Myanmar attracted 1.28 million international tourists in 2023, a five-fold increase over 2022, according to the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism under the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
According to the statistics of the ministry, 288,902 foreign tourists visited Myanmar with visas. At the same time, 995,829 entered the country from the border checkpoints of China and Thailand, bringing the total number to 1.28 million.
Since October 2021, Myanmar’s domestic tourism has started to improve, and on 17 April 2022, international airlines were allowed to resume operations. The e-Visa was approved on 20 May, and in 2022, more than 0.23 million international tourists entered the country, making a 43 per cent increase in visitor arrivals compared to 2021.
However, due to the low number of tourist arrivals compared to neighbouring countries, State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo, Chairman of the National Tourism Development Central Committee, said at the meeting on 6 December that government, private and local people need to cooperate in a balanced manner to be able to attract more tourists from abroad.
The chairman also advised the private tourism entrepreneurs to connect with the target countries so they can promote their market, participate in tourism expos, conduct FAM Trip, broadcast the seasonal festivals of respective regions and states, advertise the information regarding the event calendar and explore new tourist destinations in the country to be able to attract the local and foreign travellers. — TWA/TH
