Tourist Arrvials To Myanmar Expected To Rise

Come fiscal year – April 2012 to March 2013 – tourist arrivals to Myanmar are expected to go up to half a million, said the secretary of Myanmar Tourism Association to Messenger, a popular Myanmar news journal.

“Due to the current political situation and more transparency, Myanmar tourism has a potential to develop at a faster rate.” he concluded.

Numbers of arrivals through airports went up 30% this year. The total visitors including those who passed border entrances could have reached to one million. Much-anticipated e-visa, which is due to announce soon, could also be a plus to Myanmar tourism.

Recently the government freed hundreds of political prisoners. The action was wildly applauded both at home and abroad, and that might pave the way for lifting sanctions imposed on the country. Hopes are getting higher that more tourists will come to Myanmar next year.

Tourism in Myanmar is often compared to neighboring countries – three millions a year to Cambodia and five millions to Vietnam while there are around 37,0000 visitors to Myanmar.

(Source: Messenger News Journal)