CNI News
14 September 2023
Tourism would not improve as long as tourists are being taking to pagodas and the number of tourists from abroad would not increase, said U Zaw Zaw, chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, (northern Shan State), to CNI News.
In the Myanmar tourism sector, regularly, taking tourists to flagship pagodas and monthly festivals which was boring for tourists and different festivals, programs and tourist areas should be explored, he said.
" We need to know what international tourists want to know and see if they come here. It wouldn't be okay if you show pagodas only. We need to show them beautiful things in our country and we need to create things that they are interested in. If you want Chinese tourists to come here, you should know what they like and need. If you want Russian tourists, it would be the same. Rather than you invite them without having anything to show, not inviting them would be better. if they go back after knowing that there is nothing here, it might prevent next comers not to come here. It wouldn't be convenient to show around the pagodas alone. Only people from Buddhist countries come to Bagan as pilgrims. People from Christian countries come to Bagan because they want to have been to Bagan. They won't come to Bagan again. Which citizen do we want to come here? It depends on that." he said.
Tourists who come to U Bein Bridge near Amarapura in Mandalay Region
Moreover, if there are businessmen who want to create new tourist destinations, the department concerned should collaborate with them, said business people.
At present, when the foreign tourists enter the country through border gates, if they have bought internationally-applied health insurance, they don't have to health insurance from Myanmar insurance enterprise.
In the past, as foreign tourists had to buy any more of health insurance in Myanmar, it made them inconvenient, said travel operators.
In the past, when some citizens applied for e-visas, there were rejects because the applications were not consistent with the designations. So, visas should also be relaxed and visa on arrival should be granted, said U Thet Lwin Toe, a travel entrepreneur, to CNI News.
" Visa on arrival should be granted. Now visa on arrival will be granted to Indian and Chinese citizens, according to the cabinet meeting held on 30th August. I'm not sure visa on arrival will cost 30 US dollar or 50 US dollars like in the past. Regular rate is just 30 US dollars. Online visa costs 20 US dollars more. The citizens who get visa on arrival apply for visas at the Yangon Airport. This is more convenient. Because Thailand knew that and had granted Chinese citizens, a lot of Chinese went to Thailand. Some citizens who find it difficult to take visa should be granted visa on arrival." he said.
At present the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism carrying out for further development of tourism after inviting Chinese investors.
Over 300,000 foreign tourists entered Myanmar from January to May in 2023, according to the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism.
