools are closed at the end of March. Most people go to beaches and Ayeyarwady Region. Domestic tourism accelerated in the New Year and has slowed down in January and February but it is likely to reach its peak in the summer."
Compared with domestic and foreign tour activities in 2021, the activities in 2022 increased in 2022 and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has vowed to make progress in 2023.
However, tourism activities will not reach 10 percent of the pre-COVID-19 period, U Naung Nang Han said.
Therefore, it is necessary to guarantee the services and security of domestic tourism not to lost travellers, Chairman U Zaw Zaw of Hoteliers Association (Shan State-North) told the CNI.
Bagan pilgrimages.
He also added that the tourism industry cannot rely on domestic tourism alone, it is important to attract foreign tourists, he added.
He said, "Hotels charge US$ 25 for foreigners a night. At the current exchange rates, they get more than fees from domestic tourists. This is also the case for restaurants. What is spent in MMK is not as beneficial as that in US$. As soon as they come, the government has received revenues. As far as I know, foreigners think that the country is not stable. So, they need to launch awareness raising campaigns to guarantee peace and safety. Then, they will come to Myanmar again. At present, more foreign business people are coming to Myanmar."
Some tour entrepreneurs are taking part in tour exhibitions in other countries to attract more foreign tourists.
At present, Thai tourists make up the largest number of foreign tourists in Myanmar and domestic tourists are likely to reach their peak during the Thingyan water festival, according to tour entrepreneurs.
