Myanmar tourism growth stalls in first half of 2018

(4 minute read)

Myanmar has seen a slight contraction in tourist number during the first half of t2018. Tourist arrivals still reached 1,722,049 visits, a drop of 2%, according to the latest update by Hotel and Tourism Ministry.

Thai tourists remain the top source market but China is catching up. Other tourists are coming from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Vietnam and Malaysia. Malaysians still need to apply for a visa, the only remaining ASEAN nation that has not been awarded visa-free status for travel in Myanmar.

From November to March, Europe’s winter months, Europeans remain a major source of tourists but the continuing Rohingya crisis is said to be restricting growth in this market following October 2016.

According to the ministry’s half-year update air passenger arrivals reached 651,986 at the three international airports in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw (the capital). 682,100 visitors entered the country on visas, while another 1,039,949 were border pass travellers.

Myanmar tourism officials are expecting to reach 7 million visitors by 2020. Last year the figure reached 3,443,133 tourists, an increase of 18%.

Myanmar has 1,666 licensed hotels with 66,913 rooms up by over 510 over the past three years.

Yangon has the largest number with 399 hotels, followed by Mandalay with 215, Taunggyi/Inlay with 148 (4,483 rooms) and Bagan/Nyaung with 85 (2,919 rooms).

Out of the 14 states and regions in Myanmar, Yangon Region, Mandalay Region and Shan State attract the most international tourists.

SOURCE: Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism