Thailand, China lead Yangon tourism market

“Yangon’s two largest and most mature source markets for the past few years have been neighbouring Thailand and China, given their close proximity and long-standing economic cooperation. In 2012, visitors from Thailand and China comprised of 15.9 per cent and 11.9 per cent of total visitor arrivals, respectively. 

Growth from these markets, particularly from China, growth was lower in 2012 as they started out [the year] from much larger bases and some other source markets have grown more strongly,” said Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group in its “Myanmar Hotel and Tourism Report: Spotlight on Yangon” publication.

“China has long-established economic links with Myanmar along its border, with road infrastructure connecting to mineral deposits and other natural resources. Due to their existing foothold in Myanmar, it is arguable corporations from China have less need to visit Yangon frequently to form business relations or to research the market relative to other, newer entrant countries,” noted the report.

Yangon International Airport received more than 235,000 Asian visitors from January to July this year, compared to only 165,000 visitors around the same time last year.