Influx of visitors leads to record tourism revenue

 

Last December, a total of 601 tourists visited the archipelagos in Myeik Township. Most visitors came from France, Germany, Switzerland, Thailand and China. 

“The district’s revenue in December last year is 39 per cent of the total for all of 2013. 601 of foreigners visited the Myeik Archipelago. The number of ships in the area is rising. The foreigners are interested in the beautiful ocean scenery. That’s why they stay at sea for many days. A German tourism guidebook described the Myeik Archipelago as the 15th top tourist destination for 2015. The regional government committee is now lifting the travel restrictions, and authorities are fulfilling the requirements,” said Officer Hlwan Moe from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Kawthoung District.

The Myanmar government allowed foreigners to travel freely in the archipelago in Kawthoung District, except in restricted areas. A foreigner must pay $100 per sea excursion, or $150 to travel beyond a certain distance.

 

Record year 

Myeik is one of destinations that helped draw visitors to Myanmar and boost tourism revenue for the country.

Last year’s tourist arrivals set a new record, earning over US$1 billion, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The number of tourist arrivals reached 3.5 million and generated $1.135 billion in revenue. 

The record revenue in 2013 amounted to $926 million.

Since the government put more focus on tourism, Myanmar’s tourism has been booming. The tourism sector receives more tourist arrivals and generated increased revenues year on year.

The ministry said that much of the benefits went to small-scale tourism businesses.

The number of tourist arrivals is expected to reach an estimated four or five million in 2015, thanks to the policy to expand tourist destinations.

The government officials from Myanmar and Thailand held discussions on the development of tourism sector in December 2014. 

Before these discussions, Myanmar has implemented its plan to develop tourism sector in cooperation with Germany, Norway, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Australia and Italy. 

Myanmar is implementing the Tourism Master Plan with help from Norway and the ADB. The ministry will expand tourist destinations to coastal regions.

Most visitors now go to Bagan, Inle and Yangon.

 

New attractions

With the aim of attracting tourists, the Myanmar Restaurant Entrepreneurs Association also plans to upgrade the Inle Night Market situated in northern Shan State.

 “We have a plan to upgrade the night market this month. However, we will first discuss it with locals and the authorities. Inle Night Market should be upgraded because many of foreigners visit it,” said Myo Min Zaw, chairman of the association’s Inle Zone.

At present, the market has only ten shops that open at 10.30pm. Plans are underway to expand restaurants as well as souvenir shops and regional product shops.

The association hopes that the upgrade would draw more local and foreign visitors, which would generate more income to local businesses and crate more jobs. 

There is also a plan to build a night market in Yangon, but the location is not finalised yet.

 “Personally, I wish the market opened somewhere on Strand Road. The road is now busy and the night market should attract more tourists,” said Myo Min Zaw. 

“In other countries, riverside roads are designated for night markets, where vendors can park their cars and sell their products. In the morning, the markets are clean because the vendors leave nothing.”