CNI News

22 November 2023

As there are instabilities in many parts of the country, tourism industry may plummet this year, tourism and hotel operators told CNI news agency. 

Because the battles are taking place between the Tatmadaw and some EAOs in northern Shan State, Kayah State, Sagaing Region and Rakhine State, they reviewed like that. 

" Tourism industry entirely depends on regional stability. If there is no stability, tourism industry can can plummet again. Normally, a lot of tourists were likely to travel in November. this year. There were a lot of hotel bookings as well. But tourists are afraid of travelling due to the current instabilities. There have been more and more cancellations of hotel bookings. So, tourism industry can plummet again”said U Naung Naung Han, Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association.

A view of Chaungtha Beach

Although tourist associations and private operators are trying to attract more tourists, the country's image is declining due to the current instabilities.

The Myanmar tourist industry plummeted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and political changes. 

However, because stakeholders tried from all sides to recover, the tourism industry improved to an extent for the 2022-2023 season. 

However, due to the current regional instabilities, stakeholders have to work twice as hard than before to recover the tourism industry for the 2024-2025 season, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association (northern Shan State), told CNI News.

Tourists watching the sunset in Bagan

" Compared to last year, I think this year will be quite difficult. Peace is the main thing. People travels only when there is peace. .The sooner peace is achieved, the more people will travel. There will be no peace until Thingyan and the roads will be closed. if the people feel insecure, they won't travel. We have to work as hard as twice than before. We have to carry out to make tourists safe firstly. We must be able to plan tours of public interest." he said.

There have been a lot of cancellations of hotel bookings due to the current regional instabilities in Myanmar, according to tourism entrepreneurs.

During the Thadingyut holiday from 28th October to 30th October, more than 100,000 tourists entered Bagan and over 7,000 tourists including 500 foreign tourists, Ngwe Saung and 4,000 tourists including 70 foreign tourists, Ngapali.