CNI News

9 October 2024

Due to territorial instabilities and floods this year, there are some comments among tourism entrepreneurs regarding how the tourism could be in the open season in comparison with last year. 

There are just a few places where tourists can visit this year and they can mainly go to Bagan, Mandalay, Chaung Thar, Ngwe Saung and Myeik islands only.

So, in comparison with last year, tourism would decrease in Thadingyut. However, in Tazaungdaing and Christmas periods, tourism would increase, U Naung Naung Han, chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News.

While seeing a beach

" In comparison with last year, there has been an decrease in the number of places where tourists can go to this year. So, tourists mainly go to Bagan, Chaung Thar and Ngwe Saung. In comparison with the last Thadingyut, local tourists can decrease. But many hotels in Bagan and Mandalay have full bookings and so have most hotels in Chaung Thar and Ngwe Saung. If the flood disaster has been resolved to a great extent in Tazaungdaing, tourism can increase again. And then, in Christmas and new year, tourism can increase as well." he said. 

Local tourists tend to travel of their own than hiring travel agencies and at present, because of higher price of fuel oil and difficulty to earn money, tourism could decrease, estimated tourism entrepreneurs.

Moreover, as unstable regions have increased lately, tourists might take that into account, they said. 

In the same way, travelling abroad was not convenient as well because inspections have been tightened at airports. 

While seeing Bagan region

So, tourism was not satisfactory, U Thet Lwin Toe, the tourism entrepreneur, told CNI News.

" Tourism industry is not very promising because it's hard to earn money as well. Most local tourists travel of their own without hiring travel agencies. Many people go abroad, but inspections have been tightened at airports and especially youths are inspected. Passports are convenient while visas might not. If you go abroad as a tourist, you must report to the authorities when you get back. There isn't much freedom." he said.

Over one million foreign tourists entered Myanmar in 2023 and over 500,000 foreign tourists only entered until September this year. The number of foreign tourists couldn't overtake that of last year, people estimated.

Local tourists travelled to an extent until October last year and later, travelling was reduced.